“Love Your Neighbor” Raises $250,000 for The Heights Foundation and The Heights Center

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Feb. 23, 2015 - PRLog -- “Love Your Neighbor”, an annual event benefiting The Heights Foundation, raised $250,000 for School Success programs for at-risk kids in Harlem Heights.   The event was held at the Gulf Harbour home of Richard Neslund and co-hosted by Cheryl and Dave Copham.

Norman Love Confections and Mark Loren Designs helped create this signature event and have supported it since the inception.  Guests enjoyed an assortment of culinary creations from local restaurants including Blu Sushi, Crave Culinaire Cru, Fathoms, Marker 92, RumRunners, S.S. Hookers and Timbers. Norman Love offered samples of his delicious gourmet chocolates.  Republic National Distributors, Opici Family Distributors and The Lighthouse Resort Inn and Tiki Bar sponsored beverages.  Auctioneer Scott Robertson conducted the live auction that included a Country Music Awards experience, a Caloosahatchee Extravaganza for 20, an Undercover Extreme Enforcement Package with Sheriff Mike Scott and a pair of custom-designed, one-of-kind Mark Loren earrings.

2015 sponsors included Connie and Ed Lizak, Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union Foundation, Georganne and Cliff Williams, Jo and Manny Fernandez, John Grey Painting, Caroline and Bill Bloomhall, Bridgeforce, Kathy and Victor Mayeron, Northern Trust, Vickie and Richard Pitbladdo and The Vineyard Foundation of the Depree Family.

“The Gulf Harbour community has been so supportive of The Heights Foundation and embraced their neighbors in the Harlem Heights community,” said Kathryn Kelly, President and CEO of The Heights Foundation.  “Our mission is to build strong, self-sufficient families and education is the key to their success.  The monies raised will support our School Success program that includes academic tutoring, after school and summer camp programs, scholarship and college access assistance, school supplies, and tuition support.  Each program is geared to meet the specific needs of children and young adults who seek to further their education.”

For more information about the Heights Center and The Heights Foundation visit www.heightsfoundation.org or call (239) 482-7706.

About the Heights Foundation and the Heights Center

The Heights Center, supported by The Heights Foundation, is a place for Education, Opportunity, and Enrichment.  The Heights Foundation works to build strong, self-sufficient families in the Harlem Heights neighborhood.  As a 501(c)3 grassroots organization, the Center’s mission is to promote family and community development, support education, health and wellness, and provide the benefits of enrichment, expressive and cultural arts.

Harlem Heights was originally settled as a rural agricultural community.   Approximately 780 children live in a mixture of single-family homes and multi-family apartments. Demographically, the population is approximately 70% Hispanic, 20% African-American, and 8% Caucasian. The poverty rate for children in Harlem Heights is more than twice the county average, with family income 40% below the county average. Families are not able to easily access family support services located in downtown Fort Myers, and benefit greatly from programs located within the neighborhood.