The Bobby Nichols-Fiddlesticks Charity Foundation concluded its 22nd Annual Nichols Cup tournaments and auction gala at Fiddlesticks Country Club on Monday, Feb. 19, setting a record of nearly $1.8 million in net revenue to serve abused and at-risk children in Southwest Florida.

The signature four-day charity event, themed “Dare to Dream: Helping Kids Dream Again,” featured a pro-am golf tournament, tennis tournament and pickleball tournament, as well as a neighborhood “fun-raiser,” gala event, and live and silent auctions.

To date, the annual fundraiser has raised more than $18 million in donations to support local children’s charities. The Foundation’s two primary charity partners are the Children’s Advocacy Center of Southwest Florida and Abuse Counseling & Treatment. Additional beneficiaries include Blessings in a Backpack, Liberty Youth Ranch, Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice and Pace Center for Girls, Lee.

Founded by longtime Fiddlesticks resident Bobby Nichols, winner of 14 PGA Tour tournaments, the PGA recognizes the Nichols Cup golf tournament as one of the most successful community-sponsored pro-am tournaments in the U.S. The tournament recognizes the contributions and accomplishments of Nichols, including this year’s 60th anniversary of his 1964 PGA Championship win.

“Sixty years ago, I never dreamed I could turn my passion for golf into life-changing support for at-risk children,” said Nichols. “While attracting some of the greatest golfers, this pro-am is known for more than skill – it’s about heart, and that’s exactly what our community has shown year after year. Together, with our neighbors, we’ve given more children a brighter future.”

Hosted by baseball Hall of Famer Johnny Bench and auctioneer Scott Robertson, 520 guests attended the Feb. 17 fundraising gala, bidding on silent and live auction items. Top-selling auction items included four tickets to the 2024 PGA Championship; a Masters Tournament golf package; a Calusa Pines Golf Experience and Mark Loren handcrafted 14k gold earrings. The four-day charity event culminated with the 22nd annual Nichols Cup Pro-Am Golf Tournament. The talk of the tournament included a hole-in-one challenge on the green for a brand new 2024 Porsche Macan, won for the first time with a remarkable shot made by Mary Ruth Geny. Fort Myers native Mikey Bevins, who plays on the men’s golf team at Western Carolina University, was also recognized for achieving a rare albatross, or double eagle, scoring three-under-par on a single hole.

“We are immensely grateful for a community so dedicated to our cause,” said Bryan Simmering, president of the Bobby Nichols-Fiddlesticks Charity Foundation. “I am proud to lead a board that organizes such an extraordinary community effort for our designated children’s charities of Nichols Cup. Our heartfelt thanks go to every participant, donor and volunteer who has made this record year of fundraising possible. Your generosity is the driving force behind our mission to create lasting change for at-risk and abused children in Southwest Florida.”

To learn more, email info@nicholscup.org or visit NicholsCup.org.

About the Bobby Nichols-Fiddlesticks Charity Foundation

The Bobby Nichols-Fiddlesticks Charity Foundation was founded in 2002 by a group of Fiddlesticks members, known as Pipers, who volunteer to organize and run the annual Nichols Cup Pro-Am Golf, Tennis and Pickleball Tournaments. The annual tournament recognizes the contributions and accomplishments of golfer Bobby Nichols, a longtime resident of Fiddlesticks and winner of 14 PGA Tour tournaments including the 1964 PGA Championship and 1974 Canadian Open. Since the formation of the Bobby Nichols-Fiddlesticks Charity Foundation 22 years ago, more than $18 million has been donated to local children’s charities. To learn more, visit NicholsCup.org or call 239-633-4579.