An upcoming fundraiser will support The Sanibel School and enhanced curriculum for it students.
The Sanibel School Fund will host its 2025 Blue Ribbon Golf Classic & Gala on May 10 at The Sanctuary Golf Club on Sanibel. Registration and lunch for the classic will open up at 11 a.m., with a shotgun start at 12:30 p.m. The gala will take place from 5 to 10 p.m., featuring dinner and more.
“The Blue Ribbon golf tourney and gala is our primary fundraising source for enrichment curriculum,” Sanibel School Fund President Dorothy Plumb said. “As a public school in Lee County, any curriculum outside of the core curriculum is enhanced. That is funded primarily through the Blue Ribbon classic.”
She explained that the mission of the organization is to sustain what enhanced programming it has ongoing, which means STEAM — Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics.
“Which is definitely a differentiator for our school within the school district,” Plumb said of STEAM.
She continued that the organization recently launched a horticultural and gardening initiative for students, which will need to be sustained moving forward, plus it is expanding programming.
“We’re growing our environmental studies program, to include collaboration with nonprofits and others, and to offer field trips and presentations,” Plumb said.
The classic format will be a scramble tournament, with individual players matched into foursomes.
“The first, second and third place winners come with trophies and other prizes,” she said.
In addition, there will be the traditional extras on the course, such as closest to the hole. One unique element is the school’s student golf team will be set up at a hole to serve as long drivers with its coach.
“There are other little awards and fun gimmicks, if you will,” Plumb said.
At 5 p.m., the gala will kick off with the theme “Innovate, Illuminate, Educate — A Night in Silver.”
“It’s the Sanibel School Fund’s 23th anniversary, so we’re celebrating that in silver,” she said.
A cocktail hour on the outside patio will start off the evening.
“There will be theme-oriented cocktails,” Plumb said. “A full open bar.”
A helicopter ball drop will be held at 5:15 p.m. Sanibel school Principal Jennifer Lusk will drop the balls and a hole-in-one or the closest to pin will win a 50/50 raffle. Winners need not be present.
They will also auction off two, two-person helicopter rides over the islands for right then.
At 5:30 p.m., a dinner of beef tenderloin, fish tacos, pasta, sides, salads and more will be served.
A deejay will provide live music, with a silent and live auction planned.
She explained that the silent auction will feature gift cards to area restaurants, businesses and spas, and they expect to have a delight package, a health and wellness one, and an off-island getaway package.
“Our community has been so gracious in supporting the Sanibel School Fund with items,” Plumb said.
The live auction will be auctioneered by Sanibel school parent and island artist Rachel Pierce.
“We will have four to five,” she said of the items up for grabs.
They will include: an offshore fishing package with Capt. Nick Weyers, of Most Excellent Fishing, plus YETI gear; a catered dinner by Paper Fig Kitchen, with wine pairings, held at Captiva beachfront property; a two-night stay in Key West, paired with Key West Express tickets and gift cards to Key West restaurants and amenities; and a package of premium and rare bourbons, with glasses included.
“In support of the 23rd anniversary, people can dress in silver or gray,” Plumb said.
This year’s presenting sponsor is The Sanctuary Golf Club Foundation. Additional supporters include Artistic Interiors, Bank of the Islands, the HM Restaurant Group and Landgraphics Sanibel Captiva.
Tickets are $600 per golfer and it includes one gala guest or $150 per person for the gala.
Golf foursomes, gala tables and sponsorships are available.
For the helicopter ball drop, the cost is $25 per ball or $100 for five balls.
The community is encouraged to take part.
“The Sanibel School is a public school, and with that, it operates under a very limited budget,” she said. “To supplement the school’s core curriculum, the Sanibel School Fund raises money to provide enhanced learned opportunity for our island students — the future of our island.”
For tickets or more information, visit https://sanibelschoolfund.org/.
For more information about sponsorship opportunities, email thesanibelschoolfund@gmail.com.
The Sanctuary Golf Club is at 2801 Wulfert Road, Sanibel.
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IF YOU GO
What
2025 Blue Ribbon Golf Classic & Gala
When
May 10 with classic to begin at 11 a.m. and gala to begin at 5 p.m.
Where
The Sanctuary Golf Club, at 2801 Wulfert Road, Sanibel
Why
Proceeds to benefit The Sanibel School
Details
Tickets are $600 for classic and gala or $150 for gala
To reach TIFFANY REPECKI / trepecki@breezenewspapers.com, please email