FORT MYERS, Fla. - TelAve -- Hundreds of Southwest Florida children and teens kickstarted the holiday season with gifts, festive snacks and ear-to-ear smiles.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County's annual Adopt-a-Club Holiday Parties featured fun surprises for local youth, including sweet treats, arts and crafts, holiday music, movies and games, as well as gifts and toys donated by sponsor organizations and their generous employees. Santa and Mrs. Claus also stopped by clubs to personally hand-deliver gifts to club members.

For the fourth consecutive year, GL Homes was the title sponsor for Boys & Girls Clubs' annual Holiday Gift Drive. The Florida builder also was an Adopt-a-Club sponsor again this year, agreeing to sponsor two of the organization's clubs – Renaissance Preserve Neighborhood Club and Lehigh Acres Community Club – to ensure that children and teens had gifts to unwrap, snacks to eat and opportunities for photo ops with Santa and Mrs. Claus. GL Homes created a Holiday Gift Shop stocked with merchandise so club members could choose gifts for their parents or guardians.

In addition to GL Homes, fellow returning Adopt-a-Club sponsors included Hertz, Suncoast Credit Union and Peter Nguyen. Seagate Development and Lennar Homes served as Adopt-a-Club sponsors for the first time in 2025. Adopt-a-Club sponsors agree to host a holiday party and provide gifts and snacks to all club members, who range in age from six to 18 years old.

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"Not every child has a pile of presents to open on Christmas morning, but our generous sponsors made sure all club members had at least one gift to unwrap and some snacks to enjoy with their friends," said Denise Gergley, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County. "Our Adopt-a-Club sponsors aren't just donating gifts and hosting a party; they are creating memories for children who will someday recognize the power of giving and the responsibility that we all share in making this a stronger community."

About Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County

Established in 1974, Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County serve children and teens through school-based, neighborhood and community club locations. The nonprofit's mission is to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens. After-school and summer programs focus on five core areas: education and career, service and leadership, health and wellness, the arts, and sports and recreation. For more information, please visit BGClee.org or call 239-334-1886.