selling bags. As one volunteer so aptly said, “It was
rewarding to work with and become friends with
so many terrifi c gals and for the special organization,
Boca Bargains. Special because everything
is donated, everyone is a volunteer, and all the
money goes to charities related to our island.” All
these, and more, are the stories that create the
saga of the Boca Bargains history.
Other undertakings
The Boca Grande Woman’s Club reach doesn’t
end with Boca Bargains, water quality and
scholarships. They have given generously to
the Boca Grande Health Clinic, with their fi rst
recorded donation to the Clinic in 1985. Since
that time the Clinic has received $350,000 in
donations from the Boca Grande Woman’s Club
generous support.
The Woman’s Club donations have also
underwritten radiology services, and just this year
gave a new imaging machine to the Boca Grand
Health Clinic that decreases patient exposure
to radiation, provides a higher resolution imaging
January/February 2020 GASPARILLA MAGAZINE 5
platform, improves diagnosis time as well as
processing time, and allows images to be placed
directly into a patient’s online fi le or to be sent to
another facility.
Other donations from the Woman’s Club to
the Boca Grande Health Clinic include:
• Powered exam tables
• Payment into the Accreditation Association
for Ambulatory Health Care organization
• Dedicated hot water heater and
washer/dryer in Boca Grande Health Clinic
Annex
• Electronic Medical Records (EMR)
• Miscellaneous equipment to interface with
EMR
• Autoclave
• Freezer
• Handicapped-accessible entry
• Refurbishing and redecorating
The Woman’s Club also supports local 501
(C)3 organizations and area schools through its
Community Grant Program. Grants are awarded
each April and announced at the April general
membership meeting.
The Club has been instrumental in supporting
major island initiatives, and this support has
brought needed improvements and changes to
the island. Examples of these initiatives include
funding for the preliminary study which resulted
in the establishment of the Boca Grande Community
Center, support for the establishment of
a capital improvement fund for the Community
Center, contributions to the GICIA Land Conservancy
Fund, major contributions to The Island
School and early support for island theatrical and
drama efforts, leading to the establishment of the
Royal Palm Players.
Organizations supported by the BGWC
Community Grant Program include the Barrier
Island Parks Society, Boca Grande Art Center,
Boca Grande Preschool, Boca Grande Heath
Clinic Foundation, Boca Grande Historical
Society, Boca Grande Sea Turtle Association,
Crowninshield Community House, Friends of
Boca Grande Community Center, Gasparilla
Island Conservation & Improvement Association,
Gasparilla Island Kids Classic Tarpon Tournament,
Gasparilla Maritime Museum, Johann Fust
Community Library, Lee County Parks and
Recreation summer camps, L.A. Ainger Middle
School Band Boosters, Lemon Bay High School
Band Boosters, Lemon Bay High School
Baseball Boosters, Lemon Bay High School Football
Boosters, Lemon Bay High School Project
Graduation, Mote Marine Laboratory, Royal Palm
Players, and provided initial support to The Island
School.
The Boca Grande Woman’s Club is also
responsible for popular island events, such as the
Community Christmas Tree Lighting, the Spring
Fair and the bi-annual Boca Grande Dog Show.
In 1954, the Boca Grande Woman’s Club fi rst
began the tradition of lighting the tree in the
center of the village to mark the beginning of the
Christmas season in Boca Grande. The tradition
continues today with more than 200 members
of the community turning out each year to hear
the Christmas story, share holiday greetings with
friends, enjoy refreshments and join in the singing
of Christmas carols.