The Edison-Ford Winter Estates Foundation

The Edison-Ford Winter Estates Foundation's second annual spring signature fundraiser, Tom's Caribbean Fling, will be held on Saturday, May 5, 2007, at Centennial Park in downtown Fort Myers. The event is a casual evening of tropical ambiance, which will include entertainment, gaming, live and silent auction, Caribbean fare, phenomenal food and more. Proceeds will benefit the foundation's endowment. Co-chairs of the event are Charlotte Edwards and Katherine Dougherty.

The Fort Myers Rotary Club recently presented $178,000 in net proceeds generated from the club's signature event, the Southwest Florida Wine Fest, to four local charities that provide services for children.

The Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida, primary beneficiary of the event, received a check for $121,000 for use toward the hospital's building fund.

The Uncommon Friends Foundation received $6,750 to support the foundation's elementary character education curriculum, Southwest Florida Addiction Services received $10,500 for the support of the SWFAS Adolescent Outpatient program, and Voices for Kids received $11,475, and the club's trust fund received $28,000 to continue to support its children's charities locally.

The four-pawed residents at Sandoval are inviting area canines to join them at Barkley Park - their special, fenced-in place to romp and play - for a dog spa day Saturday, April 21, from 1 to 4 p.m., when the Gulf Coast Humane Society will be on hand to pamper the partygoers. The GCHS event features volunteers and pet professionals who will offer a number of canine-related services. Admission is free.

The dog wash, the first to be held at Sandoval, commemorates the opening of Barkley Park, the community's dog park, while giving people (and canines) an opportunity to support the nonprofit organization that provides a refuge for surrendered pets and - unless too ill or debilitated - will keep and care for them until new families take them home, according to Aimee LaLonde, director of development for GCHS (formerly named the Humane Society of Lee County).

The 18th annual Wanderlust travel auction and gourmet dining extravaganza will transport guests around the world on Thursday evening, April 26, as they bid on one-of-a-kind luxury vacation packages across the globe. With its theme of Around the World in 80 Days, the 2007 auction and world-class dining experience at The Ritz-Carlton, Naples resort on the Gulf of Mexico will offer trips to many of the destinations visited by Phileas Fogg in the Jules Verne book and movie of the same name.

From London to India and beyond, Wanderlust guests can begin planning their excursions when they raise their auction paddles to bid at this annual event that benefits Florida Gulf Coast University's Resort & Hospitality Management degree program. The gala is jointly sponsored by major hospitality providers in Collier and Lee counties, and includes glamorous packages up for bid such as gourmet dining experiences, great golf, shopping sprees, sporting events, spa treatments and more.

Wanderlust is the major fundraiser for FGCU's Resort & Hospitality Management program, with proceeds going toward school operations and scholarships.

Reservations for Wanderlust are $250 per person or $3,500 for a corporate-sponsored table of 10. For more information or to make a reservation for Wanderlust 2007, call (239) 277-3963.

Motorcycle riders from all over Southwest Florida will hit the streets Saturday, April 7 for the fourth annual Easter Toy Run to benefit the Children's Hospital of SW Florida, a part of the Lee memorial Health System. The ride begins at Harley Davidson of Fort Myers - registration is from 9 - 10:30 am - and runs to the Children's Hospital. Riders should bring toys, boxed games, sports balls, arts and crafts but no stuffed animals. Last year the ride provided almost a year's worth of toys.

For more information call Ron Cox at 772-8550 or pick up a flyer at Fort Myers Harley. n