"They Still Need Our Help”

When it came time to decide whether to give to the Marco Y’s new Healthy Living Center, it really wasn’t much of a decision at all for Alan and Linda Sandlin. For the longtime Marco Realtors, who now concentrate on philanthropic efforts, giving to the Y is a natural.

“It’s a win-win for everybody,” Linda Sandlin said. “We were so impressed with the presentation that John Riley and Cindy Love-Abounader gave us on the plans for this amazing 17,000 sq. ft. center and how it addresses all of those needs that are missing on Marco. I mean, we have wonderful country clubs and yacht clubs, and those are also very important and great on the island, but there's a whole sector that's missing out. And this is going to address the needs of that sector. And at the same time, because they were bursting at the seams in the original building, it will also help the youth because it moves some of the things for the 65 and over mature adults over to the new building, opening up space in the original building.”

For Alan, the numbers just make sense.

"It's all population related,” said Alan Sandlin. “Frankly, if you look at the percentages of people here who are over 65, Marco Island has almost 60 percent of its population over 65. We have a very unique environment. Our services need to include things for people who are in that age group."

Linda feels the new Healthy Living Center is perfectly suited to Marco’s small town feel.

"We still have that small town,” she said, "where we're all neighbors and we all care about each other, which I love. From its early beginnings, the Y has always been working hard to find the needs in the community and address those needs. They've done an amazing job. They are so committed to addressing the health needs of all ages. Right now, the biggest thing that's happening that will transform healthy aging on this island is the Healthy Living Center the Y is building. And they still need our help. It’s really, really important. I so hope that others on the island that have been blessed financially and can afford to help in some way will step forward to finish this center, because we're not quite there yet. And they're working like crazy over there to finish that building. So we need to keep up with them with the donations so that we can finish this off. It's a privilege to be able to give back and I hope others will enjoy that privilege and be part of this wonderful facility.”

The Y is currently $2 million short of its goal for the construction of the Healthy Living Center, which is expected to be completed by the end of summer. The Sandlins are impressed with how Love-Abounader has led the charge to fill the Island’s needs throughout her career at the Y.

"Cindy does not let any grass grow under her feet,” Linda said. "We are very blessed to have Cindy on the island in that role and willing to give it her all every day."