Hookers make donation to PIE
The Matlacha Hookers held their annual Christmas Party at the Pine Island American Legion Post #136 Monday night. The first item on the agenda was presenting a check to Pine Island Elementary School Principal Steve Hook.
Hookers Madam Lorie Tidwell introduced DJ Ruscik.
“I’m very proud to say we even did better than last year,” Ruscik said. “Part of the money that we are donating to the school includes grants we are giving, and the grants are in addition to what you’ll see on the check. I want you to remember when you make a donation you don’t just make a donation, you make a difference. And that’s what we’ve done this year for Pine Island Elementary for all the students, for the parents of the students, for the teachers and the most important thing for education. Our kids are among the smartest in Lee County and there’s a reason for that.”
“Nancy Chandler is the chairperson of the grant committee and she’s done an amazing job. Peg Cruckshank said. “This year the Fishing Derby committee decided to award Pine Island Elementary School $22,000.”
Of the $22,000, $2,500 will be given this spring to the teachers for the spring semester to purchase supplies for their school rooms. The Grant Committee also requested that two scholarships be funded from the 2016 derby and given to PIE graduates, this totals $3,000 for the scholarships.
“The requirement is that these two scholarships will be given to Pine Island Elementary graduates,” Cruckshank said. “Students that have attended Pine Island Elementary from Kindergarten through fifth grade.”
This left a balance of $14,000 will be used to fund grant applications from the PIE faculty and staff.
“We had more requests than we could possibly fill and 13 grant applications were partially or fully funded,” Cruckshank said. “The requests ranged from several field trips for the various grades to Golisano Children’s Museum, Billie Swamp Safari, 31 Produce, MOTE Marine Lab, Sea World, a geology lab kit, AR awards, All Star Test Prep Camp, to incentive programs – D.O.G.S. and the Captain’s Table, the SES and the AR program. Also, this fall an additional $2,500 will be given to the school to distribute to the teachers to help them prepare their classrooms for school.”
“I am just very humbled by this,” PIE Principal Steve Hook said. “My mother used to tell me at Christmas time, if you don’t have Christmas in your heart, you’ll never have it under the tree. And I have learned coming to the island that it’s Christmas 365 days a year on Pine Island. God bless all of you for your generosity, for your love of children and your support of the school. We will put this money to good use to give our kids the best opportunities for learning, and we thank you very much.”
To join the Matlacha Hookers: Dues are $20 annually with the membership year running from the first of October through the end of September. Obtain a membership application through its website www.matlachahookers.org and click on “Join Us” on the home page. Mail the application and check to the address on the application or bring them with to the next monthly Hooker general meeting. See the calendar on the website for time and location.
E-mail matty@matlachahookers.org or phone 239-560-9687 or 239-691-3018.