Calusa Sportsman Foundation raises $173,000 through Inshore Benefit

The Calusa Sportsman Foundation’s sixth annual Inshore Benefit raised $173,000 to support Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County and Valerie’s House, two nonprofit organizations serving children and families in Southwest Florida.

The two-day fishing event, held Sept. 11-12 at The Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village, drew 250 anglers for the tournament and 375 guests for the awards dinner. The weekend began with a Captain’s Dinner and raffle on Sept. 11, followed by the fishing tournament, awards dinner and live auction on Sept. 12.

On Oct. 26, representatives from the Calusa Sportsman Foundation presented two $86,500 checks to Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County and Valerie’s House, with the two nonprofits splitting the proceeds.

“The funds our community helped raise will go toward program enhancements and necessary renovations that will continue to improve lives of the children and families these nonprofits serve,” said Mike Dannenhauer, founder of the Calusa Sportsman Foundation. “We are truly honored to be a part of these initiatives and humbled to know that our contribution will help make an impact on those around us.”

The tournament challenged anglers to catch one snook, one redfish and one trout, with teams competing in Guided and Weekend Warrior divisions. Boatmaster won the Guided Division with 94 inches, followed by Slow Boat with 93.25 inches. Boyce Solid Surfaces won the Weekend Warrior Division with 84 inches, followed by Harris Dermatology with 82.5 inches and SP Designs/Coastal Daze with 81 inches.

The mission of Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County is to enable all young people, especially those who need the organization most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens. The mission of Valerie’s House is to help children and families work through the loss of a loved one together and go on to live fulfilling lives.

Valerie’s House was the sole beneficiary during the event’s first three years. The Calusa Sportsman Foundation added Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County as a beneficiary in 2024. Through its first five years, the Inshore Benefit raised $800,000 in charitable support.

“Investing in the growth and expansion of our clubs means opening more doors for children and families who count on us,” said Denise Gergley, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County. “The Calusa Sportsman Foundation’s continued support helps us build for the future while making a difference for the kids we serve today.”

“The Calusa Sportsman Foundation Fishing Tournament continues to deliver big! Big fun, big fish and big dollars for the fortunate nonprofits like Valerie’s House that benefit from all of it,” added Angela Melvin Churchill, founder and CEO of Valerie’s House. “We are so grateful that the foundation sees the value in helping grieving children in our community and continues to include our team in this unforgettable event.”

The Calusa Sportsman Foundation was founded by Mike Dannenhauer, Mark Wiles and Jeff Richards, who lead the organization today along with board members Darin McMurray, Dave Nitsche and Sean Russ.

Event Sponsors
Juniper Landscaping was the event’s Grand Charter Sponsor, and Builders Insurance was the event’s Premier Sponsor. Additional sponsors included Wayne Wiles Floor Coverings (Hat Sponsor); Five County Insurance Agency (Shirt Sponsor); Mike Patrick Electric (Awards Dinner Sponsor); All About Closets (Bucket Sponsor); Boone Distributors (Scoring Sponsor); Boyce Solid Surface Solutions (Ruler Sponsor); Better Buildings, Inc. (Beverage Sponsor); Lennar (Buff Sponsor); Hooters (Captain’s Dinner Sponsor); MasterBrand (Raffle Sponsor); and The Nunez Law Firm (Towel Sponsor).

Platinum Sponsors included Boatmaster; Cheney Brothers; Daltile; Iseley | Fugitt; Landshark Vodka Seltzer; Mohawk Flooring; Proflex; Royal Shell; Shaw Floors; and Shoreline Flooring Supplies. Gold Sponsors included AI Building Products; ASAR; Cain & Bultman, Inc.; CALI; Captain Steamer; Classic Floors Ferrazzano; Coastal Daze Outdoor; Elite Electrical Contractors, Inc.; GCM Contracting; Happy Floors; International Design Trends; Priority Business Solutions; SP Designs Aqua Grip; SP Designs & Manufacturing; Summit Fire & Security; TEC; and Westlake Royal Building Products.

Silver Sponsors included AHF Products; Armstrong Flooring; Crossville; Emma’s Hope; EverGreen Erosion Services; Frank R. Jenkins Custom Homes; Mullican Flooring; Stanley Stephens Company; Tesoro; and UCX.

Trout, Redfish and Snook Sponsors included Bankers Insurance Group; Bold Surfaces; Coca-Cola; Compass Flooring Distributors; Elysium; Emser Tile; Glazzio Tiles; Harris Dermatology; Honc Industries; Karastan; LW Flooring; Nothing Bundt Cakes; and Tarkett.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County
Established in 1974, Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County serve children and teens through school-based, neighborhood and community club locations. The nonprofit’s mission is to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens. After-school and summer programs focus on five core areas: education and career, service and leadership, health and wellness, the arts, and sports and recreation. For more information, please visit BGClee.org or call 239-334-1886.

About Valerie’s House
Valerie’s House opened its first location in Fort Myers, Florida in January 2016 and has served more than 5,000 children and their families from Lee, Collier, Charlotte, and Hendry counties. The organization provides a safe, comfortable place for children to share, grieve and heal together following the death of a close family member. Valerie’s House has three Southwest Florida locations: 3551 Valerie’s House Way in Fort Myers, 819 Myrtle Terrace in Naples and 233 East McKenzie Street in Punta Gorda. Valerie’s House also expanded into Northwest Florida in 2021 with a home in downtown Pensacola. For more information, visit www.valerieshouse.org.

About Calusa Sportsman Foundation
The Calusa Sportsman Foundation is a group of prominent business leaders in the community that have come together to host fundraising events for the avid sportsman. The founding members of this organization are Mike Dannenhauer (Five County Insurance), Mark Wiles (Wayne Wiles Floor Coverings) and Jeff Richards (Better Buildings, Inc.). They are dedicated to creating fun outdoor activities with an overall goal of helping less fortunate residents in SWFL. These lifelong residents share a deep sense of community stewardship that is coupled with a passion for the camaraderie their events provide. We hope that you will join them in support of this great cause.