CHAPTER 209
Caught in the Act of Kindness - February 2026
Celebrating individuals, groups and organizations that share their time, talent and treasure to meet the needs in our community.
“Three things in human life are important: the first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; and the third is to be kind.” ~ Henry James
2026 NWWF Co-Chairs Adam and Ashley Gerry with Bill and Nena Beynon
The Naples Children Foundation raised $30 million at its 26th annual Naples Winter Wine Festival live auction to support its mission to provide transformative change for Collier County’s most vulnerable children.
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Guadalupe Center raised more than $2.2 million at its Illuminate the Future - Elevate Gala in support of its educational programs, which serves more than 2,000 students in Immokalee.
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The Women’s Foundation of Collier County raised $2.2 million at its 30th anniversary sold-out luncheon to advance opportunities for women and girls throughout Collier County.
Baker Senior Center Naples raised $1.4 million at its 14th annual Evening for Better Tomorrows gala to support critical social services and programs benefitting older adults in Collier and southern Lee counties.
Feeding Dreams raised $1 million at its recent Naples Yacht Club event to support the organization’s weekend meals program and two new initiatives, The Feeding Dreams Scholarship and Mentor Program.
Collier Community Foundation awarded a $50,000 grant to St. Matthew’s House in support of its shelter housing programs in Southwest Florida.
Amy Strom, Director of Clinical Innovation; Leslie Turner, Operations Manager; and Patricia Swenson, NWC Philanthropy Committee
The Naples Woman’s Club awarded a $16,500 grant to NAMI Collier County in support of its HUGS Children’s Mental Health Program for children and teens experiencing emotional, behavioral and developmental challenges.
Goodness for Pets and the Seevers Family Foundation gifted $100,000 to the Conservancy of Southwest Florida in honor of the late Gary Seevers to support its work protecting Southwest Florida’s water, land and wildlife, honoring a legacy rooted in family, fishing and conservation.
Sunshine Ace Hardware raised $56,489 for Children’s Miracle Network at its annual Holiday Round Up to help cover the cost of patient services for children and families.
Collier County Women's Bar Association – Emma Osborne, Phoebe Wise and Ashley Jones
Collier County Women's Bar Association awarded a $2,000 grant to Collier Resource Center to strengthen trilingual (English/Spanish/Creole) service delivery and outreach. Additionally, Pelican Bay Rotary Club awarded $1,000 to the center in support of its case management program.
Preferred Travel & Co. donated four $25,000 cruises to WGCU Public Media for on-air sweepstakes, helping generate more than $600,000 during radio pledge drives alone to support local journalism, educational programming and cultural content across Southwest Florida.
The Boys & Girls Club of Collier County raised more than $600,000 at its Great Futures Gala supporting programs that serve more than 4,000 local children and teens across Naples and Immokalee.
Senior Center Director Esther Lully, MSML, addresses a crowd of more than 255 guests during Transform Seniors' Lives
Collier Senior Center-Golden Gate celebrated 15 years of service to the community and raised $500,000 at its 2025 annual Transform Seniors’ Lives event in support of older adults and caregivers across Collier County. Additionally, Jingled Elves, Inc. granted $30,000 to the center for its direct financial assistance and mental wellness programs.
Skillets restaurants in Southwest Florida donated $8,800 to Collier Children’s Advocacy Center, helping fund the nonprofit’s comprehensive programs, which are offered free of charge to children and their families.
Valerie’s House Founder & CEO Angela Melvin Churchill with Board Chair Kristalyn Loson Atwood
Valerie’s House raised $641,000 at its second annual Sunset Soirée to continue its mission of helping children and families grieve the loss of loved ones.
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.
