A Better Shot - 2024 Annual Report

A MESSAGE OF GRATITUDE, RESILIENCE AND HOPE

As irony would have it, after FINALLY returning our summer program to Lemon Bay and having our best summer ever, Mother Nature again tested us with an unprecedented number of hurricanes. We are once again reminded of how fragile our worlds can be. In the midst of devastation, we also see how resilient and resourceful we can be when we work together to clean up and rebuild. This spirit of teamwork is at the very heart of the mission of A Better Shot. Just like the new growth on seemingly dead plantings, it offers hope for a brighter future. Since its inception almost 30 years ago, A Better Shot has provided $646,000 in scholarship assistance to 84 students. This past year, we experienced a record number of applicants and were proud to offer $121,000 in aid to 27 outstanding students. Your Board of Directors also made the decision to hire a full-time Executive Director. Cindy Claude, who has poured her heart and soul into this organization since day one, has now officially stepped into the role. This year, we anticipate an even greater need for financial aid, and we remain committed to our goal of offering a four-year scholarship in honor of Kim Honey, founder of this remarkable program. His vision and your generosity have made all this possible, and the success stories are the greatest reward of all. So many of our ABS scholars return to this community and enrich it immeasurably. You will enjoy reading their success stories on our website: BetterShot.org. Knowing how great the need will be this year, and also keenly aware of the strain these natural disasters have caused for us all, we have decided to forgo a big fundraiser. Lemon Bay will host our Annual Golf Tournament on March 22st. We will also host a cocktail party the night before on March 21st. There may be a few surprise bidding opportunities, but your participation and donations will greatly augment our Endowment Fund. We are deeply thankful for your donations and your confidence in the impact A Better Shot has on so many young lives — lives that enrich our community in untold measure.

With a heart full of gratitude,

Mary Anne Hooker President