Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County, Inc.

Lee Wetherington has been involved with and has been on the Board of Directors of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County since 1991.

Elected to the Executive Committee in 1998, he became Vice-President in 2000 and President in 2001.That same year, he served as board chair. Wetherington has also chaired the Building Committee, responsible for funding and building the new Fruitville Boys & Girls Club, North Port Boys & Girls Club and proposed Venice Boys & Girls Club. In addition, he serves on the Capital Campaign Steering Committee, working to raise funds and endowments for the Venice, Fruitville and North Port Clubs. Under his leadership, the committee raised $10 million in seven months.

In 2004, in recognition of his outstanding contributions of time, talent and treasure to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County, the Clubs named their newest facility the Lee Wetherington Boys & Girls Club in his honor. The Grand Opening of the 38,000-square foot, state-of-the-art building was held on September 28, 2004.

Lee Wetherington Companies has given more than $600,000 to the children of this community through contributions to the Kids in College Scholarship Fund—which Wetherington founded—and the Boys & Girls Clubs Capital Endowment. In addition, Wetherington's personal donations of time and talent are incalculable.

Below are highlights of Wetherington's contributions to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota:

• The 5th Annual Kids’ Night Out, a premier fundraising event for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County took place Friday, November 7, 2008 at the elegant Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota. More than 500 guests gathered to honor Hometown Heroes Kay Glasser, Lee Wetherington, and Ted & Jean Weiller for their lifelong contributions to our community. Henry Winkler, noted actor, author, director and producer was the keynote speaker of the evening. The dinner and live and silent auctions raised vital funds in support of Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County, ensuring that the children they serve continue to have a safe place to learn and grow.
• The Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County held a reception on Thursday, May 19, 2005, to honor 30 area contractors for their contributions to the Clubs' new administration building, named "The Lee Wetherington Trade Partners Building."  Completed in just four months, the 2,445 square foot building is valued at $300,000 "and every cent was donated," says J. Mack Reid, president/CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County.
• In 2000, Wetherington established a Mentoring Program to provide direction and guidance for the youngsters who attend the Boys & Girls Clubs. Despite his crowded schedule, he has made time to mentor several young people.
• In 1999, with the help of students from Pine View School, kids from the Boys & Girls Clubs, and donations from various vendors, Lee Wetherington Homes supervised the building of a Storybook Playhouse for the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens summer reading program. The home, based on The Secret Garden, was later sold in a fund-raising event, with proceeds going to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County.
• In 1996, Wetherington established the Kids in College Scholarship Fund for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and Manatee Counties. Each year, this fund bestows a four-year, up- to-$20,000 college scholarship ($5,000 per year) on an outstanding member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and a smaller scholarship to a member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County. Since the inception of the fund, Lee Wetherington Homes and its subcontractors have donated over $180,000 through the sale of three benefit homes (1996, 1998, 2000), plus contributions from the sale of Lee Wetherington Homes. Currently, eight young men and women from Sarasota and Manatee Counties are attending college through this program.
• In 1995, Lee Wetherington Homes constructed the Boys & Girls Clubs administration building from three donated school portables, raising over $85,000 in donated labor and materials, with all construction supervision, overhead, and profit donated by Lee Wetherington Homes and its trade partners.