Lee BIA Builders Care’s popular BBQ, Bands & Brew fundraising event has raised more than $85,000 and counting to support the nonprofit in its mission to provide emergency construction services at no cost to needy and deserving elderly and/or disabled homeowners, and their families, who cannot obtain repairs through traditional means.
The festival, held April 2 at Centennial Park in Fort Myers, drew more than 7,500 and featured a lineup of live performances, food vendors and fun-filled activities for all ages, including a lively cornhole tournament, a rock-climbing wall and a children’s play area with face-painting, magician, balloon twister, games and more. All proceeds from the event will stay local to provide emergency construction services to Lee County homeowners in need.
“BBQ, Bands & Brew is our largest fundraising event, and the support raised at this year’s event will go a long way in helping us improve the lives of deserving homeowners right here in Lee County,” said Crystal Stouten, executive director of Lee BIA Builders Care. “We were thrilled to bring the event back this year and are thankful for all the guests, volunteers, vendors and performers who helped make our 2022 event such a success.”
The Collective, Deb & The Dynamics, Rocker and Hat Trick were this year’s featured entertainers. Southwest Florida’s top pit masters competed for the title of “Best BBQ in Town,” including Jonesez BBQ, Big D’s BBQ by Farmer’s Market, Big Smoke BBQ, Munchies Smokehouse BBQ and S.L.A.B. BBQ & More, as well as vendors including Caribbean Flair, Joe’s Jumbo Wieners and Kona Ice.
Jonesez BBQ earned the coveted title of “Best BBQ in Town” in the people’s choice vote for the third year. A panel of celebrity judges also named additional winners for the following categories:
- Best Chicken: Big Smoke BBQ
- Best Pork: Big Smoke BBQ
- Best Ribs: Jonesez BBQ
- Best Dessert: Munchie’s Smokehouse BBQ
- Best Side Dish: Big D’s BBQ by Farmer’s Market
- Best Presentation: Big Smoke BBQ
All Star Equipment Rentals & Sales was presenting sponsor for BBQ, Bands & Brew. Major sponsors included Better Buildings, Inc., Budweiser, City of Fort Myers, Ferguson, GL Homes and Priority Marketing. Promotions sponsors were Florida Weekly, Ft. Myers Magazine, Happenings Magazine, WINK News and Hell Yeah 93.7. Supporting sponsors include Achieva Credit Union, Ardurra, Barraco & Associates, Billy Roland, Birchfield Builders & Design, Caloosa Tent & Rental, Cape Coral Plumbing, Coca-Cola, Cogent Bank, Devoted Restoration, Grabber Construction Products, Gulf Star Marina, Haines Air Conditioning & Refrigeration, Lennar, Lightning Wireless, LSI Companies, My Shower Door, Nilles Design Group, Plumbing Solutions of Southwest Florida, Porgie Sauce, Stock Development, Suncoast Beverage, Trophy Case and Waste Pro.
To learn more about Builders Care and its mission, visit www.LeeBuildersCare.org or call 239-938-0056.
About Lee BIA Builders Care
The mission of Lee BIA Builders Care is to provide emergency construction services at no cost to needy and deserving elderly and/or disabled homeowners, and their families, who cannot obtain repairs through traditional means. Lee BIA Builders Care offers a full range of no-cost emergency construction services to improve the safety and health for needy seniors and disabled individuals of all ages by enlisting the expertise and donated services and materials of contractors, sub-contractors and businesses. To date, Lee BIA Builders Care has put more than $4.8 million in construction services back into the community at no cost to homeowners in need. Builders Care is funded through financial donations, grants and donated services and materials to provide emergency construction services to qualified homeowners throughout the community. Lee BIA Builders Care is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization under the charitable arm of the Lee Building Industry Association. Lee BIA Builders Care is headquartered at 6835 International Center Blvd. #4 in Fort Myers. Donations can be made online at www.LeeBuildersCare.org. More information is available by calling 239-938-0056, and by following Builders Care at www.Facebook.com/LeeBuildersCare.
