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BENEFITING OUR SISTER-CITY OF OCEAN SPRINGS, MS Legendary Guitarist Bo Diddley, along with "The Big Man" Clarence Clemmons on the saxophone, Iron Butterfly’s Mike Pinera, The Soul Providers, Frankie Ford and Much More! Held Sunday January 8th, 2006  Photo @ 2006 Belinda Serata. Permission for use granted with the following credit: Photo by Belinda Serata, Islamorada, Fla. Bo Diddley performing at the Florida Keys for Katrina Relief Concert Held January 8th, 2006 in Islamorada, Fl
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE POSTPONED DUE TO HURRICANE WILMA DATE TO BE ANNOUNCED
October 28, 2005 Much to the dismay of a dedicated group of organizers and a community poised to provide financial relief to a storm ravaged community, the Florida Keys For Katrina Relief effort is, once again, forced to seek an alternative date due to the affects of Hurricane Wilma. FKFKR is a concept first proposed by Capt. Jimmy Lozar of Islamorada to aid a city similar in proportions to a typical Key’s town suffering extensive damage from Hurricane Katrina in August. The city of Ocean Springs, MS got the nod from a selection committee of community and business leaders and the effort was underway. Major sponsors came on board including presenting sponsors Cay Clubs International, Caribee Boat Sales and Marina, Holiday Isle Resort, William Fountain Properties, Inc., Islamorada Fishing Club, Rotary Club of Key Largo and TIB Bank. Now, ironically, Keys residents are faced with their own hurricane headaches and the logistics of a fundraiser for both areas has event organizers looking for an alternate date to attract the best national and local talent available and provide an opportunity for optimum fundraising. According to Eileen McGuire, Event Coordinator, "With an understanding for the problems faced by many of our neighbors and considering the lack of services and infrastructure on the mainland, it would be inappropriate and ineffective for us to conduct a fundraiser of any significance at this time. A proposed alternate date of December 4, 2005 simply does not afford sufficient time to reorganize the event while dealing with storm damage issues." "Our sponsors and our committee members are steadfast in their support and we will work hard to find a date for the concert portion of our fundraising efforts, not only for Ocean Springs, MS but also for the Florida Keys severely impacted by Hurricane Wilma." That date depends on just how fast Islamorada’s Founder’s Park is able to recover from extensive storm surge flooding of the event property and the Village’s headquarters and municipal building. In the face of multiple postponements McGuire had this to say, "Keys residents have many challenges that face them and a history of overcoming every one of them. That’s the kind of spirit that made we want to live here. We will have a concert. It will benefit Ocean Springs, MS and the Florida Keys and you know what? It will be bigger and better than anything we originally planned because that’s the way we do it in the Keys!" Eileen suggested that persons interested in supporting the relief effort can make financial donations at any TIB Bank location. You can visit the event web site at www.reelllifeart.com and commemorative posters and t-shirts featuring the artwork of noted artist Pasta Pantaleo are on sale at all TIB Bank locations and on E-Bay … Florida Keys For Katrina Relief. Coral Shores High School INTERACT students continue to sell Mardi Gras beads throughout the community to raise funds.
ISLAMORADA
FOUNDER’S PARK
October 16, 2005 ___________________________________________
Islanders get ready to "rock the rock" in
support of residents of sister-city Ocean Springs, MS., Mayor Bob Johnson of Islamorada, weatherman Don Noe from WPLG’s Channel 10 and Clear Channel Radio’s K.C. Stuart will share center stage on October 23, 2005 at 1:00 p.m. kicking off "FLORIDA KEYS FOR KATRINA RELIEF DAY" at Islamorada Founder’s Park with the presentation of "Keys To The Village" to Mayor Connie Moran and visiting representatives from Ocean Springs, MS. The united fundraiser, based on a concept presented by well-known Keys fishing guide Jimmy Lozar and with just six weeks of lead time, is now steam-rolling toward the Sunday afternoon debut. Residents, area businesses and friends from all over the country are rallying to the cause and the extraordinary fundraising skills of the Florida Keys when it comes to helping those in need. Cay Clubs International, Caribee Boat Sales and Marina, Holiday Isle Resort, William Fountain Properties, Inc., Islamorada Fishing Club, Rotary Club of Key Largo and TIB Bank along with an entire community of volunteers have provided seed money, infrastructure and support to make this happen. And happen it will in typical island style. Music, featuring both local and national bands and lots of it, will start the day and take us right to the closing hours. According to Sid Sussman of Professional Event Services, Inc. well known South Florida and Keys bands Big Richard and his Extended Orchestra, Dave Feder, The Regs, The Jesse Kelsee Project and the Marlin Too Revue will perform. Later in