Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife raise over $8,000 through virtual auction
Special fundraiser held after annual Burrowing Owl Festival cancelled due to pandemic
While the Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife was unable to host its annual celebration of the burrowing owl in person, online users had a hoot at their virtual auction.
With the annual Burrowing Owl Festival scrapped due to COVID-19 precautions, CCFW, for the first time, presented an online format while treating the public to some unique auction items on which to bid, all while fundraising for the non-profit dedicated to protecting Cape Coral’s wildlife.
“We were pleasantly surprised with the turnout,” said Paul Bonasia, who organizes the Burrowing Owl Festival and also helped create the online auction. “It was a very positive outcome.”
More than $8,000 was raised for CCFW, as 137 of the 147 items up for bid were sold. Many local businesses, establishments and individuals donated auction items, for which CCFW is grateful.
The Burrowing Owl Festival (in what would be its 19th year) is the largest nature festival in South Florida and CCFW’s primary fundraising effort, generating thousands of dollars annually. Bonasia said 60% of the event’s revenue comes from gate sales alone. Last year was the most well-attended Burrowing Owl Fest ever.
“That was one of the reasons to try and have the auction — to offset the inability to have the festival this year,” Bonasia said. “We’ve been fiscally responsible and understood the possibility of not being able to have it.”
Bonasia said CCFW will continue to pursue fundraising activities throughout the year to make their work possible.
CCFW and its volunteers maintain burrowing owl burrows throughout the city, butterfly house tours, purple martin monitoring and maintenance, community education, and the purchase of conservation land in Cape Coral for endangered wildlife.
“CCFW is always looking for volunteers interested in Cape’s wildlife and conservation,” Bonasia said. “The more people we have, the greater impact we can make.”
Bonasia said CCFW is registered with Amazon Smile, where Amazon users can designate a specific charity that Amazon will donate a small percentage of their purchase to.
CCFW’s “Adopt an Owl” program has also been popular, Bonasia said, where residents can make a donation to ensure the protection of a burrowing owl’s home.
Levels of adoption include: Advocate ($25), Defender ($50), Ambassador ($100), Champion ($500) and Benefactor ($10,000).
The first donation level includes an adoption certificate and burrowing owl pin. The second includes the previous items and a magnet. The third includes tier one and two items as well as a burrowing owl T-shirt and child’s owl book. The fourth includes all items as well as a personal guided tour of burrowing owls in the Cape. The fifth and highest tier will ensure the purchase of a preservation lot.
Members of the public whose donation contributes to the purchase of land preservation will have their name marked at the site.
The campaign’s mission is to raise funds to purchase land for the preservation and protection of wildlife in Cape Coral that includes the burrowing owl, gopher tortoise, Florida scrub jay, bald eagle, manatee, purple martin and others.
To make a donation and find more information on CCFW, visit www.ccfriendsofwildlife.org.
-Connect with this reporter on Twitter: @haddad_cj
To reach CJ HADDAD, please email cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com