Making 60 Santa Claus wishes come true for local kids

Photo Captions:
Photo 1: L to R: University Park Country Club General Manager Laurie Evans accepts the unexpected $5,000 donation to Boys & Girls Club Manatee County from Lakewood Ranch and UPCC member Lynn Wentworth. The cash donation was inspired by the Club’s Giving Tree campaign that also included 60 Christmas gift wishes for local children.

Photo 2: In the true spirit of the holidays, University Park Country Club members generously donated 60 gifts ranging from bicycles and razor scooters to tablets, games and a drum set that will be distributed to local kids as part of UPCC’s and Boys & Girls Club Manatee County’s Giving Tree campaign.

The inaugural “giving tree” holiday initiative at University Park Country Club (UPCC) is helping make Christmas wishes come true for 60 boys and girls in Manatee County including $5,700 in cash donations to Boys & Girls Club Manatee County.

An unexpected single $5,000 donation from Lakewood Ranch resident and UPCC member Lynn Wentworth helped tip the generosity scale of support for this annual campaign spearheaded by Boys & Girls Club Manatee County. Gift donations included eight bikes, numerous tablets, razor scooters and a drum set for one lucky girl.

“This was an overwhelming success,” said UPCC General Manager Laurie Evans. “As a country club, we have collected gifts and made various holiday season donations in the past but this year we decided to add a more personal touch for our members and the club. It is an amazing tribute to the generosity of our members and support for our community,” Evans added.

About University Park Country Club
Located at 7671 The Park Boulevard in University Park, Fla., University Park Country Club is the #1 Golf Course in Southwest Florida. Consistently rated four stars by Golf Digest since 1996, University Park Country Club has been voted Best Place To Play Golf by Sarasota Magazine for 22 years running.

Golfers of all skill levels have access to 27 holes of championship golf designed by Ron Garl. Each 18-hole combination boasts its own distinct set of challenges and no two rounds are ever the same. Lush fairways traverse the natural woodlands and native habitat that have been painstakingly conserved to create a playing experience unlike any other. For more information, visit www.universitypark-fl.com or call 941-359-9999.