Introducing a new community tradition celebrating and bringing together the philanthropic heart of our community.
LAKELAND, FL (March 6, 2020) – GiveWell Community Foundation celebrated its inaugural Toast event at the new Lakeland Country Club on Thursday evening, March 5, 2020 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. The new annual event provided an opportunity for attendees from around Polk County to connect and socialize while enjoying an array of food and beverage pairings.
The Lakeland Country Club’s executive chef DeMarco Carlton and bar manager Tyler LeBeau prepared eight stations of hor d’oeuvres paired with wines, cocktails, and local craft beer. Around 6:00 p.m., board chair Jeff Cox gave a toast where he recognized retiring President/CEO Terry Simmers and welcomed incoming President/CEO John Attaway, who will step into the Simmers’ role in April 2020.
The Toast event was the vision of members of GiveWell Community Foundation’s Event Committee, which includes co-chairs Anne Furr and Kimberly Elmhorst, Bill Dorman, Doug McPherson, Jillian Spangler, and Wesley Barnett. Thank you to the committee members for their vision and leadership, making the inaugural Toast a successful event and a new tradition for our philanthropic family.
Thank you to our donor advised, designated, field of interest, legacy, community, and memorial fundholders for everything you do in support of our community. GiveWell Community Foundation will hold its annual workshop for nonprofit agency fundholders in the fall of 2020. Visit the Types of Funds page to learn more about the funds available through your community foundation.
The inaugural Toast event was made possible thanks to the generous support of our event sponsors: Allen & Company, CAPTRUST, Bank of Central Florida, Citizen’s Bank & Trust, CPS Investment Advisors, Grove Roots Brewing Co., and the Scheck/Lewis Group at Morgan Stanley.