Lee BIA Builders Care, the nonprofit charitable arm of the Lee Building Industry Association (BIA), netted a record $90,000 at its 10th annual BBQ, Bands & Brew event.
Thousands of food- and music-loving guests attended BBQ, Bands & Brew, which was held Sunday, April 7 at Centennial Park in Fort Myers. Proceeds support Lee BIA Builders Care’s mission of providing 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 turnout was incredible, and our talented musicians and chefs certainly put on an impressive show for everyone in attendance,” said Becky Swift, executive director of Lee BIA Builders Care. “BBQ, Bands & Brew is our largest fundraiser of the year, and the support raised at this year’s event will go a long way toward helping us improve the homes, and lives, of deserving individuals right here in Southwest Florida.”
A panel of celebrity judges awarded Jonesez BBQ with the coveted title of “Best BBQ in Town” for the second consecutive year. Additional category winners include:
- Best Chicken: Big Smoke BBQ
- Best Pork: Dave’s Bangin’ BBQ
- Best Ribs: Jonesez BBQ
- Best Dessert: Norman Love Confections
- Best Side Dish: Dave’s Bangin’ BBQ
- Best Presentation: Big Smoke BBQ
- People’s Choice: Jonesez BBQ
Chasing Dallas, The Echo, Deb & The Dynamics and Bite the Bullet were this year’s featured entertainers.
In addition to record proceeds and attendance, BBQ, Bands & Brew also attracted more business sponsors this year to help make the event a success.
All Star Equipment Rentals & Sales returned as presenting sponsor, while Argos, Ferguson, Juniper Landscaping, Storm Smart and Sunset Pools were major sponsors. Supporting sponsors included Barraco and Associates, Brent’s Music & Sound, Cape Coral Plumbing Company, Creel Tractor Company, D.R. Horton, EnviroStruct, Dolence Advisors, Five County Insurance, Franzese Plumbing, Garden Street Portables, Grabber Construction Products, Gulf Western Roofing, Haines A/C & Refrigeration, Honc Industries, Hughes, Snell & Co., IBERIABANK, Latite Roofing, LCEC, Lee Drywall, Lightning Wireless Solutions, LSI Companies, Inc., Minto Communities, Nilles Design Group, Norris Furniture & Interiors, Paul Homes, Pavese Law Firm, Plumbing Solutions of Southwest Florida, Preferred Materials, Trophy Case, Waste Pro, Wright Construction Group and Young’s Electrical Contracting.
Media partners were 95.3 OLZ, Y100.1, Cat Country 107.1, 105.5 The Beat, WINK, Ft. Myers Magazine, Florida Weekly, Happenings Magazine, Carter-Pritchett Advertising and Air Corp. Beverage Partners included Aqua Systems, Budweiser, Coastal Beverage and Suncoast Beverage Sales, and Priority Marketing was the event’s promotions partner.
About Lee BIA Builders Care
Builders Care is the nonprofit charitable arm of the Lee Building Industry Association (Lee BIA). 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. To date, Lee BIA Builders Care has put more than $4.5 million in construction services back into the community at no cost to homeowners in need. Builders Care enlists the volunteer services of Lee BIA members and leverages grants and donated materials to provide construction and remodeling services to qualified homeowners throughout Lee County. Builders Care and the Lee BIA are headquartered at 6835 International Center Blvd. #4 in Fort Myers. The Lee Building Industry Association (www.BIA.net) is a 64-year-old association affiliated with the National Association of Home Builders and Florida Home Builders Association that serves to promote, protect and preserve homeownership, private property rights and affordable housing by advocating for balanced laws, regulation and fees through member education and outreach. Donations can be made online at www.LeeBuildersCare.org. More information is available by calling 239-938-0056. Follow Builders Care at Facebook.com/LeeBuildersCare or on Twitter @LeeBuildersCare.
