Garden Club rings in the holidays

The Longboat Key Garden Club had more than one reason to toast on Dec. 8.

Not only was the club celebrating the holidays, but halfway through the cocktail party at Amore Restaurant, club President Susan Phillips and Michael J. Renick of Michael J. Renick & Co./Mangrove Real Estate Associates Inc., announced that Renick would be sponsoring the club with $12,000 and an additional $1,000 for every home the company closes on in 2017.

Last year, the real estate company gave the club $12,000 but Renick wanted to do more this year. He said the purpose of the club really hit home for him when he saw local students receive scholarships from the club last summer. The sponsorship will help the club with their events and help them pay for raffle prizes that raise funds for the club.

“Their sponsorship allows us to leverage our fundraising,” Phillips said.

Ocean Properties, Ltd. also gave the club three trips to use in their fundraising efforts. Phillips said those trips will be raffled off at some of the club’s upcoming events.