Pull the Cork wine event raises $500,000 to benefit Lee BIA Builders Care

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Rezul -- Pull the Cork, an intimate evening of wine and giving, raised more than $500,000 in monetary and in-kind support to benefit Lee BIA Builders Care and its mission to provide life-changing emergency home repairs for local families in need.

An exclusive event held on Nov. 15 at The Forest County Club in Fort Myers, Pull the Cork brought the "best of the best" boutique wines and gourmet cuisine. Heath Porter, a 5-star sommelier and proprietor and president of Heathen Wine Tours, poured wines from a curated selection of renowned vintners. The tasting was artfully paired with a four-course menu by Chef Drew Tait of The Forest Country Club, followed by a live auction with a selection of rare magnum wines.

A highlight of the evening included a spotlight on Dunbar resident and U.S. Marine Corps veteran Lewis Freeman, who will soon receive a new two-bedroom, two-bath home on a lot in Dunbar that has been donated to Builders Care by the City of Fort Myers. During the event, Pulte Homes stepped forward with a transformational commitment to cover the full cost of building the new home. Generous donations also poured in from local businesses to support the project, including a site survey from Morris-Depew Associates, concrete for the foundation from Drake Ready Mix, home furnishings from Dwayne Bergmann Interiors, cabinets and millwork from Alessio Companies, and even a backyard pool donated by Suncoast Custom Pools. Together, these contributions bring the value of support for the project to more than $500,000, ensuring Freeman will have a safe, comfortable place to call home.

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Freeman, 71, was born and raised in Fort Myers' Dunbar neighborhood. His only time away from home was the four years he spent in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. After an honorable discharge, he returned to Dunbar to continue serving his community and his family, where he is now a proud father of three and grandfather of four.

After suffering a stroke in 2015, Freeman was unable to continue working and has since lived on a fixed income. Despite his disability, he remains a dedicated volunteer with American Legion Post 192, supports the Mt. Olive A.M.E. Church food pantry, and serves as an usher during church services. When his rental home was sold unexpectedly, he moved in with his niece – but he yearns to have his own home again. His fixed income would never allow him to achieve that dream without the help of Builders Care and generous local partners and donors.

To learn more about Builders Care and its mission, visit LeeBuildersCare.com.