(Naples, FL – Feb. 17, 2016) – The tally is in and the 60th Annual Farm City BBQ, one of Collier County’s favorite Thanksgiving traditions, raised a record amount of $52,000 to help develop young leaders in Collier County. Hosted at the Collier County Junior Deputies League’s Camp Discovery, the BBQ’s Diamond Jubilee celebration included local country music singer Casey Weston, signature steaks provided by Shula’s Steak House, and vegetables provided by Lipman Produce.
“We are fortunate to have the support of so many local businesses and people who are passionate about developing the next generation of leaders,” said Stephanie Kissinger, 2015 Farm City BBQ Chair. “This is a tradition that has endured for decades, sustained rough economies and will continue to be a steadfast mechanism for bringing the agriculture and business communities together.”
While many relationships have been built through the BBQ, so has Collier County’s next generation of leaders. As the event has grown in the past decade, the Farm City BBQ has donated well over $300,000 back into the community to support youth leadership development programs. Proceeds from the 2015 BBQ have been distributed through the Collier County 4H Foundation, Youth Leadership Collier, the Collier County Junior Deputies League, and Key Club International to provide hands-on education from elementary through high school students. A portion of the proceeds kick-started development of the Junior Deputies’ Camp Discovery so that it will continue to serve the community for years to come.
Save the date for the 2016 Farm City BBQ which will be held on Wednesday, November 23rd from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The location will be announced online at www.FarmCityBBQ.com and www.Facebook.com/FarmCityBBQ.
About the Beneficiaries:
- The Collier County 4H Foundation is an informal, practical educational program for children. It uses a learn-by-doing approach to enable youth to develop the knowledge, attitudes, and skills they need to become competent, caring, and contributing citizens of the world. Through the years, support from the Farm City BBQ has helped provide critical funding to keep this educational program in Collier County schools and provide additional opportunities for 4H participants to get hands-on experience.
- Youth Leadership Collier™ (YLC) is a program of the Leadership Collier Foundation, an affiliate of the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce. It empowers students to become effective leaders, showcases Collier County and encourages students to consider coming back to their community to begin their careers and families. For years the Farm City BBQ has assisted YLC in its efforts to have the tuition for this program remain accessible to all qualified candidates regardless of socioeconomic background.
- The Collier County Junior Deputies League helps to prepare our youth in Collier County, in cooperation with the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, to become responsible law abiding citizens. Junior Deputies League has a 34-acre site, with a large lake, in eastern Collier County that is used for youth activities throughout the year. The Junior Deputies League is in the process of planning and raising funds to add an open air pavilion, camp centers with restrooms, six camp sites with fire rings and a fishing dock to expand the programs for Collier youth.
- Key Club International is the high school-based service organization sponsored by Kiwanis International. Twelve active Collier County high school Key Clubs provide over 600 members with an array of opportunities to perform community service and be mentored in leadership, communication and other vital development skills. Funds from Farm City BBQ are used to send student leaders to the annual District Leadership & Education Conference (DLEC) held each year in Orlando, FL.
Contact: Cyndee Woolley, APR / [email protected] / 239-571-3174
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