Lawn Party proceeds given to Children's Guardian Fund

Over $100,000 was raised at the annual Kiwanis Club fundraiser.

By Lesley Dwyer
| 11:30 a.m. March 17, 2023

Kiwanis members gather to present the proceeds of the Lawn Party held on Dec. 5, 2022 to the Children's Guardian Fund.

Longboat Key
Neighbors

The final dollar was tallied, and the Kiwanis Club’s Lawn Party by the Bay raised $108,959 for the Children’s Guardian Fund. It was announced at the club’s latest meeting on March 16 at The Paradise Center.

Longboat Key’s first lady and CGF’s board President, Cynthia Craig, was on hand to accept the oversized check and account for how last year’s donation was spent.

“We have used your money, this year, 4,495 times to do something for our kids,” Craig said to close out her thank you speech.

The kids are in foster care, and the something included 2,502 tutoring sessions, 843 birthday cakes and cards, 241 summer camps, 150 beds and bedding, 87 bikes and helmets, 22 prom outfits, 11 driver’s license fees and supplies for one memorial garden for a pair of sisters who miss their dad.

Craig also shared the story of her personal guardian child, who is severely disabled. His parents couldn’t take care of him, so they took him to the hospital for a surgery and never went back to pick him up. He’s since been placed with a family that loves him and is able to care for him.

“We try to give these kids, who had such a bad start, as happy a life as we can,” Craig said.

A lot of work goes into planning the Lawn Party, so Kiwanis President Michael Garey had a long list of thank you's for the board, sponsors, volunteers and Craig too.

“This year, we had the event at Ken Thompson Park, and Ken Thompson Park was a spectacular venue, but it came with a lot of other added expenses that we didn’t have in previous years,” Garey said. “The reason we cleared the bar from the year before is we had an additional check come into Kiwanis from Cynthia Craig and Ken Schneier, which put us over the top. It was a very significant number that made that reality happen.”

Become a Kiwanian

In addition to the check presentation, the club held a regular meeting. Right now, the meetings are held at 8:30 a.m. at the Lazy Lobster every first and third Thursday of the month. Garey says nothing is decided yet, but the club is looking to hold some evening meetings to accommodate those members and potential members who can’t make breakfast.

“It’s a civic-minded social club that does good,” Lynne Larson said. “Our speakers are contemporary subjects, who are of interest to anybody in the town. It’s an opportunity to meet your neighbors, have a good time and do something good for the community.”

Larson is a former president. She’s one of eight women in the club; there are about 30 members total. Members can attend meetings and volunteer for the Lawn Party as much or as little as they’d like. And there's a bonus with Garey as the presiding president — meetings are catered by the Lazy Lobster. Interested in joining? Call 960-2851 or email [email protected].

Robin Nystrom, Rick Konsavage, Jim Brown and Mayor Ken Schneier

Kevin Malone, Chris Sachs, Jeff Hawks and Marie-Claude Williams

Over 30 people attend the Kiwanis Club meeting on March 16 at The Paradise Center.

John Wild after checking in and putting on his Kiwanis pin.

Jim Whitman leads the club in singing the national anthem.

Bob Gault toasts to Michael Garey's leadership.

Kiwanis President Michael Garey receives a standing ovation from the club.

Svetlana Ivashchenko and Cynthia Craig reveal the check with Michael Garey.

Cynthia Craig and Svetlana Ivanshchenko see the final donation amount.

Town Manager Howard Tipton is the guest speaker.

author

Lesley Dwyer

Lesley Dwyer is a staff writer for East County and a graduate of the University of South Florida. After earning a bachelor’s degree in professional and technical writing, she freelanced for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Lesley has lived in the Sarasota area for over 25 years.