CHAPTER 160
Caught in the Act of Kindness - February 2024
Celebrating individuals, groups and organizations that share their time, talent and treasure to meet the needs in our community.
Simple kindness may be the most vital key to the riddle of how human beings can live with each other in peace, and care properly for this planet we all share. ~Bo Lozoff
2024 Live Auction by Mila Bridger
The 2024 Naples Winter Wine Festival raised a new record of more than $33 million to support at-risk and underprivileged children in Collier County.
Photo courtesy Clay W. Cone.
"Sweetie," a fully grown mini horse from Lead the Way Equine Therapy, visited seniors at the Baker Senior Center Naples. This local nonprofit brings trained miniature horses to visit hospitals, nursing homes, hospice center, private residences and children's clinics.
Pat and Scot Kaufman made a $4 million donation to NCH for the new health care facility planned for Marco Island.
Environmental educators from Big Cypress National Preserve discuss native bird habitat with Guadalupe Center second-graders. Photo courtesy Priority Marketing.
Hideaway Beach Club hosted Guadalupe Center second-graders, some of whom had never seen the Gulf of Mexico, at its annual “Buddy Day.” Participating organizations included Big Cypress National Preserve, Kids2Camp, YMCA of Collier County, Marco Island Fire Department, Marco Island Shell Club and Seminole Casino Immokalee, which provided buses for transportation. Dustin Leeka of Farmer Mike’s Produce, Steve Cohen of the National Golf Course Restaurant Association and Mike Moody of Cheney Brothers donated snacks.
STARability Foundation’s annual gala raised $2.6 million. The organization also received a $30,000 grant from the Collier Community Foundation to expand vocational services programming.
Concept Rendering Access and Integrated Care Center
The Bill and Julia Van Domelen Foundation presented a $10 million Leadership Gift to David Lawrence Centers for its Behavioral Health Hope for Collier: Building Stronger Minds Together initiative.
The Immokalee Foundation raised $2.3 million at its gala to support the educational needs of more than 1,300 students in Immokalee.
The Kids’ Minds Matter 2024 gala raised more than $2.2 million, including a $1 million pledge from John Siebart (pictured above), who recently lost his daughter to suicide.
Bill Raisbeck, Henrik Margard, PZAZZ team member, Trond Schou & Marie Schou.
Photo credit: Mark Schoenfelt Photography.
SWFL Children’s Charities, Inc. raised more than $2 million at its 2024 Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest.
Joe Zednik and mentee Fabian Estrada
Joseph Zednik was named Take Stock in Children of Florida Mentor of the Year.
Guadalupe Center raised a record $1.7 million at its gala for its educational programs serving 1,950 students annually from infancy through college.
Youth Haven’s Cherish the Children event raised more than $800,000 for its programs and services, which provide around-the-clock care to children and teens in a home-like environment.
Naples Automotive Experience Jetport Reception
The Naples Automotive Experience 2024 raised nearly $1.7 million to support the work of St. Matthew’s House.
The Home Base Golf Tournament hosted by The Nest Golf Club raised $345,000 in support of Home Base Florida's programs to promote overall well-being and improve the lives of those affected by military service-related trauma.
STARability Foundation presented a STAR Award to its dedicated vocational partner, Structure Medical.
Kurt Boldt of B. Wise Vineyards leads VIP experience
Pull the Cork wine event raised $160,000 to support Lee BIA Builders Care in granting life-changing projects for local families in need of emergency home repairs.
At its inaugural fundraiser, Blessings in a Backpack of Southwest Florida raised more than $150,000 to support its efforts to provide weekend meals to school children in Lee, Collier, Hendry, Glades and Charlotte counties.
Lee Health Foundation raised $105,000 at its inaugural event to help provide access to a variety of health care services for residents and visitors of Cape Coral and surrounding areas.
Avow Foundation partnered with the West Coast Muscle Car Club to host its Car and Truck Show, raising $74,500 for local charities, including Avow Kids.
Preferred Travel & Company and Suncoast Credit Union presented $25,000 and $20,000 respectively to Guadalupe Center.
Suncoast Credit Union awarded a $25,000 grant to Charity for Change for the production of 20 new educational videos for Collier County elementary school-age students. Arthrex provided the organization with a grant for new project-based learning activities.
APS board members along with Jingled Elves board members
Jingled Elves awarded a $20,000 grant to Alliance for Period Supplies of SWFL, which also received a $1,900 donation from Naples Heritage Ladies Golf Association.
The Southwest Florida Chapter of the American Airlines Kiwi Club raised $5,000 for the Fun Time Early Childhood Academy.
Zonta Foundation of Southwest Florida, Inc. provided a $3,900 grant to MicroEnterprise Institute to support women in business.
For consideration in Caught in the Act of Kindness, email an example of how an individual, group or organization went above and beyond to help those in need to inspireme@ebellamag.com. Please include a related high-resolution photo as well.
