Nature Park Foundation gala another success
With the Lee County school budget unable to fund many field trips, students often are unable to leave school for educational excursions.
However, some of Southwest Florida’s most noted givers flocked to the Shell Factory on Saturday to raise money so that students who want to make the trip to its Nature Park to learn about animals can do so on the Nature Park Foundation’s tab.
The annual Nature Park Environmental Foundation Dinner and Auction raised thousands for the park to not only fund buses so elementary school students can go there, but also for upkeep and the ability to bring in more animals.
Since it began, the foundation has brought more than 15,000 students to the park
Last year’s inaugural gala brought in more money than any fundraiser in the park’s history.
This year, which also had a jungle theme, had fewer people, but was predicted to meet or exceed last year’s tally, according to Shell Factory CFO Rick Tupper.
“Last year was an exceptional turnout. This year we had some great gifts and other items in the silent auction, so all in all it went pretty well,” Tupper said.
There were silent auctions on items such as trips to Key West, as well as public auction items that included his-and-her Rolex watches, luxury trips, a golf tournament with the winner as host, and a rare piece of artwork, with many items selling for several thousand dollars.
Mike Joyce and John Finstrom again were the auctioneers for the evening.
The foundation hit some milestones this year as the 15,000th student walk through the gates compliments of the foundation. Numerous new animals have also found home at the Nature Park, with the most recent being a pair of porcupines, an Asian palm civet and a miniature horse.
Tupper said the charity event should help the Nature Park build for the future.
“We can continue to fund the buses that bring the kids in, but we’ll also be able to fund capital improvements,” Tupper said. “We have new fencing and habitats for the animals and we’ll be breaking ground on a new aviary. We’re looking forward for a whole new exhibit with lots of birds and turtles.”