Three Decades of Impact
2025 Annual Report
A MESSAGE OF GRATITUDE, RESILIENCE, AND HOPE
Thankfully we were spared the devastation of another major hurricane in 2025, but we remain ever mindful of how many are still rebuilding and dealing with the lingering trauma of the previous years Many parents of our junior golfers in A Better Shot’s summer program expressed how meaningful it was to have Tuesdays to look forward to when their lives were still in flux or chaos. Summer 2025 was by far the most well-attended program in the history of ABS. 210 junior golfers and 84 volunteers participated in eight weeks of rain-free and fun-filled Tuesdays.
As we prepare to celebrate 30 years of junior golf at Lemon Bay, we reflect with great pride on the more than 100 students who have received scholarship assistance In 2025 we again experienced a record number of applicants and proudly awarded $125,500 to 30 outstanding students as they pursue their posthigh school studies Please take a moment to visit our website: BetterShotorg and get to know some of these amazing young adults and learn what productive citizens of our community they have become.
Celebrating 30 years is a source of immense pride and your Board of Directors has much excitement in store. Thanks to an incredibly generous challenge grant of $50,000 from an anonymous donor we were inspired to launch our “100 for $300,000” campaign. Our goal is to have 100 donors pledge $3,000 and I am happy to report that as I write this we are already almost halfway to our goal Be sure to look for our “Living Giving Wall” and please consider adding your name March 20 will find us gathering under a festive tent at Lemon Bay for another exciting evening with auctioneer and trick shot extraordinaire Dan Boever and a roster of amazing items. Saturday, March 21 will be our annual golf tournament and this year your committee has expanded the format to 5-man teams and a fun-filled par 3 format. Two events you absolutely do not want to miss!! th st
As always, we are ever mindful and ever thankful that we could never have reached this level of success for A Better Shot without your support and your confidence in the impact it has on so many young lives…lives that enrich this community in untold measure
With a heart full of gratitude,
MaryAnneHooker
A Better Shot Foundation President
OUR MISSION
To engage local youth in an exciting summer program of golf and camaraderie. To impact young lives by instilling qualities inherent to the game of golf...honor, integrity, respect, and perseverence... thereby giving all participants “a better shot at life.”
SUMMER PROGRAM
Our 8-week summer junior golf program provides a fun, meaningful opportunity for children ages 4–18 to learn the game of golf while building skills for life. Each summer, 200 children from surrounding communities are introduced to golf etiquette, education, and character development through the power of the game. Weekly programming includes golf instruction, interactive financial or educational life-skills sessions, and a nutritious lunch creating a well-rounded experience both on and off the course.
FUNDRAISING
SCHOLARSHIP
2025 marked our 29th anniversary, and the past five years have been truly transformational During that time, we have grown our endowment fund from $250,000 to $2.3 million. This success is a direct result of the incredible generosity of the members of Lemon Bay Golf Club and the tireless efforts of our Fundraising Committee, who work year after year to create a memorable March event featuring a cocktail party, auction, and golf tournament. We are excited to build on this momentum and can’t wait to unveil our plans for a very special 30th anniversary celebration in 2026
Successful fundraising allows us to expand our impact by awarding more scholarships to deserving students pursuing education beyond high school
In 2025 alone, we were proud to support 30 students with $125,000 in scholarship funding This meaningful investment in our youth reflects our commitment to giving back to the local community and honors the original vision of our founder, J Kimpton Honey We have awarded over $750,000 starting in 1999.
JUNIOR GOLF
210 participants in A Better Shot is dedicated to inspiring the next generation of golfers and growing the game at all levels.
29 years
4,000+ participants
43% girls
57% boys
4-18 age range
84 hi h hool or
SCHOLARSHIP
A Better Shot is dedicated to inspiring the next generation of golfers and growing the game at all levels.
2025 High School Graduate Recipients
$5,000
$5,000
$5,000
$5,000
$5,000
$5,000
$5,000
$5,000
$5,000
Remy Blunier
Jacob Close
Kenzie Delong
Matt Jakoby
Alaina Maday
Meghan Perin
Delilah Scheiber
Wyatt Seckel
Parker Zautcke
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical
University of Central Florida
State College of Florida
University of Florida
University of South Florida
State College of FL
University of South Florida
Florida Gulf Coast University
Florida State University
In addition, we funded 21 current college scholarship recipients for a total of $125,500!
A Better Shot Lifetime Donors
In grateful appreciation to those who have given to the A Better Shot Endowment Fund
DIAMOND
$100,000+
Brit & Kim Hume
John & Debbie Lynch
Richard & Gretchen Nielsen
Michael & Jane Tellor
PLATINUM
$25,000-$99,999
Samuel & Carol Campbell
Bruce Carbonari
Thomas & Faye Connaughton
Brent Edwards
William & Liz Ghriskey
George & Susan Haggarty
Anne Honey
Mary Anne Hooker
John & Sarah Jackoboice
Thomas & Kathleen O'Shane
Peter & Cappy Powell
Mikel & Linda Rollyson
Peter & Elsa Soderberg
Hope vanBeuren
Howard & Emily Wise
Dade Amatuer Golf Assn.
