It has been said that "every cloud has a silver lining" and for BIPS, our light in the darkness shined through the countless acts of kindness from every day heroes just like you and the 2018 Giving Challenge. 

This collective passion is the foundation that BIPS was built upon in 1989, when one by one, devoted people came together and made the dedicated effort to overcome adversity and save the Port Boca Grande Lighthouse from being lost forever. In the thirty years since, adversity has come in many forms, and with your help, BIPS has overcome and continued to expand our efforts to inspire, educate and preserve our natural and historic treasures. 

In 2017, BIPS was devastated by Hurricane Irma and a following unprecedented Red Tide event that crippled SW Florida and our operations.

The four barrier island state parks BIPS supports, as well as the Port Boca Grande Lighthouse & Museum, Gasparilla Island Lighthouse and Amory Memorial Chapel suffered wind damage and flooding and closed for weeks after  the hurricane. Then an amazing miracle happened...

A silver lining in a cloud that threatened to overcome BIPS appeared! 

One by one, volunteers showed up and helped clean flood water damage and debris in our structures and parks.  Then, the 2018 Giving Challenge provided a way for BIPS to raise over $30,000 as people just like you stepped up to Be The One and donated to help BIPS overcome. 

Pack 26

Razorback, LLC

Troop 776

We estimate that our 41 volunteers, the park rangers and our staff helped BIPS save about $15,000 in clean-up fees and repairs, and the new friends we made are priceless! Thanks to Giving Challenge 2018, our volunteers, members and community supporters, we were able to fund the repairs to the the parks and historical structures we maintain and preserve, and continue our vital mission to inspire the exploration and preservation of our natural and historic treasures.