Hawks Cay donates $30,000 to health and arts nonprofits

Hawks Cay Resort presented two charitable gifts on Jan. 9, 2026, directing $10,000 to Keys AHEC to support children’s medical and dental services in Keys schools and $20,000 to Marathon Community Theatre to help fund a roof replacement. The donations follow a November 2025 contribution to KAIR (food bank) and form part of a sustained pattern of local giving by the resort.

The grants arrive at a moment when small nonprofits across the Middle Keys face tight budgets and rising construction and healthcare costs. Keys AHEC uses mobile clinics and school-based programs to deliver pediatric medical and dental care that many families otherwise struggle to access. The Marathon Community Theatre, a hub for local performances and community gatherings, has been planning a roof replacement to protect the building and preserve its programming schedule.

Local nonprofit leaders and chamber officials praised Hawks Cay’s continued support as an important boost for health and arts infrastructure in the Middle Keys. Those endorsements reflect a broader local dynamic: hospitality businesses and tourism operators are frequent philanthropic partners for Monroe County nonprofits, providing gap funding for services that are difficult to sustain on government grants alone.

The resort’s gifts highlight policy questions about the stability of funding for essential services. When nonprofits rely on periodic private donations for operational needs or capital repairs, long-term service continuity can hinge on the goodwill and financial health of a few donors. That reality prompts choices for county and municipal leaders about whether to expand public funding, incentivize private contributions, or coordinate more robust public-private partnerships to underwrite school health programs and cultural facilities.

For residents, the immediate impacts are tangible. The Keys AHEC contribution should help maintain available medical and dental visits for schoolchildren, reducing the need for families to travel for care. The theatre donation moves a key maintenance project closer to completion, helping prevent show cancellations and preserving a gathering space that supports local artists and civic events.

Hawks Cay’s recent giving also offers a reminder for civic engagement. Voters and community groups can press for clearer budgets and contingency plans from nonprofits and local government to reduce dependence on ad hoc donations. Elected officials in Monroe County can use this moment to review funding strategies for school-based health services and cultural infrastructure so those services are more predictable and resilient.

The takeaway? Philanthropy from local businesses like Hawks Cay matters and fills immediate needs, but it should not be the only safety net. Our two cents? Support the nonprofits you love, ask officials for sustainable funding plans, and keep pushing for durable investments in the health and cultural life of the Middle Keys.