the day, legendary guitarist Bo Diddley lets it rip along with "The Big Man" Clarence Clemmons on the saxophone, Iron Butterfly’s Mike Pinera, The Soul Providers and Frankie Ford. A minimum donation of just $5.00 gets you through the gate with ample parking at the event site and at Coral Shores High School with free shuttles to and from the park. VIP packages including preferred seating, parking and access to a VIP tent with refreshments are available for a donation of $100.00 per person and available by calling Rick West at 305-301-3910. Caribee Boat Sales and Marina will host a boat show with special discounts and donations to FKFKR for each boat sold. Mangrove Mike’s, SYSCO, Islamorada Fish Company, Coca Cola, Publix, Budweiser and Upper Keys Rotary will serve up the food and refreshments. Activities include kid’s games, a bounce house, sand art, coconut painting, clowns, and letter writing contests. The kids will have their own stage for performances by local school bands, a fashion show and more. At the Dog Park, Jill Hayes Photography will host a pet party and dog sporting event. There will be animal agility demonstrations and Lourdes Edlin’s World Class Frisbee Dogs of Miami will perform. You can even bring along your own pets for a photo session with Jill. Proceeds from the Dog Park events will benefit the Ocean Springs Humane Society to assist in the treatment and placement of orphaned animals. The Islamorada and Key Largo Guides Associations will host a kid’s casting contest with free t-shirts to the first 100 participants. There will be a special appearance by Capt. Hank Brown of Hook Up Lures and free fishing lures for the kids. Through the help and generosity of Jim and Sheri Trice and the Islamorada Fishing and Conservation Trust 100 fishing rods and reels will be donated to children in the town of Ocean Springs.
Mardi Gras beads will be offered by the
students of Coral Shores High School’s INTERACT group along with
commemorative posters of the event designed and painted by artist Pasta
Pantaleo. Pasta’s artwork will also be featured on event t-shirts and
kid’s sizes will be available. Event posters as well as donation buckets
are available now at all TIB Bank locations. Pasta’s posters can also be
purchased on E-Bay. The item number is 7358514708 and the title is
All donations to Florida Keys For Katrina Relief are being channeled through the non-profit arm of the Rotary Club of Key Largo and are fully tax deductible. You can visit our website at www.reellifeart.com and click on the poster with the conch shell. For more information or to volunteer, contact Eileen McGuire, Event Coordinator at 305-664-2321
Hurricane Wilma, a category five storm, forces postponement
of fundraising event Early Wednesday morning, after a briefing by emergency management personnel from Monroe County and the Village of Islamorada, Eileen McGuire, Event Coordinator, announced the postponement of FLORIDA KEYS FOR KATRINA RELIEF scheduled for this coming Sunday, October 23rd at Islamorada’s Founder’s Park due to the threat of Hurricane Wilma. McGuire stated, "At this time an alternate date has not been selected. It will take time to reschedule both local and national acts and co-ordinate all of the support groups necessary to make an event like this happen. And we have no idea how much impact there may be on the Florida Keys and our own area infrastructure." "Our sponsors remain committed and our fundraising efforts will continue. The only thing on "hold" is the date of our event. T-shirts and commemorative posters featuring the artwork of Pasta Pantaleo remain on sale at all TIB Bank locations and the students of Coral Shores High School’s INTERACT group will continue to market Mardi Gras beads to those wishing to donate." McGuire also had this to say, "I really want to thank everyone for their intense efforts to bring this fundraiser to fruition. Our committees will regroup following the passing of Hurricane Wilma and barring any devastation in our own community do everything we can to bring FLORIDA KEYS FOR KATRINA RELIEF to a successful conclusion. Our next meeting is scheduled for October 27, 2005 at 10:00 A.M. at the Horizon Room at Holiday Isle Resort to assess everything and select a date to complete the fundraising effort." FLORIDA KEYS FOR KATRINA RELIEF was an idea born just six weeks ago by Jimmy Lozar. With the aid and support of local businesses, community leaders and volunteers this enormous fund raising effort took shape to aid sister-city Ocean Springs, MS, itself destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in August. Major sponsors are Cay Clubs International, Caribee Boat Sales and Marina, Holiday Isle Resort, William Fountain Properties, Inc, Islamorada Fishing Club, Rotary Club of Key Largo and TIB Bank. Mayor Connie
Moran and several other community leaders from Ocean Springs, MS were
scheduled to arrive in Islamorada for the fundraiser. Mayor Bob Johnson
was expected to present them with "Keys To The Village" and the group
planned a weekend of fundraising activities and business discussions to
aid the stricken town. Now, all of that will have to wait pending the path
and intensity of Hurricane Wilma. |
