Outpouring of donations means radio show host can now help 16 St. Lucie County seniors pay for meds

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Outpouring of donations means radio show host can now help 16 St. Lucie County seniors pay for meds

By Nicole Rodriguez

Thursday, December 23, 2010

ST. LUCIE COUNTY — Thanks to a generous outpouring of local support and an anonymous donor, Christmas just got a whole lot merrier for more than a dozen St. Lucie County seniors struggling to pay for prescription drugs.

Earlier this week, Larry Lee Jr., a local businessman and radio show host, announced his newly established nonprofit Lighthouse Foundation would award $100 to three random seniors over age 70 who pay more than $25 a month for prescription medication live on the Christmas Eve broadcast of his weekly radio show on WFLM 104.7 The Flame and WIRA AM 1400 at 10 a.m.

Lee's announcement urging seniors to call the radio station to register for the drawing was highlighted earlier this week in a Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers story. Lee credits the article for the wave of donations that will enable him to give out $1,600 and help a total of 16 seniors instead of three. Lee even received a donation from an anonymous donor who penned a check for $500.

"He's an amazing person," was all Lee said about the mystery man.

"This community has such a big heart," Lee said. "The donors have even voiced that they want this to become an annual event, so we are going to do just that."

After the 16 lucky winners are announced, Lee plans on hand-delivering the cash to each senior that same day, no matter how long it takes.

"I was considering sending some of my elves out to make some of the deliveries," Lee said. "But I want to make the commitment and do it myself."

Lee was initially touched to assist seniors battling rising health-care costs after meeting an elderly woman who wondered if death would be easier than paying for the costly medications that were keeping her alive.

The two met at a CVS pharmacy on Thanksgiving Day in Georgia, where Lee was visiting family. After hearing the woman's story, Lee anonymously paid for her prescription order, which sparked the notion of helping local seniors back in St. Lucie County.

"I just thought of all the other seniors that are all alone with no help," Lee said. "I wanted them to receive a blessing from God as well."