Key West Chamber Of Commerce Pays cash For Creativity

The Key West Chamber of Commerce invested in the imagination of island residents for this year’s fall festivities – and the investment paid off.

As part of a new initiative to encourage local participation and increase creativity in the Oct. 31 parade on Duval Street, the Key West Chamber of Commerce sponsored $10,000 in prize money for the top two parade floats designed by Florida Keys residents and business owners.

Chamber officials and board members on Tuesday presented a first-place check for $7,500 and the inaugural championship trophy to the Lower Keys Fluffers, whose Old Town Funk parade float recreated the famous “cantina scene” from the original “Star Wars” movie.

The group announced Tuesday that they plan to “pay it forward,” and will donate $1,000 of their winnings to the Big Pine Boys & Girls Club, and $1,000 to the Florida Keys SPCA.

“We’re hoping to start another new tradition and perhaps encourage subsequent winners to donate a portion of their prize money to local charities,” said Christine Godlewski of the Lower Keys Fluffers, a group of friends and coworkers in the Lower Keys.

The team also will have their name inscribed on the new championship trophy that will be on display in the Chamber offices throughout the year. The names of new winners will be added each year.

Dan Reynen and Beth Moyes received the $2,500 second prize for their entry entitled “We Come in Peace.” Reynen owns We Be Fit personal training and Moyes owns the Key West-based Theme Runs.

“I think this is the most important thing the Chamber has done in years,” said Reynen, who thanked the business organization, obviously, for the prize money, but also for their commitment to improving an annual event that has faced heavy criticism in recent years. “Instead of sitting around complaining about the same thing year after year, the Chamber is standing up and doing something about it. They’re changing the conversation and focusing on a solution.”

The new prize money initiative convinced 26 Monroe County-based teams to enter this year’s parade, said Virginia Panico, executive vice president of the Key West Chamber of Commerce.

“We were extremely, extremely pleased with the response we received in this, our first year,” Panico said, commending all entrants for their own investment of time and talent and hoping for continued creativity and community spirit in the coming years.

For more information about the new prize money for local parade entries, call the Key West Chamber of Commerce at 305-294-2587.

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