Steven Ray McDonald, the driving force behind the campaign to rebuild the historic Fort Myers Beach arches, was our guest on Beach Talk Radio this past Saturday. A very special surprise guest joined the show and he brought a very special surprise for Steven.
Alex King from the King Foundation donated $20,000 to the Restore the Arches campaign giving the organization a much needed revenue boost and pushing them closer to the total needed of approximately $53,000.
Watch Alex King make the announcement of the $20,000 donation HERE.
The King Foundation donation puts the total raised at $42,000.
Lee County has agreed to install a smaller version of the arches on the beach at Bowditch Park.
The King foundation has also pledged to match dollar for dollar any amount up to $10,000 that the organization raises at its 2022 music festival. Maxing out that opportunity would certainly put them over the amount they need to construct the arch.
There are 17 stones from the original arches remaining, about 1/3 of the original structure. That amounts to 60,000 lbs of stone.
The arches welcomed residents and visitors to Fort Myers Beach, where the Matanzas Pass bridge now sits, from 1924-1979. When they were knocked down to construct the new bridge not all the pieces were saved. Those that were are now in storage.
[…] Recreation Director Jesse Lavender this week to discuss the future of the arches after a $20,000 donation from the King Foundation last week gave the fundraising campaign a big […]
That is awesome! Alex is a wonderful man!
Very generous. Thanks King Family.
Thank you to the King Family Foundation!
A special moment in our groups history. Thanks to the King Family Foundation.