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NFM Rotary gives to Valerie’s House

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Ordinarily, the North Fort Myers Rotary holds a golf tournament every April to raise money for other organizations in need.

While there wasn’t a golf tournament this year because of the pandemic, the Rotary club still was able to donate to a Fort Myers organization.

On Friday, Rotary President Bill Thomas along with Jean Sinko presented a check for $2,000 to Angela Melvin, CEO and founder of Valerie’s House to help provide financial assistance so it can achieve its mission.

“We’re going to use the money to start groups again when we reopen in the first week of August. We have a lot of preparations, such as sanitizing, getting the space ready, and it will help us be able to relaunch,” Melvin said.

Dwight Sedgewick, who has been with the Rotary since 1976 (it was chartered in 1973), said traditionally they pick a local charity and donate $2,000 from money raised from the golf tourney, which helps them provide its mission.

“Of course, we scheduled the tournament in April and everything was cancelled,” Sedgwick said. “But we had some funds we raised and have a charity we can support.”

Valerie’s House provides children who have lost a loved one a place where they can connect with others their own age, grieve together, and learn that their loss doesn’t have to limit their dreams.

With the COVID-19, Valarie’s is giving virtual support groups to children and caregivers.

“Angela has spoken to our group on a few occasions and we felt we would like to help them up, since now, with everything shut down, their fundraising has limited,” Sedgwick said. “Since we didn’t have a golf tournament, we selected them.”

Valarie’s House has been a godsend for Thomas’ family. He and his daughter have been using the facility to help her deal with a death in the family.

“That we were able to receive this grant from the Rotary really makes a big difference. It helps us help more families and makes us feel more secure we can make it through the pandemic,” Melvin said. “It was very special because it came from a family that experienced grief and believed in us so much he recommended us to the Rotary Club.”

The North Fort Myers Rotary has been around for 47 years and has donated more than $1 million to charities all over Lee County.

For more information, visit rotarynftmyers.org.