The Heights Foundation/The Heights Center Presents Saltwater Cowboy

Event is Friday, March 3 at MarineMax Fort Myers

 (Fort Myers, Fla. –February 7, 2023) — Bring your salty attitude and join your boat-runnin’, fish-wranglin’, briny friends for a night of great food, drinks, music, and dancing.  The Heights Foundation/The Heights Center presents Saltwater Cowboy on Friday, March 3, from 5:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. at MarineMax in Fort Myers.   The event benefits The Heights Foundation/The Heights Center and Heights Early Learning programs.  The Heights Foundation/The Heights Center is an organization that works to build strong, self-sufficient families in the Harlem Heights neighborhood of Fort Myers.

“We believe a decent education allows at-risk kids to meet, challenge, and raise the bar on the world’s narrative of them,” said Kathryn Kelly, founder, president, and CEO of The Heights Foundation/The Heights Center.  “Our enriching preschool, charter school, afterschool, and summer camp programs ensure that parents can work while their kids learn, are safe, and have fun.  In addition, our adult and family programs provide opportunities for self-sufficiency.  This event supports our families and is an opportunity for a lot of fun!”

Guests will enjoy an extensive raw bar from The Timbers Restaurant and Fish Market and cocktails.  Well-known local Chef David Rashty will prepare a surf and turf dinner.  Rashty is a graduate of the French Culinary Institute (now the International Culinary Center) of New York City.  He gained experience in multiple 2-Star & 3-Star Michelin-rated restaurants and specializes in American Farm-to-Table cuisines. 

The event will include a silent and live auction.  Live music will be performed by Rudy Cox and Jumping Fences Band.  In addition, guests will have the opportunity to board three Aviara luxury boats, available exclusively at MarineMax, as well as view in-water boats.

Saltwater Cowboy is sponsored by FineMark National Bank & Trust, Gulf Shore Cooling, Kelly Brothers, Inc., MarineMax, Owen-Ames-Kimball Company, Rohrman Electric, and The Royal Palm Group at Morgan Stanley.  Additional sponsorship opportunities are available.  Sponsorships start at $1,250 for a half table of four and $2,500 to $10,000 for a table of eight which include sponsor courtesies. Individual tickets are $250 per person.

MarineMax is located at 14030 McGregor Boulevard in Fort Myers.

For more information, visit www.heightsfoundation.org/saltwatercowboy or call Annie Campbell at (239) 482-7706 or email [email protected]

About The Heights Foundation/The Heights Center

The Heights Foundation works to build self-sufficient families in the Harlem Heights neighborhood.

Our mission is to support education and wellness, promote family and community development, and provide the benefits of enrichment and the arts.    The Heights Center, supported by The Heights Foundation, is a place for Education, Opportunity, and Enrichment.   Heights Early Learning serves more than 80 babies through 4 years old.   The Heights Center serves 134 children in AfterSchool and SummerCamp.    The Harlem Heights Community Charter School serves 180 children from kindergarten through fifth grade.

Harlem Heights was originally settled as a rural agricultural community.   Approximately 780 children live in a mixture of single-family homes and multi-family apartments.    Demographically, the population is approximately 70% Hispanic, 20% African-American, and 8% Caucasian.    The poverty rate for children in Harlem Heights is more than twice the county average, with family income 40% below the county average.  As a result, families cannot easily access family support services in downtown Fort Myers and benefit greatly from programs within the neighborhood.