The Community Foundation is providing the first grants from the Florida Keys Emergency Relief Fund for immediate relief to individuals throughout the Keys with urgent needs in the wake of Hurricane Irma. Read more here.

CFFK has received $250,000 from the Florida Panthers for the Florida Keys Emergency Relief Fund to aid with Hurricane Irma efforts. Read more here.

Catch Me in the Keys! What’s another way to help the Keys recovery efforts? Bluefin USA is selling a limited edition solar t-shirt with 100% of the net proceeds benefiting the Florida Keys Emergency Relief Fund at CFFK. The shirts are for sale here.

Riley Hotel Group, owner of five Key West properties, is donating $10 from every new guest reservation to benefit the FKERF. The five properties include The Mermaid & The Alligator, Westwinds Inn, Island City House, Azul Keywest, and Travelers Palm Inn and Guesthouses.

Lower Keys Medical Center has generously donated $50,000 to the Florida Keys Emergency Relief Fund to assist with relief and recovery efforts in the Lower Keys. Read more here.

Benihana Key West and its national corporate office donated $10,000 to the Florida Keys Emergency Relief Fund at CFFK. Benihana Key West owner Mark Hyatt’s home in Sugarloaf Shores sustained quite a bit of damage after Hurricane Irma. While he was in the midst of his own repairs, he worked to reopen the restaurant as quickly as possible to retain his valued employees. To thank his customers for returning, he donated 100% of sales of Hibachi Chicken Fried Rice to the Relief Fund. That donation was matched by Benihana’s Corporate Office and resulted in a $10,000 donation for recovery and rebuilding efforts.

Events

Relief Fund Benefit Concert in Sanford, FL at Otters on the River – This two-day event, Nov 18^th and 19^th, features the music of multiple singers and bands, food, $3,000 in prize giveaways. Benefits the FL Keys Emergency Relief Fund at CFFK. Thank YOU to Gypsy Soul Entertainment and Otters for their generous support.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT

These are just a few of the many activities that have happened around the country from generous people helping Florida Keys recovery efforts.

#Flocking4fla! Former Floridian April Tellam Timmerman raised more than $10,000 from her home in Devon, Pennsylvania for the Florida Keys Emergency Relief Fund at CFFK. April launched a gofundme campaign and with members of her family delivered a plastic pink lawn flamingo to anyone donating $25 or more to the Relief Fund. They encouraged people to post pictures on social media with #flocking4fla. The response went viral, the neighborhood went pink, and the campaign received a ton of media attention.  A big thank you to April, her husband William, their three children Chase, Henry and Harper, and April’s mom for this amazing effort. Check out this incredible, inspiring video April made: https://vimeo.com/234340955

Suzie and Scott Bolozky, St. Louis residents with a home in Key West, raised $2,750 for the Florida Keys Emergency Relief Fund. The Bolozkys own a jewelry store in St. Louis and gave customers free watch batteries if they made a donation to the Relief Fund. They received 95 customer donations! Thanks to all the generous folks in St. Louis and the Bolozkys who generously supported Keys recovery efforts.

Eli Morris, a 5^th grader at Sigsbee Charter School, raised $860 by selling “Zombie Water” to benefit the Florida Keys Emergency Relief Fund for recovery efforts. Eli sold bottles of water during the recent Zombie Bike Ride in Key West and donated all proceeds to CFFK. Participants in this year’s ride were particularly generous knowing the donation would benefit Hurricane Irma recovery. Special thanks to Eli for his creative and generous efforts!

Care for the Keys — Conch Republic Band, Banner’s Bar & Grill in Lexington, KY, and Lexington’s Lions Club hosted a special event on Nov. 1st to benefit the Florida Keys Emergency Relief Fund at CFFK. Featured food, drink specials and the music of Conch Republic Band at Banner’s in Lexington, KY.

Bousa Brewing Company, a new local independent brewery in Miami, held a fundraiser to benefit the FKERF. Says Brianna Bermudez, “We believe everyone should pitch in and help our neighbors in need. This was the first way we thought we could help! We are excited to come to the Keys soon and support our neighbors as they recover and rebuild.” Thank you to Bousa Brewing Company!

Pioneer Linens in West Palm Beach, hosted a “Trivia Night” fundraiser to benefit the Florida Keys Emergency Relief Fund at CFFK on Sept. 27^th.  100% of all proceeds went to the Relief Fund. Says Pioneer Linens’ Alec Bell, “As a community and a business in Palm Beach, we could not ignore that our neighbors in the FL Keys were struggling and needed help and hope in a time like this.” Pioneer Linens is at 210 Clematis Street in West Palm Beach.

FIRM (Fair Insurance Rates in Monroe) and Mangia Mangia co-hosted a fundraising evening on October 19th at Mangia Mangia restaurant in Key West.  FIRM is directing the 25% of proceeds from dinner sales to benefit the Florida Keys Emergency Relief Fund at CFFK.

Tampa Bay Brewing Company, in collaboration with KW’s Hog’s Breath Saloon, hosted a special concert and event to benefit the Florida Keys Emergency Relief Fund at CFFK on Oct 7^th. The event featured a silent auction, on-site sales of specially-crafted beers, and a 3-hour ticketed concert featuring a Jimmy Buffet tribute band. Tampa Bay Brewing Company is at 13937 Monroe’s Business Park in Tampa.