83- JERRY SCHULTZ — Owner, Mona’s Bar, Philanthropist
Since Mona’s Cocktail Lounge opened in 1997, the lounge has given back to the community consistently in one way or another thanks to bar owner Jerry Schultz. “There’s a lot of things we [at Mona’s Cocktail Lounge] do that are community-oriented,” says Jerry. “I didn’t open my bar to make a lot of money; I opened it to be connected to the community.” And, indeed, they are. In November of last year, Mona’s excelled in their first endeavor to assist in the Pantry of Broward’s food drive by collecting 4,500 pounds worth of canned and dry food. It was the biggest food donation ever received by the Pantry of Broward from one establishment. Jerry is wholeheartedly committed to Mona’s fundraising efforts, even going so far as to include fun and playful ideas to keep his patrons motivated. In March, Mona’s raised $21,500 for Florida AIDS Walk after Jerry announced that he would walk the entire 5K in a teenie weenie yellow polka dot bikini if they raised $2,000 more than they did the previous year—$13,000 to be exact. “We’re just a little neighborhood bar but Mona’s has given me a voice in the community,” remarks Jerry.
