The Cheryl Cates Memorial Foundation was founded in honor of Cheryl Hollon Cates, a near lifelong resident of Key West who had a passion for serving others. The mission of the Cheryl Cates Memorial Foundation is to assist families and children in need in Monroe County, Florida and improve their quality of life by making grants directly to them and other charitable organizations in order to meet needs that are not otherwise being addressed. Cheryl Hollon Cates was born in 1953 in Jacksonville, Florida. At the age of two she moved to Key West, where she lived most of her life. In 1971 Cheryl married her high school sweetheart, Craig Cates and they went on to have three beautiful daughters and 4 amazing grandchildren with whom she shared her love of music, performance and cars.

In fact, the most recent lighting of the Key West Historic Seaport Harbor Walk of Lights served as this year’s kickoff to the “Cheryl Cates Toy Drive” Visitors were asked to bring a toy or purchase one at the “Imagination Station” table.

According to the many who knew and loved her, “Cheryl enjoyed encouraging and supporting local non-profits. She served her community with a special interest in children and families. She supported her husband Mayor Craig Cates as the “First Lady” of Key West for over a decade, representing city leadership at thousands of events over his five terms of service.”

Photo: Cheryl Cates Memorial Foundation Website

2025 Lighting of the Harbor Walk of Lights & Toy Drive Kickoff

For more information on the Cheryl Cates Memorial Foundation and how you can help support their mission, visit https://www.cherylcates.org/ or contact them here.

✨ Finally, we can’t wait to see you celebrate the holiday season at the Key West Historic Seaport! ✨ Check out Key West Christmas online for more details and a list of updated events, as well as KeyWestHistoricSeaport.com.