WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — The 16th annual “Budweiser Smoke on the Water BBQ Festival” finished up in Winter Haven.

  • Winter Haven BBQ Festival helping fund Boys & Girls Clubs 
  • CEO says volunteer-run event help fund nearly 40% of revenue
  • Money used to fund activities held at its centers

The Cuyler family was one of the many grilling up the ribs, hoping to win the notoriety of having the best barbeque in Winter Haven.

While the notoriety is great, they said they compete because it brings their family together and they know the funds are going toward funding the Boys and Girls clubs in Polk County.

“It makes us feel great because we’re giving back to those disadvantaged. I’ve had my nephew-grandson as I call him, and he has done marvelous during the tutoring and just helping him become a young man,” said Sandra Cuyler.

According to CEO Steve Giordano, volunteer-run events like these help fund nearly 40 percent of the Boys and Girls Club revenue in Polk County. The money is used to fund the activities in many of their centers.

“Seventy-eight percent of all event income comes from three events and this is the biggest,” Giordano said.

All seven Boys and Girls Clubs in Polk County merged in 2019 into one entity.

They’re putting more of a focus on academics for their after-school programs.

“There will be a math and science. There will also be a separate English module and for each of these modules we put in. We get more tutors,” Giordano said.

Since they serve many kids from low-income families, they’re also making sure the kids are well fed.

“Starting later this month, we’re going to be feeding kids for the first time hot meals in Polk County east — that’s Haines City, Lake Wales and Winter Haven. For many of our kids this is the only hot meal they’re going to have all day, so it’s a very big deal we’re very excited,” Giordano said.

They’re in the process of opening a new Boys and Girls Club in Bartow, and have the goal of increasing the number of children they serve from 2,000 to 10,000 by 2025.

The new center in Bartow will initially serve 150 to 200 kids. It will be located near Gibbons Street Elementary.