Fund raising effort: Mayor’s Scholarship donors thanked
Tis the season to start raising money for the Cape Coral Mayor’s Scholarship Fund.
Nearly 100 sponsors and dignitaries were invited to Cape Coral City Hall on Thursday evening for a cocktail reception as a way for the Scholarship Fund Foundation to thank the sponsors and key contributors for their work and generosity.
Councilmember and foundation president Jim Burch said it’s because of these people that the fund will be able to hand out 26 scholarships this year at $1,500 apiece.
Burch said the event won’t likely raise much more than $1,000, but it may bring in a few more sponsors and the food and wine is being donated. Since the event was happening at City Hall, the cost is minimal.
“We send out the invitations to our sponsors who have helped throughout the year and some of the dignitaries,” Burch said. “It’s a celebration and fundraiser for the fund. We have a fair amount of sponsorship and are always looking for more.”
The cocktail reception is one of four fundraisers the foundation puts on each year, Burch said, with the big one being Theatre Night in March at the Cultural Park Theatre.
The banquet is planned for the end of April.
“This really gets us kicked off for the season with Theatre Night and the application process which begins soon and paring down the applicants for what we expect to be 26 scholarships,” Burch said, adding that most of last year’s sponsors are also committed for this year.
The Cape Coral Scholarship fund is in its 34th year of giving high school seniors who reside in Cape Coral (they can attend a school outside the city) a way to help defray the cost of a college education. The fund has given more than $600,000 in scholarships since its inception.
The awards are based on achievement. The student’s GPA, test scores, community service and even family is considered.
“It’s a very intensive process they go through and we end up with the most remarkable kids you can think of,” Burch said. “We’ve stepped up our volume of recipients over the last few years. It’s a solid stable program and a great Cape Coral charity.”
For more information, go to www.capecoralmayorscholarship.com