Ralph Messer, owner of The Citrus Tower, has organized a fundraiser to benefit Simchat Torah Beit Midrash (Stbm). He is hoping to raise $850K in donations via a Gofundme campaign for the replacement of the roof.
In September 2022, The Citrus Tower was purchased by STBM (Simchat Torah Beit Midrash), an organization that has developed digital platforms that specialize in learning and business experience.
Ralph Messer, the founder, is also the founder and president of ICTS (International Center for Torah Studies), whose mission is to build a foundation for men and women to reach their potential and successfully grow in a global economy and culture. Throughout the world, he has set up learning centers to teach authentic business principles, as well as fundamental moral principles.
Florida Citrus Tower is a 226-foot-tall iconic structure built in 1956 to allow visitors to observe the miles of surrounding orange groves. It was once among the most famous landmarks in the Central Florida area.
The tower opened on July 14, 1956. While the citrus industry was thriving and before the freezes, the tower drew up to 500,000 visitors a year,
Since 1964, the tower has been sold several times.
In 1995 the Citrus Tower was purchased by Greg Homan. It was painted white and turquoise. In April 2015, the Citrus Tower was repainted in its original color scheme, white with orange stripes. In 2022, the Citrus Tower complex was purchased by its present owner Ralph Messer.
The Florida Citrus Tower is located at 183 N. Highway 27, Clermont, next to Simchat Torah Beit Midrash.
For more information, visit GoFundMe
