CHAPTER 220
Caught in the Act of Kindness - July 2026
Celebrating individuals, groups and organizations that share their time, talent and treasure to meet the needs in our community.
“Kindness can be anything — from watering a tree to feeding a stray animal.” ~ Jyoti Arora
Women’s Foundation of Collier County awarded $385,000 in grants to local nonprofits dedicated to supporting vulnerable senior women and empowering women and girls. Listed below are the recipients and the programs for which they were awarded.
-
Baker Senior Center Naples & Collier Resource Center for A Community Lifeline to At-Risk and Homeless Senior Women
-
Beverly’s Angels for the Golden Welcome Home – Seniors Program
-
Collier Senior Center for Direct Assistance – Senior Women
-
Healthcare Network for Transitions of Care for Women with Complex Needs
-
NAMI Collier County for Outreach to Senior Women: Decreasing Loneliness and Isolation
-
Path2Freedom for Strengthening Safety & Healing at Collier Magnolia Safe House
-
St. Matthew’s House for Senior Women’s Homelessness
-
The Immokalee Foundation for the Middle School Girls Career Pathways Program
-
The Shelter for Abused Women & Children for the Hotline Advocate Program
Walter Schacht and Erik Papenfuss — senior vice president and wealth advisor at Truist Bank and local entrepreneur and inventor, respectively — made a summer outing to Revolution Cable Park possible, with lunch included, for children and teens from Youth Haven.
The Suncoast Credit Union Foundation gifted $10,000 to Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples to support the museum’s Discovery Night program. In addition, the Collier Community Foundation's grant of $40,000 made it possible for Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples to offer free one-year family memberships to the first 100 qualified Collier County families.
Shadow Wood Charitable Foundation granted $190,000 to A.N.A.’s Friends, to support the nonprofit’s Children’s Needs Program and primary outreach initiatives.
Literacy Collier raised $31,000 at its Sixth Annual Golf Scramble to purchase books and materials for more than 300 families enrolled in its Children and Parents Reading Together program.
The Charles Schwab Foundation granted $20,000 to Grace Place for Children & Families, supporting the nonprofit’s mission of providing education and opportunity for children and families in Collier County. Grace Place for Children & Families also raised $6,000 at its third annual Dodge for a Cause event in support of its programs.
Sunshine Ace Hardware raised $33,600 at its seventh annual Big Green EGGfest for local children’s charities, including Northside Naples Kiwanis Club, United Way of Collier and the Keys, Rotary Club of Bonita Beach Sunset and Leadership Collier Foundation.
The Schoen Foundation granted $300,000 to Warriors Homes of Collier, Inc., to help pay down the mortgage on its seventh residence, Zulu Project.
Thanks to the dedication of rescue partners, including Collier County Domestic Animal Services and the Patty Baker Humane Society, as well as supporters throughout the Naples community, For the Love of Cats rescued more than 50 friendly cats living in overcrowded and unsafe conditions at a local residence, embodying the meaning of “it takes a village.”
Nancy Lascheid and Dr. William Lascheid
The Foundation of Collier County Medical Society awarded a $15,000 scholarship to medical student Kaitlyn Barnes in honor of Dr. and Mrs. Lascheid, visionary founders of the charitable Neighborhood Health Clinic in Naples and past presidents of the Collier County Medical Society and the CCMS Alliance, respectively.
Cyndi Doragh, Kathy Stefanski, Tracie Bagans, Tom Hornby and Kate O’Connell
The Heights Foundation raised more than $26,000 during its exclusive Materra Cunat Family Vineyards Wine Tasting to support its educational, family and enrichment programs serving the Harlem Heights neighborhood.
Wilson & Johnson Private Foundation granted $1,000 to Home Base SWFL for a day in which veterans and their family members gathered at Empowerment Farm for an outdoor yoga and wellness experience.
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.
