P.O.L.O. channels much of its energies into helping our community…

…and the opportunity to participate in volunteer and charity events is a large part of being a member.

We actively participate in benefit events throughout Lee County and our efforts have helped support many non-profit organizations. Among them:

• Harry Chapin Food Bank of SW Florida
• Lee County Animal Refuge Center (ARC)
• Island Coast AIDS Network
• Lee County Humane Society
• Healthy Start of SW Florida
• Music Foundation of SW Florida
• Jazz on the Green concert series (benefitting Children's Hospital of SW Fla.)

Tues., Nov. 13— P.O.L.O. presented a check for $3075.00 to the March of Dimes at its General Membership Meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 13. The check represented proceeds from beer and alcohol sales at the "Bikers for Babies" rally, The annual event features a Naples-to-Fort Myers motorcycle jaunt, followed by barbeque and festivities at Centennial Park. Accepting the check from P.O.L.O. President Tricia Williams, left, are Norma Eveland, Executive Director of the March of Dimes' SW Florida chapter, and Tara Howe, Community Development Director.

P.O.L.O. has raised nearly $10,000 this year for local charities and non-profit organizations. In addition, P.O.L.O. volunteers play key leadership roles in the annual Jazz on the Green event to raise money for Children's Hospital.

P.O.L.O. President Tricia Williams (right) presents a check to Teen Challenge Intake Coordinator September Mello (center) while Diana Libretti, her assistant, looks on. (Photo: Geoff Coe)

Tues., Aug. 15—P.O.L.O. donated $2500 to SW Florida Teen Challenge at its General Membership Meeting on Tuesday, August 14. The donation represented over half of the the proceeds P.O.L.O. raised by serving beverages at the City of Fort Myers' Fourth of July fireworks celebration at Centennial Park. Teen Challenge is a national organization with a local presence in Pine Manor. The organization provides "faith-based" drug and alcohol classes, counseling, and job training that, according to Intake Coordinator September Mello, enables young men and women to "rise above the root issues they're dealing with and teach them how to contribute to the community." A seven-year government study found that the organization has an outstanding 86% success rate.

P.O.L.O. makes significant contributions every year to deserving Lee County charitable organizations. For details on how your organization can benefit, and to download a Charity Request form, see the Charity & Volunteer page or email P.O.L.O. Vice President Connie Martin.

Big Thanks to P.O.L.O. Volunteers!

Recent "thank you's" for P.O.L.O.'s volunteer spirit and reliability:

Ft. Myers Chamber of Commerce (organizers of February's "Baseball Kickoff") :
"How can I ever begin to thank the POLO club for being there at the event and working as hard as they did with no complaints? I think that it is the first time I have ever had volunteers that said they would be there and actually were! Without the POLO Club, we could not have had as smooth an event as we did... I appreciate your efforts; I know that that is not an easy task.Please pass my thanks to everyone who helped out in POLO! We llook forward to seeing you soon."
—Patricia Dickey, Greater Ft. Myers Chamber of Commerce

Healthy Start of SW Florida (organizers of March's "Bunny Breakfast at TGI Friday's: "Thank you so much to the P.O.L.O. Club for helping out at the event...it was truly a pleasure! And for volunteering to take our photos!"
—Carlos Navedo, P.R. & Development Director, Healthy Start of Southwest Florida, Inc.