LRMC gives $30,000 to Lehigh Acres Senior Citizens Center
MEL TOADVINE Gary Bell, second from right, Lehigh Regional Medical Center’s chief executive officer, presented $30,000 to the Lehigh Senior Citizen Center. Also shown are, from left, the center’s board President Tom Smith, Executive Director Melissa Barry and board Vice President Tom Taylor.
Tom Taylor, vice president of the Lehigh Acres Senior Citizens Center, was all smiles when he accepted a check on behalf of the center’s board for $30,000 from the Lehigh Regional Medical Center.
On hand for last week’s ceremony at the hospital, at 1500 Lee Blvd., were Tom Smith, president of the center’s board of directors; Melissa Barry, the center’s executive director, Tom Smith, president of the center’s board; and Gary Bell, LRMC’s chief executive officer, who brought the check.
“We’re happy to present this check from our hospital to help support the operations of the Lehigh Citizens Center,” said Bell, who oversees the hospital.
The Lehigh Acres Senior Citizens Center is the largest one in Lee County, according to Melissa Barry, who operates the venue.
“We have a membership of more than 1,500 and after season, the membership hovers around 1,000 people and we host lots of activities,” she said.
“It’s a fun plan to attend. We have card players who come on a regular basis to have fun and we have all types of other activities and classes,” she said.
The center’s annual operations budget is about $100,000.
While times have been tight recently, Barry said the $30,000 donation was wonderful – more than the center had anticipated.
The center been a part of the Lehigh community for several decades. It was once supported by Lee County, which asked its members about 15 years ago to vacate and move to the Veterans Park Recreational Center.
Members of the board and center, with the community’s support, declined the offer citing that they would not have enough room.
The board won out after they convinced county officials that the relocation was a bad idea.
The center is large enough to accommodate all of its activities, including bingo games, dance classes, dinners and more.
Taylor noted that membership fees have gone up a small amount this year, due to rising costs to maintain the center.
Membership fees have risen to $30 for a single person or $55 for a couple. Fees were $20 and $55 before, according to Tom Taylor, vice president of the center’s board.
Residents age 50 and older may become members.
With a membership of 1,500, officials noted that it helps to bring in more income to operate the center, which faces electric and utility bills in addition to other expenses.
Gary Bell, LRMC’s chief executive officer, said the new owners of the hospital want to support the community and this is but one opportunity for the hospital to give back to the community.
LRMC gives $30,000 to Lehigh Acres Senior Citizens Center
MEL TOADVINE Gary Bell, second from right, Lehigh Regional Medical Center’s chief executive officer, presented $30,000 to the Lehigh Senior Citizen Center. Also shown are, from left, the center’s board President Tom Smith, Executive Director Melissa Barry and board Vice President Tom Taylor.
Tom Taylor, vice president of the Lehigh Acres Senior Citizens Center, was all smiles when he accepted a check on behalf of the center’s board for $30,000 from the Lehigh Regional Medical Center.
On hand for last week’s ceremony at the hospital, at 1500 Lee Blvd., were Tom Smith, president of the center’s board of directors; Melissa Barry, the center’s executive director, Tom Smith, president of the center’s board; and Gary Bell, LRMC’s chief executive officer, who brought the check.
“We’re happy to present this check from our hospital to help support the operations of the Lehigh Citizens Center,” said Bell, who oversees the hospital.
The Lehigh Acres Senior Citizens Center is the largest one in Lee County, according to Melissa Barry, who operates the venue.
“We have a membership of more than 1,500 and after season, the membership hovers around 1,000 people and we host lots of activities,” she said.
“It’s a fun plan to attend. We have card players who come on a regular basis to have fun and we have all types of other activities and classes,” she said.
The center’s annual operations budget is about $100,000.
While times have been tight recently, Barry said the $30,000 donation was wonderful – more than the center had anticipated.
The center been a part of the Lehigh community for several decades. It was once supported by Lee County, which asked its members about 15 years ago to vacate and move to the Veterans Park Recreational Center.
Members of the board and center, with the community’s support, declined the offer citing that they would not have enough room.
The board won out after they convinced county officials that the relocation was a bad idea.
The center is large enough to accommodate all of its activities, including bingo games, dance classes, dinners and more.
Taylor noted that membership fees have gone up a small amount this year, due to rising costs to maintain the center.
Membership fees have risen to $30 for a single person or $55 for a couple. Fees were $20 and $55 before, according to Tom Taylor, vice president of the center’s board.
Residents age 50 and older may become members.
With a membership of 1,500, officials noted that it helps to bring in more income to operate the center, which faces electric and utility bills in addition to other expenses.
Gary Bell, LRMC’s chief executive officer, said the new owners of the hospital want to support the community and this is but one opportunity for the hospital to give back to the community.
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