On Friday, April 26, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., the Lilly Pulitzer shop, 600 Front St., Key West will donate 10% of all sales to A Positive Step of Monroe County to help fund the organization’s 2024 Idle Hands Summer Youth Employment program.
The Southernmost City and the Lilly Pulitzer brand share a colorful and historic relationship, as the late celebrated Key West artist and sculptor Suzie dePoo (Agnes Helen Zuzek dePoo) created many of the colorful and imaginative original fabric art designs that spearheaded the Lilly Pulitzer sensation.
On April 26, shoppers can support a great program while lifting their spirits among a vibrant array of classic “Lilly” dresses, tops, shorts, jumpsuits, swimwear and accessories available at the Key West shop.
Since 2010, A Positive Step of Monroe County, a nonprofit organization that serves some of Monroe County’s highest-risk kids and their families, has partnered with Key West to provide paid summer employment for Key West High School students who are returning to school the subsequent fall, aged 16 and up.
Each year, the city provides jobs in a variety of departments for students enrolled in the program, and contributes $35,000 toward the annual program budget, which currently runs about $100,000, and covers student payroll, program overhead, the cost of a part-time job coach/instructor, and training/orientation expenses.
With the support of individuals, community organizations, and local businesses such as Lilly Pulitzer, APSMC raises the remaining $65,000.
“We are very grateful to Key West’s Lilly Pulitzer for their annual fundraising in support of our Idle Hands program, which not only teaches our teen participants important work and social skills, but helps them recognize their potential and can break old patterns of low expectations,” said APSMC founder and executive director Billy Davis.
More information about the Lilly Pulitzer fundraiser is available from Mark Rotella at mrotella@lillypulitzer.com. More information about APSMC and its community support programs is available from Davis at apsmccrp@aol.com or at apsmc.org.
