New Key West events replace Fantasy Fest fundraisers

The eight weeks from mid-August to mid-October in Key West are typically packed with costume parties, silent auctions, art sales, bike tours, fundraising 5K runs and other events created by the candidates for King and Queen of Fantasy Fest.

The royal hopefuls give up sleeping and spend eight weeks raising money for A.H. Monroe. The two top fundraisers are crowned at a coronation the week before Fantasy Fest.

But the pandemic has taken precedence over all things in life, forcing the cancelation of Fantasy Fest, the royal runoff and all related fundraisers that gave AH Monroe the financial ability to fulfill its mission of providing Affordable Housing and Affordable Healthcare to Monroe County residents.

Fortunately, the coronavirus can’t infect the generous spirit of the Florida Keys, where the committed community comes together constantly to take care of its own.

Fantasy Fest producers Nadene Grossman Orr and Lindsey Sigafoos of We’ve Got the Keys have assembled a team of creative and can-do people, businesses and organizations, including Marky Pierson at Wonderdog Studios, to create alternative fundraising events to help replace what was lost to COVID-related cancelations.

Community Wins Initiative benefits four Key West charities. Hear from them all in the above video. WONDERDOG STUDIOS/Contributed

These efforts have produced the Community Wins Initiative, which takes place from Aug. 21 to Oct. 16 and exclusively benefits the housing needs of the Key West community.

All money raised during the initiative will be divided evenly among four local charities that provide critical housing services: A.H. Monroe, Sister Season Fund, Samuel’s House and Florida Keys Outreach Coalition for the Homeless

“The Keys are ready for some good news, and Community Wins is a unique opportunity to care for our own, many of whom are in dire straits for housing costs, including mortgage, rent and deposits,” Grossman Orr said. “All donations are being used strictly for housing needs. The Community Foundation of the Florida Keys is administering and managing the new fund.

 In order to help, local residents and people anywhere can participate in weekly events that take place in Key West and online. 

“Take out for two” every Tuesday lets participants pick up specially created restaurant meals and wine for a donation that helps the initiative. The virtual Key Lime Aid Challenge is a pledge-based fundraiser in which participants commit to a given distance or number of minutes of exercise. And on Sept. 6, former Fantasy Fest Queen Jodyrae Campbell and King Mark Watson will host a Labor Day Telethon to celebrate their fifth anniversary as king and queen. In old-fashioned telethon style, Watson and Campbell will sell items, auction items and present local performers and other entertainment in the online event that lets anyone who loves Key West, but lives elsewhere be a part of the Community Wins effort.

Starting now, spread the love, share the funds and help people with dire housing needs.

Learn more about the Community Wins Initiative at community-wins.org. Donate directly to the initiative through the Community Foundation of the Florida Keys at cffk.org/communitywins.

Mandy Miles drops stuff, breaks things and falls down more than any adult should. An award-winning writer, reporter and columnist, she's been stringing words together in Key West since 1998. "Local news is crucial," she says. "It informs and connects a community. It prompts conversation. It gets people involved, holds people accountable. The Keys Weekly takes its responsibility seriously. Our owners are raising families in Key West & Marathon. Our writers live in the communities we cover - Key West, Marathon & the Upper Keys. We respect our readers. We question our leaders. We believe in the Florida Keys community. And we like to have a good time." Mandy's married to a saintly — and handy — fishing captain, and can't imagine living anywhere else.