BABCOCK RANCH, Fla. (Oct. 25, 2021) – The Babcock Ranch Foundation’s 2021 Charity Golf Tournament raised more than $220,000 for student scholarships and to support, enhance and implement programs that positively impact worthy causes in Southwest Florida.
“This year’s tournament was our most successful,” said Syd Kitson, chairman and CEO of Kitson & Partners. “We are overwhelmed by the generosity of our sponsors and those who continue to fund the foundation’s important mission of creating new partnerships and new opportunities to help educate and inspire the next generation of Floridians.”
This year’s Platinum sponsors included Christopher Alan Homes, Crown Hive, DeAngelis Diamond, Lennar and Pulte Homes. Gold sponsors included American Infrastructure, DR Horton, Gravina, Smith, Matte & Arnold Marketing and Public Relations, Meritage Homes, Michael Dattilo, Mitchell & Stark and O’Donnell Landscape. Additional event sponsors included Advantage Roofing, Envirostruct, Glase Golf, Henderson Franklin, Paul Barrett, ProWaste USA, and RSM McGladrey.
A percentage of the net proceeds from this year’s event will fund a new Babcock Ranch Foundation scholarship program for disadvantaged students in Southwest Florida. Tournament proceeds will also be distributed to charities in Charlotte, Collier and Lee counties that have a focus that closely aligns with Babcock Ranch Foundation’s core mission.
The Oct. 15 “Teeing up for a Cause” dinner and golf tournament at Talis Park Golf Club in Naples attracted an 88-player field, featured a superhero theme and included a helicopter ball drop, silent auction, raffle prizes and awards. It was the event’s sixth year and the fifth benefiting the nonprofit foundation, which was formed by Kitson & Partners in 2016 to align with the vision and values of the new Babcock Ranch hometown community, created with respect for the natural environment and an emphasis on the health and wellness of its residents.
The scholarships will be awarded in 2022 to students pursuing a college degree as well as technical and trade training, said Patrice Bishop, Babcock Ranch Foundation secretary and the executive vice president of human resources for Kitson & Partners.
“Our goal is to keep our kids in the community by preparing them for a career in Southwest Florida,” said Bishop. “The area has plenty of jobs, we just need the workers to fill them. By helping students who can’t otherwise afford postsecondary education, we strengthen our local workforce and the entire community. In addition to college, scholarships will be granted to pay tuition for students attending vocational or trade schools.”
Since its inception, the Babcock Ranch Foundation has partnered with nonprofit organizations supporting initiatives to enhance, enrich and benefit the lives of children facing issues such as hunger and homelessness. The annual golf tournament is the foundation’s largest fundraiser. The foundation also raises money from the Babcock Ranch Art Show and other events in Babcock Ranch. It has supported AMIkids Southwest Florida, Babcock Neighborhood School, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast, Boys & Girls Club of Lee County, Children’s Advocacy Center of Southwest Florida, Edison & Ford Winter Estates, Grace Place, Harlem Heights Foundation, Harry Chapin Food Bank, New Horizons, Valerie’s House and WGCU PBS Kids Workshops.
“The Babcock Ranch Foundation complements the philanthropic commitment of Kitson & Partners and the culture at Babcock Ranch of giving back to the community,” said Kitson. “We want to create real change and make people’s lives, especially children’s lives, better by passing on a stable legacy. The foundation is a big part of how our company and our community can step up for the next generation.”
The foundation is also an Amazon Smile charity, receiving donations from purchases on smile.amazon.com. For more information about the Babcock Ranch Foundation or to donate, visit www.babcockranchfoundation.org or call 239-449-2406.
