Sunshine Ace Hardware, Farm City BBQ present $28,000 in grants for youth programs in SWFL

FORT MYERS, Fla. - EntSun -- Sunshine Ace Hardware, in partnership with Farm City BBQ of Collier County, has donated $28,000 to nonprofit organizations with programs and services benefiting Southwest Florida youth.

The donation, formally presented on May 6, represents proceeds from this spring's Big Green EGGfest, a family-friendly celebration of barbecue that included food samplings, grilling demonstrations, live music and spirited cooking competitions.

Farm City BBQ of Collier County, a 501(c)(4) organization, partners with local businesses and farm families to help raise money for local youth programs. Funding recipients from the 2022 EGGfest event included Rotary Club of Bonita Springs, Rotary Club of Bonita Beach Sunset, Kiwanis Club, Collier County 4H Association, Youth Leadership Collier and the Immokalee Foundation.

"Each of these organizations offer programs that help our youth gain valuable educational, social and life experiences," said Michael Wynn, president of Sunshine Ace Hardware, EGGfest's title sponsor. "This investment in our youth is critically important to give our region's next generation of leaders the tools and skills necessary to succeed in life."

More on EntSun News

• 1040 Abroad: Live tax-free if you earn less than $112,000
• Aloma Bowling Centers offer Free Bowling for Kids all summer long
• Claretta Street Series Creator Colette Barris Aims Series As The Next Great Story
• Implement The Exploration Of Charity In The Virtual World Concept Till The Very End
• Global Changemakers Celebrate Black Women In Film At Cannes Film Festival In Response To Gross Underrepresentation In Competition, over 75-years

In addition to Sunshine Ace Hardware, sponsors for EGGfest included Lee Health, BKS Partners, PBS Contractors, NCH Healthcare System and NAMCOA Registered Investment Advisor.

Held April 2 at Riverside Park in Bonita Springs, EGGfest attracted more than 700 chefs, foodies and EGGheads from around the state to share in their love for grilling on the Big Green Egg, a versatile ceramic charcoal barbecue cooker that works as a grill, oven or smoker.

Chef Asif Syed, of 21 Spices, defended his crown as the Pro EGGhead Grill Master while newcomers to the event, BBQ Nerds Chefs Matt and Anna Seguin, earned the Amateur Division title as decided by event judges. Additional awards were given in each division:

Pro Division – People's Choice Award

• First place: Chef David Rashty of Team Bonita Morning Rotary Club
• Second place: Chef James Fraser of Team Immokalee Foundation
• Third place: Chef Auturo Aguirre of Team NCH/Blues Zones

Amateur Division – People's Choice Award

• First place: Chef Bart Zino of Team PBS Contractors
• Second place: Chef Jose Garcia of Team Grace Place
• Third place: Chef Jon McLeod of Team Bonita Evening Rotary Club

The next Sunshine Ace Hardware Big Green EGGfest will be held April 1, 2023.

More on EntSun News

• Country Music Singer/Songwriter Ashley Wineland To Drop Full-Length Album 'I'm Gonna Ride'
• Classic Theatre of Maryland presents the opening of "The Servant of Two Masters" at Reynolds Tavern!
• Grayhawk Capital Receives U.S. Small Business Administration Investment Company of the Year Award
• ThoroughCare Announces $3 Million Capital Raise to Advance Care Coordination for Value-Based Care
• Two Great Events. One Great Day: The Love+Unity Music Fest and Scholarship Ride on World Day of Diversity and Culture

For more information, please visit SunshineAceEggFest.com (http://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=NmhlUlE6yeocB7O2UusxSOoe0bcZ3o5nBm6J-2F8EXKLNzvTITFjnt8FOgdXdsqBQJzaL3_SvmLtGKdOz5xwmvoQ2P51iTfWYoItE0iKQewot40icAg4C7ehDvpulXKJSUPzpJy5ZYyvNs-2B4vsxasdcAnARSt9ugcattIYCTO1IiByVwswGpt43fQA4KHmZLpQzwz...).