(Left to Right): Marshall T. Bower, Esq., president and CEO of The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools with 2024 Outstanding School Volunteer Awardee Erin Sleppin presented by Gary Griffin, CEO of B&I Contractors and Robbie Roepstorff, founder and president of Edison National Bank/Bank of the Islands. PROVIDED

The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools held the 33rd annual Partners in Education/State of our Schools Breakfast on May 10 at Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre. The purpose of this popular event is to honor business and community partners in the District schools, report on highlights of foundation initiatives and allow the superintendent to update the community on the “State of Our Schools.” The theme of this year’s event was the “Addams Family . . . School is Ghoul.”

Members of the foundation’s executive committee and the superintendent, Dr. Ken Savage, all participated in the presentation of awards while playing the parts of the various Addams Family characters. Mike Wukitsch, chief people officer of Lee Health and foundation board chair, played Gomez Addams. Grandmama Addams was played by Dr. Michele Laboda, DMD of Gulf Coast Orthodontics and foundation board immediate past chair. Robbie Roepstorff, president and founder of Edison National Bank/Bank of the Islands and foundation past board chair, played Morticia Addams. The Lee County Tax Collector and foundation vice chair Noelle Branning, Esq. played Wednesday Addams. Pugsley Addams was played by President and CEO of Sanibel Captiva Community Bank and foundation treasurer Kyle DeCicco. Itt Addams was played by Gary Griffin, CEO of B&I Contractors and foundation past chair. The president of FineMark National Bank & Trust of South Lee County and foundation past chair Harlan Parrish played Thing, while the Superintendent of the School District of Lee County and foundation board of director Dr. Kenneth Savage played Lurch.

“The Partners in Education/State of our Schools Breakfast was, once again, successful in bringing together business, community, and education leaders in an entertaining format while honoring partners in education and informing them on the issues faced by the School District of Lee County”, said President and CEO of the Foundation for Lee County Public Schools Marshall T. Bower. “The engagements of our community with public education helps to make sure out students and educators perform at their highest potential.”

Recognized at the event were the 2024 awardees:

• Sanibel Captiva Community Bank — 2024 Business Partner of the Year

(Left to Right): Mike Wukitsch, Chief People Officer of Lee Health and Foundation Board Chair; Gary Griffin, CEO of B&I Contractors; Dr. Michele Laboda of Gulf Coast Orthodontics; 2024 Business Partner of the Year recipient Kyle DeCicco (as Puglsey Addams), president and CEO of Sanibel Captiva Community Bank; Lee County Tax Collector Noelle Branning, Esq.; Dr. Kenneth Savage, School District of Lee County superintendent; and Harlan Parrish, president of FineMark National Bank & Trust. PROVIDED

• Riverside Church — 2024 Family and Community Involvement Partner of the Year

• Erin Sleppin — 2024 Volunteer of the Year

• Rosanne Eckelmann — 2024 Senior Volunteer of the Year

Erin Sleppin said, “As a proud mother and passionate community member, volunteering in the School District of Lee County Public Schools is my way of investing in the future.”

Rosanne Eckelmann said, “I love to see the students light up when they make connections and receive positive feedback for their hard work and perseverance.”

The 2024 Outstanding Senior School Volunteer Awardee Rosanne Eckelmann. PROVIDED

The funding for all the foundation’s initiatives and programs shared at the breakfast would not be possible without the generous support of longtime sponsors and business partners. Thank you to the honor roll sponsors: B&I Contractors*; Edison National Bank/Bank of the Islands*; Lee Health*; FineMark National Bank & Trust, Fred & Jean Allegretti Foundation; Suncoast Credit Union*; and Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation. In addition, thank you to the event major sponsors: Gulfpoint Construction Company, Inc., Internet Essentials by Comcast and Lake Michigan Credit Union. *Event major sponsor

About The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools

The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools, Inc. is a private, 501(c)3 organization established in 1986. Its mission is to enhance and enrich the quality of public education in Lee County for students and educators through programs, resources, and experiences made possible through corporate, individual, and educational partnerships. The foundation is rated a Platinum organization by GuideStar. Visit LeeSchoolFoundation.org, on Twitter @FoundationLCPS, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.