Friday, April 25, 2008

April 25, 2008

Cheeca Lodge & Spa in the Florida Keys celebrated Earth Day with 15th Annual Beach Event

ISLAMORADA, Florida Keys – April 24, 2008 - Earth Day revelers gathered on the beach in front of Cheeca Lodge & Spa this past Saturday, April 19, to create sand sculpture letters spelling out the slogan, “Living Green is the Key”. Since 1994, guests at the hotel and residents of the Keys have met at the resort to enjoy a full day of beachfront activities, family barbecue, musical entertainment and environmental education.

This year, proceeds from the event totaled $4,000 and will once again go to the Florida Keys Wild Bird Center, which provides emergency and recuperative care for injured birds. For more information visit www.fkwbc.org or call 305.852.4486.

Teams of up to 10 people, sponsored by individuals, local businesses, social clubs and organizations purchased a letter for $300. The goal was to build a creative shape for one of the letters in the slogan, using sand, shovels, buckets, colored water and a little imagination. Sculptures ranged from seahorses and turtles to birds and palm trees. The winner of the “Most Creative” letter went to the Dolphins Plus team, who built the “H” in the shape of two blowing palm trees with a man relaxing in a hammock strung between.

Upon completion of the “Living Green is the Key” slogan, a helicopter flew over to film and photograph the message, with the resulting images being released to local and national news stations across the country. In addition to the sand sculpture fundraiser, other fun-filled activities included a kids’ catch and release fishing tournament, massages on the beach, environmental education booths, a raffle, BBQ and live music provided by Scott Youngberg and Dave Feder. Cheeca Lodge would like to thank De Paula Jewelers of Tavernier for donating the signature raffle prize (a dolphin pendant) worth $2500.

Even former President George H.W. Bush was practicing eco-friendly fishing this past weekend. He caught and released a huge, 135-pound tarpon off Islamorada during a weekend visit to Cheeca Lodge & Spa. Bush tested the waters with Islamorada fishing guide George Wood during a trip that was arranged by former Olympic skier Andy Mill, an accomplished fly fisherman and one of Bush’s angling buddies. Cheeca Lodge & Spa created the George Bush Presidential Suite in 2000, which features memorabilia from Bush’s life and his term in office as 41st President of the United States.

Cheeca Lodge & Spa is situated on 27 beautifully landscaped acres with more than 1,200 feet of palm-fringed beach and crystal-clear water. It features 199 luxurious guest rooms and suites, three restaurants, a nine-hole pitch & putt golf course, a complete tennis program with six courts, two swimming pools and a whirlpool spa. For more information about Cheeca Lodge, visit www.cheeca.com. For reservations, call 800-327-2888.

Media Contact
Margie Benziger / Sasha Hlozek
Cheryl Andrews Marketing
P: 305-444-4033 / F: 305-447-0415
margie@cam-pr.com / sasha@cam-pr.com