FORT PIERCE \u2014 What began as a night of entertainment at the Pelican Yacht Club became something more deliberate. The Fort Pierce Rotary Club\u2019s inaugural \u201cNight at the Races\u201d did not just gather a crowd. It focused that crowd on a cause, raising nearly $60,000 for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, with Gulfstream Title Services serving as the presenting sponsor.<\/p>\n
Held on April 10, the event brought together residents, business leaders, sponsors, and community members in support of the national nonprofit dedicated to honoring fallen first responders and supporting veterans and their families.<\/p>\n
The format was simple and effective. Video horse racing played across large screens on multiple platforms, drawing cheers and excitement from the rooms. Raffle prizes and a silent auction kept guests engaged, while approximately 150 attendees enjoyed a full dinner buffet and drinks. Derby-style hats and attire added to the atmosphere. Guests purchased \u201cfunny money\u201d as currency and later exchanged it for chances to win raffle prizes.<\/p>\n
The energy was high, but the purpose remained clear.<\/p>\n
That purpose was personal to the event chair, Rotarian Ann Marie Bode.<\/p>\n
Bode, whose father served in the Navy during World War II, said her appreciation for those who serve was shaped early and reinforced over time. Her connection to New York during the September 11 attacks left a lasting impression.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was in New York on 9\/11. We knew people who were affected,\u201d she said. \u201cWe were all affected. It is something you carry with you.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Tunnel to Towers Foundation was created in memory of FDNY firefighter Stephen Siller, who died responding to the attacks. Today, the organization provides mortgage-free homes for Gold Star families, builds adaptive homes for injured veterans, and works to address veteran homelessness nationwide.<\/p>\n
As of 2026, the foundation reported delivering more than 1,500 mortgage-free homes to Gold Star families, fallen first responder families, and catastrophically injured veterans and first responders. Events like this contribute directly to that kind of impact.<\/p>\n
Bode said the idea for the event came with a sense of urgency she could not ignore.<\/p>\n
\u201cI knew I had to do something,\u201d she said. \u201cAt some point, you stop thinking about it, and you act.\u201d<\/p>\n
That decision became a coordinated effort with the Fort Pierce Rotary Club. Members organized, volunteered, donated, and followed through, turning an idea into a successful event.<\/p>\n
The evening also reflected a broader shift within the community. Residents are paying closer attention to where their support goes and why, and are choosing to engage in causes that deliver impactful results, such as housing.<\/p>\n
Bode made it clear this was not intended to be a one-time effort. She plans to continue building on the momentum.<\/p>\n
For those who attended, the night offered more than entertainment. It provided an opportunity to connect, give back, and take part in something with lasting impact. \uf06e<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"FORT PIERCE \u2014 What began as a night of entertainment at the Pelican Yacht Club became something more…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":253503,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[171,173,172,563],"class_list":["post-253502","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-port-st-lucie","tag-port-st-lucie","tag-port-st-lucie-headlines","tag-port-st-lucie-news","tag-st_lucie"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/253502","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=253502"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/253502\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/253503"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=253502"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=253502"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=253502"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}