GOLD
$10,000-$24,999
Todd & Beth Baker
Thomas & Martha Beach
Deucie Bies
Timothy & Courtney Borntraeger
Judy Thomas & Jim Colthart
David & Margo DeKock
Becky Deupree
Nancy Garraghan & Bill Tapovitz
Harold & Cheryl Hayek
Tom & Dawn Hinck
Sheila LaBrecque
Estate of Dimitri Manthos
Joseph & Cathy McGowan
Brian & Sam Phillips
Whitney Ransome & Tom Wilcox
Mark & Marcia Siewert
Richard & Meg Taylor
Jamie & Jody Totten
Edward & Stephanie Vick
SILVER
$10,000-$24,999
Bob & Carol Bingham
Kenneth & Lynn Brown
George & Lois Castrucci
Michael & Carol Clark
Tanny Clark
Janet Conroy
Brian & Sigrid Corcoran
William & Jane Doepke
William & Susan Ewing
Polly Flinn
William & Beth Foster
Brian & Vickie Gangnier
Eileen & Jack Glover
Gene Goetz & Jan Conlin
Daniel Hughes & Libby Candler
Ronald & Chris Lee
Stu & Jill Lewis
Bert & Jane Lippincott
Jacque Hoyt & Tom Lutz
Gary & Linda McInerney
Robert & Tia McMillan
Jamie & Tobi Mickle
Laurie Miller
Timothy E Nettles Foundation
Thomas & Margie Ogden
Carolann Raub
Mark & Lynne Rickabaugh
John & Betsy Royster
Mitch & LouAnn Smith
Harlan Stanley & Margaret Carton
Scott & Margarite Tremelin
George & Betsy Vogt
Sue Williams
Edward & Barbara Wilson
Fifth Third Bank
BRONZE
$1,000-$4,999
Scott & Bobbie Addis
William Aderman
Jane Adrian
Patricia Agger
Michael & Judy Alexander
William & Rhonda Amoroso
Glenn & Kathy Arthurs
Robert & Mary Bainbridge
Daniel & Pam Bayly
Belinda Bender
Stephen & Trudy Bernsten
Dick Berry & Lucy Commoner
Daniel & Margie Bixler
Daniel & Danni Boever
David Booth & Jane Garnett
Pier & Renee Borra
James & Heidi Boudreau
Hank & Ginny Bryant
Zayra Calderon
James & Brenda Carlin
Tom & Susan Castle
Gary & Sue Cehovic
Caroline Clabaugh
Christopher & Alison Clegg
John E Cleghorn
Ron & Susan Coghlin
Raymond & Iliene Corcoran
Dave & Karen Custer
Timothy Danahy
Larry Denton & Elena MacKenzie
James & Pamela Drobnyk
John & Ellie Durno
Corky Ellis & Marion Freeman
Jock & Penny Fortune
Stephen & Kathleen Francis
Chip French & Alison Phillips
Candice & Kenneth Gammill
Kenley George
Tig & Janice Gilliam
Andrew & Marla Gottschalk
James & Lynda Grant
Sy & Hope Grayson
David & Holly Gulick
August Hager
Hugh & Jean Halsell
Robert & Elizabeth Hay
Daniel & Dodie Headington
Peter & Sunnie Hellman
Larry Herman
Eric & Betsy Holch
Lindsay Hooper Jr.
Daniel & Peijin Hoppe
Roger & Joyce Howe
Phil & Patsy Hubbard
Willard & LoriAnne Hunter
David & Nancy Hunter
Jon & Kris Hunt
Stephen & Susan Jansen
Harold O Johnson
Oakley & Francie Johnson
Robert & Diane Johnson
William & Karen Johnson
John & Sandy Judy
Cameron & Sandra Kelley
John & Lona Kissinger
BRONZE, CONT.
