FRIENDS OF FOSTER CHILDREN raise $415,000

Friends of Foster Children Forever (FFCF) held their 11th annual Boogie Bash fundraiser March 23 at Grey Oaks Country Club. The Boogie through the Decades-themed fundraiser had more than 250 backers in attendance and raised more than $415,000 to benefit FFCF’s one-on-one educational mentoring programs for local foster children.

The Fund-a-Future fundraising portion of the evening brought in $215,000 to fund the FFCF mentoring program for foster children who are  failing  academically. This amount was double what was raised in the previous year. “This was our biggest event ever,” said Jane Billings, executive director of FFCF. “We were so humbled by the outpouring of generosity from everyone in attendance and our remarkable sponsors.

There seemed to be an abundance of magic and passion in the air. Our local foster children will benefit immensely.” Party-goers enjoyed a cocktail reception and silent auction followed by a surf and turf dinner, a live
auction, and dancing to music by Society Hill, presented by Forman Productions. Edee Deluca and Rio DeArmond were this year’s event chairs, celebrity emcees were Pzazz Productions’ PJ Fuerstman-Meyer and local chef Brian Roland of Crave Culinaire.

Auctioneer Scott Robertson encouraged bidders to give until it felt good. Once the auction started, the crowd had the opportunity to bid on incredible live auction items including luxurious trips, golf experiences and wine tours. Making the evening possible were hand-jive sponsors: Children’s Network of Southwest Florida, HBK CPAs & Consultants, NEST Multi-Facility Managemen, and Mr. and Mrs. Michael Schroeder; Moonwalk sponsors including American Eagle Mortgage/Lauren Maxwell, First Florida Integrity Bank, Home-Tech, Naples Auto Donation Center, and The Woodruff Institute; and the media sponsor, Naples Daily News.

The FFCF mission is to focus on the children they serve by providing targeted educational and enrichment opportunities that allow each child to fulfill his or her potential. The charitable organization works to fulfill the unmet needs of every child who enters, or is at risk of entering the foster care system in Collier, Hendry and Glades Counties.

For more information about Friends of Foster Children of Forever (FFCF) or how to help, visit
www.friendsoffosterchildren.net or call 239.262.1808.