Pine Island Kiwanis Club wins School District of Lee County’s Family and Community Involvement Award

By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers com

Pine Island Elementary School Principal Dr Tom Millins nominated the Pine Island Kiwanis Club for the Family and Community Involvement Award, for which the organization is recognized for its longtime commitment to community partnership

According to a letter from the president and CEO of the Foundation for Lee County Schools, the Pine Island Kiwanis Club’s commitment to community partnership, c o u p l e d w i t h i t s o u t s t a n d i n g e f f o r t s f o l l o w i n g Hurricane Ian, made the club an overwhelming choice for the award

In a letter he was asked to write for his nomination, Millins said he was proud and honored to nominate Kiwanis Club of Greater Pine Island

“Over the past 40 years, the Kiwanis Club in Greater Pine Island has been an outstanding community partner with Pine Island Elementary They have supported all aspects of our school, and families have greatly benefited from their continued efforts Although they have supported us for the past 40 years, this has been an extra special year with all the assistance they provided our families and our community In the September 2023, Pine Island/Matlacha was ravaged by Hurricane Ian Although there was widespread devastation throughout our local community, the Kiwanis Club has worked tirelessly to bring some normalcy to the families of Pine Island Elementary school,” Millins said

He describes their continuing efforts for the past 40 years as nothing less than extraordinary, naming specifically the organization’s support of the annual Fall

See KIWANIS CLUB, page 10

PHOTO PROVIDED

Pictured with PIE Principal Dr. Tom Millins, center, are teacher Mindy Manguson and student Elvin Ajin, Excellence in Education award winners