CHAPTER 195
Caught in the Act of Kindness - July 2025
Celebrating individuals, groups and organizations that share their time, talent and treasure to meet the needs in our community.
“Give and give again. Keep hoping, keep trying, keep giving! People who give will never be poor!” ~ Anne Frank
Pelican Bay Food Drive Co-Chair Barbara Davin; St. Matthew’s House Director of Program Operations Alesi Fernandez; Pelican Bay Food Drive Co-Chair Julie Wade; St. Matthew's House Community Outreach Specialist Elizabeth McCoy-Ferreira
Seventy-two HOA’s within Pelican Bay, as well as five businesses nearby and Club Pelican Bay, partnered with St. Matthew’s House to host food collection bins and rally residents, raising $101,000 in donations to combat hunger in Collier County. Additionally, Women's Foundation of Collier County granted $47,000 to St. Matthew’s House to support the growing number of senior women experiencing homelessness.
The residents of Vi at Bentley Village and The Terraces at Bonita Springs competed in a month-long campaign to raise more than $30,000 and filled several large donation bins with nonperishable food to support the Harry Chapin Food Bank.
Susan McManus, Dr. Jaclynn Faffer, Kari Lefort and Althea Irving
Women’s Foundation of Collier County awarded a $70,000 grant to Baker Senior Center Naples to prevent homelessness and assist at-risk and homeless older women in Collier County.
%202025%20July%2017%2031_7_23_25_8_6_25_eXtra.jpg)
Grace Place for Children and Families raised $481,929 at its 13th annual golf tournament, A Swing of Grace. Additionally, Women’s Foundation of Collier County granted the nonprofit $210,000 to launch the Middle School Career Discovery Academy in fall 2025. Grace Place also raised more than $6,000 at it’s second annual dodgeball tournament, Dodge for a Cause.
Women's Foundation of Collier County also granted $40,000 to The Immokalee Foundation to support middle school girls participating in the Foundation's after-school Career Pathways education and workforce development program.
Shy Wolf Sanctuary Education & Experience Center partnered with Home Base Florida to provide veterans an educational encounter with rescued animals in a peaceful, restorative environment, while also engaging them in a hands-on volunteer project building planters for the front of the property.
Shadow Wood Charitable Foundation granted $60,000 and United Way of Collier and the Keys granted $2,500 to Alliance for Period Supplies of SWFL, whose combined contributions provide period products to a total of 2,060 at-risk women and girls in Collier County.
STARability Foundation raised more than $28,000 at its elegant tea party fundraiser and more than $100,000 at its inaugural charity golf tournament, with all proceeds benefitting the nonprofit’s programs and services.
Valerie’s House provided $37,000 in college scholarships to 14 graduating high school seniors in the Southwest Florida area who have participated in its grief support program.
For the Love of Cats hosted its first annual Purrs and Paddles Pickleball Tournament, raising $40,000 to save cats and kittens in need.
The Conservancy of Southwest Florida raised $30,000 at its Party to Preserve Paradise to benefit its core mission programs. The nonprofit also hosted its annual Wildlife Baby Shower, where attendees donated 214 items and $1,511 in monetary donations to support baby animals in need of care and medications at the von Arx Wildlife Hospital.
Michael Wynn (Sunshine Ace Hardware) and Alexander Rivero (Lee Health Foundation/Children’s Miracle Network at Golisano Children’s Hospital)
Sunshine Ace Hardware raised $27,361 for Children’s Miracle Network through the company’s Spring Round Up, an annual campaign to support pediatric health care.
Kensington Golf & Country Club Executive Chef Ralph Feraco in the kitchen with the youth participants
Kensington Golf & Country Club partnered with the Collier County Sheriff’s Office to host the annual Sheriff's Kids Day with Youth Haven, a two-day enrichment experience where local underprivileged and at-risk youths participated in hands-on learning experiences across various departments at the Club.
David Lawerence Centers CEO Scott Burgess and The League Club President Donna Lindberg
(Left to right) Councilman Jim Fitzpatrick, YMCA Staff, Nancy Near, Eric Lane, Chris Sapp, Deb Braendle, Marjorie Rubacky, Trish Leonard, (back) John Jenkins, Gary Price
Bonita Springs Community Fund with The Collaboratory provided The Bonita Springs YMCA with a $27,000 grant to launch a new tutoring initiative that engages local high school students as teacher aides in the YMCA’s after-school program.
Lighthouse of Collier Chief Development Officer Priscilla Grannis receives The League Club check presentation from Chair of the Nominating Committee Donna Lindberg.
The League Club granted $25,000 to Lighthouse of Collier for Blindness & Vision Loss which will allow the nonprofit to increase program hours and retain additional part-time qualified Teachers of the Visually Impaired. Additionally, President and Artistic Director of Grand Piano Series Milana Strezeva generously donated tickets to Lighthouse clients for the performance of internationally acclaimed pianist, Dmitry Yudin.
The Robert J. Gunterberg Charitable Foundation granted $10,000 to the Children’s Advocacy Center of Southwest Florida to support its prevention programs.
The Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation awarded a $23,000 grant to Help A Diabetic Child to benefit local families in securing necessary life-saving insulin, diabetes medical supplies and services.
United Way of Collier and the Keys provided HELP (Housing Education Lending Program), an affiliate of The Housing Alliance, with a $10,000 grant to support its Housing Navigator Program to expand its home buyer education and prepurchase counseling services.
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.
