by Larry Oskin, Marketing Solutions
Based in Clermont, The Frankie Valente Scholarship Fund will soon hold a huge Lake County Casino Night at the Plantation at Leesburg on Saturday night January 31 from 4:30 to 9:30 pm. This fun annual event will be held to support and share funds for EMT and paramedic education, tuition, books, and supplies. More than 100 companies, 25 table sponsors, and 2 event sponsors have donated over $50,000 in prizes and giveaways that will bedistributed at this next event. Those attending will sample delicious entrees, appetizers, desserts and drinks from top Central Florida area restaurants and caterers, while also participating in raffles for gift certificates, raffle prize baskets, silent auction items and big door prizes. This Casino Night is thankfully always a sold-out event, with tickets still available for advanced donations.
Event co-organizer Anthony Valente shares, “We remain grateful to all our very generous sponsors, donors and supporters who have continued to contribute their valuable time, talents, foods, gift baskets, and services for our Frankie Valente Scholarship Fund. We started this scholarship Fund in 2018 as a 501-C3, the year that our son Frankie passed away. After we started a website, we immediately started receiving private and corporate donations. Since then, we have created a series of fundraisers to add more support First Responders with college scholarships.”
New this year is a Caricature Arist, Michael Roll, that will offer free drawings for the night, and a cash bar by Lake Catherine Farms, Jamie Lowe. Food will be provided by Root and Branch, with a generous donation from Gordon Food.
Co-founder Joyce Valente continues, “We started this endowment to find local area students and colleges to support. We found and partnered with Lake Tech as they have a great EMT, Paramedic and Firefighter program. Since being involve with South Lake Chamber of Commerce as a Trustee Level Sponsor, we have expanded the scholarship fund to reach beyond Clermont, to all Lake County.”
Without the large investment costs to hold a big event like this, the newest 2026 Island Casino Night, will hopefully raise thousands of dollars in donations. This new event will include sponsors for the tables, food vendors, printing, design, and a big venue sponsor. The participating businesses in Lake County are not only donating their money to support our scholarship fund; yet they openly donated their services. The Planation at Leesburg donated the entire venue. Anthony and Joyce Valente plan to have over 50 volunteers who helped that night.
The Frankie Valente Scholarship Fund has given away multiple new Lake Tech Scholarships over the past few years. They have started to create a larger Lake Tech Endowment Program with additional funds, so more Lake County students can get the scholarship help they need. The net fund of donations from this newest 2026 Island Casino Night event will be awarded to local students soon after the event. Some people will be awarded partial scholarships, while some will receive more. With the increasing funds from their events, they will have the ability to help more people, establish different programs, and deliver different types of overall help.
The Valente family believes in the South Lake Chamber of Commerce, while leveraging their relationship to help make a difference in our community. They are also actively looking to partner with more local companies and organizations to hold mutually benefit events that will help each other. This is a charity that helps support other charities and community events.
Advanced ticket purchases are now available for a $40 donation. The Plantation at Leesburg is located at 25201 US Highway 27, in Leesburg, Florida 34748. The Eventbrite link to purchase tickets online is: www.https://www.eventbrite.com/e/island-days-casino-night-tickets-1656251706439?aff=oddtdtcreator. They are always looking for more companies to become a sponsor, donor, volunteer, or participant in future events. Companies and people can donate through their website. Call: 585-500-9140, Email AValente@TheFVSFund.com or visit: https://www.thefvsfund.com where you can sign up for their newsletter and follow them on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/frankievalentescholarshipfund.