Marie L'Abbe
John & Leanne Lacart
Ginny Lambrecht
Steven & Beverly Leer
James & Donna Lutton
Tom Lutz
Connie & Priscilla Mack
Jeffrey & Carol Mack
Sue Mandry
John & Candice Marsellus
Graham & Louise Marx
Loulie Mauran
Hal & Lynne McCombs
Colvin & Madeline McCrady
Catherine McDonough
John & Pauline Mendez
John Merritt
James Murphy
Steven Niemczyk
Jay & Lisa Nouss
Gregory & Catherine Oneglia
Dennis Parker & Kay Kemper
Shelley Pattenaude
John & Cynthia Paul
Don & Gail Pearson
Terry & MaryJo Pigott
Shannon Roberson
Drew Rogers
Dennis Ross
Randy & Connie Ruberg
James Russell
William & Katie Sackett
Nancy Samuel
Michael & Julie Schouten
Benjamin & Weezy Scott
David & Christi Sculley
Peter Sieglaff
Robert & Linda Sommerville
Michael Spence
Stephen & Penny Staelin
Nancy Stamper
William & Jean Steinman
Bayne & Jean Stevenson
Judy Taylor
Greg Thompson
Scott & Serda Tibbs
Thomas & Carol Titcomb
James Variglotti
Geoff & Elizabeth Verney
Steven & Diane Walker
Jay West
Damon Williams
MaryJo Wilson & Terry Dunaway
Victoria Winterer
Sarasota National Golf Club
Donor Anonymous
Caddy Carts
WCCRC
A Better Shot uses golf as a tool to create opportunity... teaching children a game of rules, values, challenges, and lessons that last a lifetime.
A Better Shot teaches: honor, self-esteem integrity, and respect
It’s more
than a gathering place for friends and families.
It
is a mechanism to further the future through Education, Mentorship, and Scholarship Opportunities that help children as they transform into promising young adults.
“As the years continue on, I truly believe that the opportunities I had at A Better Shot are what led me and allowed me to be where I am today.”
Dr. Marie Vasher, MD Student
A Better Shot 2025 Donors
In grateful appreciation to those who have given to the A Better Shot Endowment Fund
HOLE-IN-ONE
CLUB
ALBATROSS CLUB
$10,000+
Thomas & Fay Connaughton
Mary Anne Hooker
Brit & Kim Hume
Richard & Gretchen Nielsen
Michael & Jane Tellor
Thank you for believing in me and investing in my education. Your support has changed my life, and i will carry that impact with me wherever I go.
Madison Hanson Student
$5,000-$9,999
Timothy & Courtney Borntraeger
William & Liz Ghriskey
George & Susan Haggarty
Peter & Cappy Powell
Carolann Raub
Mikel & Linda Rollyson
Howard & Emily Wise
Fifth Third Bank
EAGLE CLUB
$1,000-$4,999
Robert & Mary Bainbridge
Todd & Beth Baker
Thomas & Martha Beach
Bob & Carol Bingham
David Booth & Jane Garnett
Samuel & Carol Campbell
George & Lois Castrucci
Caroline Clabaugh
Michael & Carol Clark
Tanny Clark
Christopher & Alison Clegg
David & Margo DeKock
William & Jane Doepke
James & Pamela Drobnyk
Brent Edwards
Corky Ellis & Marion Freeman
William & Susan Ewing
William & Beth Foster
Nancy Garraghan & Bill Tapovitz
Eileen & Jack Glover
Harold & Cheryl Hayek
Peter & Sunnie Hellman
Larry Herman
Daniel & Peijin Hoppe
Willard & LoriAnne Hunter
John & Sarah Jackoboice
Cameron & Sandra Kelley
John & Lona Kissinger
Marie L'Abbe
EAGLE, CONT.
Robert & Tia McMillan
Timothy E Nettles Foundation
Thomas & Kathleen O'Shane
Whitney Ransome
Mark & Lynne Rickabaugh
John & Betsy Royster
Randy & Connie Ruberg
Mark & Marcia Siewert
Stephen & Penny Staelin
Nancy Stamper
Harlan Stanley & Margaret Carton
Richard & Meg Taylor
Judy Thomas
Jamie & Jody Totten
Geoff & Elizabeth Verney
Edward & Barbara Wilson
Caddy Carts
Sarasota National Golf Club
Donor Anonymous
BIRDIE CLUB
$500-$999
Scott & Bobbie Addis
Walter & Anne Beatty
Stephen & Trudy Bernsten
Hank & Ginny Bryant
Zayra Calderon
Ron & Susan Coghlin
Janet Conroy
Dave & Karen Custer
Polly Flinn
Kenley George
James & Lynda Grant
Sy & Hope Grayson
Hugh & Jean Halsell
Kathi & Don Hassin
Robert & Elizabeth Hay
Lindsay Hooper Jr.
John & Leanne Lacart
Graham & Louise Marx
Loulie Mauran
Thomas & Carol McDermott
Gregory & Catherine Oneglia
Dennis Ross
Skip & Cathy Russo
William & Katie Sackett
Rick & Lindsay Stafford
Susan & Dennis Tinsley
George & Betsy Vogt
Damon Williams
Victoria Winterer
Board Members
Mary
John
Tom
Whitty
Sam
John
Jamie
Peter
Carolann
Mark
Judy
Whitty
Sam
John
