CHAPTER 162
Caught in the Act of Kindness - March 2024
Celebrating individuals, groups and organizations that share their time, talent and treasure to meet the needs in our community.
“Goodness has more weight than talents.” – Sophia Smith, University Founder
Adam and Ashley Gerry, Event Chairs
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Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples (CMON) raised more than $1.5 million at its annual gala event, Night at the Museum: CMON Dreamhouse.
Kristy Pollard and Jessica Pollard, Schoen Foundation
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More than $435,000 was raised to support the Boys & Girls Club at its 13th annual Youth of the Year event. Additionally, the organization awarded Shoen Foundation the Giving is Living Award for its unwavering commitment and generosity.
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FGCU Professor Steve Hughart and ECHO’s Abram Bicksler, Grace Miller, Rachel Carlucci and Larry Comstock
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ECHO receives a 6-foot-tall sculpture depicting planet earth made from scrap metal collected during the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. Art professor Steve Hughart and several of his students at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU), came together to create the stunning artwork that now sits in a demonstration garden at ECHO.
Home Base Florida Veterans and Habitat for Humanity Volunteers
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Home Base Florida veteran volunteers worked with Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry County volunteers, contributing to the completion of two homes for local Southwest Florida veterans.
Home Base Florida raised more than $345,000 at its 8th Annual Home Base Golf Tournament hosted by The Nest Golf Club.
The inaugural Grateful Hearts event, hosted by Dorothy and Ron Fitzgerald and Pat and Bill Wiggenhorn, raised $160,000 in support of Lee Health Heart Institute. In addition, a $250,000 matching gift from the John E. and Aliese Price Foundation was announced at the event.
Trinity-by-the-Cove awarded more than $139,000 to address community needs through 16 Collier County organizations: front row: Coral Vargas, NCH Safe & Healthy Children; Robin Goldstone Garcia, Florida Lions Eye Clinic; Terri Ballo, Florida Drowning Prevention Foundation; Catrina Sanchez, Easterseals Florida; Pamela Baker, Healthcare Network; Annette Kirk, Collier Harvest; Connie Preu, Collier Harvest; Neftali Feliciano, Cancer Alliance of Naples; Anne Russell Foster, Baby Basics; Dusti Beaubien, Alliance for Period Supplies. Back row: E. B. Newberry Yarnell, Sunlight of Collier County; Eileen Wesley, Project HELP; Mary Schoeffel, Parkinson’s Association of SW Florida; Gregg DeChirico, Neighborhood Health Clinic; Scott Flagel, Lighthouse of Collier County; Laura Burns, Naples Therapeutic Riding Center; Steve Popper, Meals of Hope
For the Love of Cats inaugural CatNip Spay Day event partnered with Collier County Domestic Animal Services (DAS), Camp Many Paws, Dr. David Papanu from Harborside Animal Clinic and local volunteers to sterilize and return 41 stray, community and feral cats.
Avow received a $35,000 grant from The Stranahan Foundation for essential programming benefiting Collier County, including non-hospice palliative care.
Hope Florida Fund donation recipients.
St. Matthew’s House is one of six Collier County nonprofit organizations to receive a $10,000 Hope Florida Fund donation check presented by First Lady Casey DeSantis. Additional recipients recognized by the First Lady were: Golden PAWS Assistance Dogs, Our Daily Bread Food Pantry, Project B.U.I.L.D., Baby Basics of Collier County and Trailways Camps.
Volunteers gather at Providence House where funds will be used to install a new electric gate.
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Naples Woman’s Club awarded $38,000 in grants to several social service organizations in Collier County: Fun Time Academy, Children Advocacy Center, Providence House and National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Collier County.
Jim Meerpohl, Treasurer; Mike Garey, Immediate Past President; Tim West, 2nd Vice President wearing colonial attire; SAR Chapter President Doug Gibbens in his SAR uniform; Golden PAWS Volunteer Handler Diana Mitchell and Golden PAWS cadet Sloke
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The Naples Chapter of Sons of American Revolution (SAR), Florida Society, presented a $1,000 check to Golden PAWS Assistance Dogs to honor their Patriot Ancestors on PAWS’ Wall of Honor.
Collier Resource Center team member, Marioly, and client, Tony.
Collier Resource Center received a $15,000 general operating grant from the Collier Community Foundation.
Fun Time Early Childhood Academy was awarded a $15,000 grant from the Jingled Elves organization to support startup funding that will establish an infant room at its Poinciana location.
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St. Matthew’s House CEO Steve Brooder, Naples Market President David Gordley, Rick Fumo and Richard Grows
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First Horizon Foundation, a charitable foundation of First Horizon Bank, with the support of Naples Market President David Gordley, presented a $15,000 grant to St. Matthew’s House.
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Alliance for Period Supplies of SWFL President and Founder Dusti Beaubien with Jackie Millan from Trinity by the Cove.
The Alliance for Period Supplies of SWFL received an $8,000 grant from Trinity by the Cove Episcopal Church.
STARability photography class
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STARability Foundation received a $7,500 grant from Suncoast Credit Union to support its Jr. Trailblazer Academy program for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Sunshine Ace Hardware and anglers across Southwest Florida helped raise $2,608 to support Captains for Clean Water at the eighth annual Reel in the Sunshine fishing expo.
Harry Chapin Food Bank Chief Development Officer Stuart Haniff and CEO Richard LeBer present representatives from the Copperleaf Charitable Foundation with a gold record naming them February 2024 Donor of the Month.
Collier County 100 Club check presentation at Mission BBQ.
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The Collier County 100 Club received a $2,088 donation from Mission BBQ Naples to financially assist first responders and their families in times of tragedy.
Better Together award recipients
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Better Together honored Collier County community partners who have made a significant impact on the organization and its mission: Isaac and Abby Fuller; Moon Bae Chung; Project HELP Naples; Calvary Chapel Naples Daniel Ramos; Francine “Kip” Courtemanche; and Carol Norkus.
Runway for Education Fashion Show models and escorts
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Volunteer models walked the runway in designer fashions at Guadalupe Resale Shop’s annual Runway for Education Fashion Show & Private Sale. Proceeds enhance education programs at the nonprofit Guadalupe Center in Immokalee.
Jessica Goodall of Eva's Closet and Jennifer Williams of Jennifer's.
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Jennifer's Fashion Forward Friday raised $1,550 and collected shampoo, laundry detergent and diapers for Eva's Closet and Foundation (ECF).
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.
