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For the past 13 years, the Roofing Contractors Association of South Florida (RCASF) has been donating proceeds from its annual fishing tournament to Make-A-Wish® Southern Florida. While its $2.1 million total, including more than $400,000 from this year’s event, will ultimately grant 420 life-changing wishes for critically-ill children, it was the experience of one particular child roofing industry representatives were most interested in as they gathered recently at Cheeca Lodge & Spa in Islamorada.
Seven-year-old Jacob Acevedo, whose father, Jesus Acevedo, works for Best Roofing, battled leukemia for more than a year, a struggle his parents shared with the nearly 600 people that participated in the fishing tournament. The Pompano Beach resident’s wish, to visit Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios in Southern California, was granted earlier this year from proceeds generated by the roofing contractors 2024 fundraiser.
“The Acevedos are actually part of our roofing industry family, a testament to how widespread Make-A-Wish’s impact is in the community,” said Corey Daley, the chairman of the RCASF fishing tournament and a participant in the event since his own childhood. “To be able to grant more than 80 wishes this year for kids like Jacob makes me beyond proud of the association, tournament committee, and our entire industry. Together, we are able to do some amazing things.”
A majority of the money raised was through “signature sponsors” willing to underwrite the $5,000 average cost of a wish in South Florida. These pledges from individual companies within the association began ten years ago when Earl and Lynn Johnston (Earl W. Johnston Roofing) made the first commitment. The number of those willing to help has grown each year since then, with more than 70 companies donating during this year’s three-day event in the Florida Keys. “I’ve always said we’re more than just roofers and this is more than just fishing, and this year’s results proved that,” said Daley.
“We’ll grant more than 550 life-changing wishes this year for critically-ill children throughout our territory,” said Norman Wedderburn, president & CEO of Make-A-Wish Southern Florida. “Simply stated, that wouldn’t be possible without the generosity and ongoing commitment to our mission by the Roofing Contractors Association of South Florida.”
In addition to Make-A-Wish, proceeds from the RCASF’s largest annual fundraiser also benefitted the International Game Fishing Association.
Make-A-Wish Southern Florida (www.wish.org/sfla) has granted more than 15,000 life-changing wishes since 1983 for children who have critical illnesses. It aims to grant a wish for every medically-eligible child in its territory and understands wishes aren’t just nice, they’re necessary for kids and families at some of the most difficult times in their lives.
Wish kids most often ‘wish to be’ (something), ‘wish to meet’ (someone), ‘wish to go’ (somewhere), ‘wish to have’ (something), or ‘wish to give’ (to a cause) and the nonprofit organization makes this happen for the child and his/her entire family at no cost or obligation.
Make-A-Wish’s Southern Florida chapter’s territory includes 22 counties/four regions: southwest and southeast Florida, the Suncoast, and Tampa Bay. It also includes the U.S. Virgin Islands.
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The Roofing Contractors Association of South Florida (www.rcasf.org) is a not-for-profit trade association whose purpose is to educate and foster a high standard of business ethics among roofing contractors and associate members. RCASF members endeavor to ‘give back’ to their community throughout the year by hosting several charitable events.
