CHAPTER 201
Caught in the Act of Kindness - October 2025
Celebrating individuals, groups and organizations that share their time, talent and treasure to meet the needs in our community.
“Our desire to bring every good thing to our children is a force for good in the world.” ~ Melinda Gates
Photo courtesy of the Collier Community Foundation
KeyBank Foundation granted $200,000 to Collier Community Foundation as part of its national bicentennial grant program to help expand support for housing, small businesses, and other critical community needs in Collier County.
More than 1,200 volunteers joined Keep Collier Beautiful’s 2025 International Coastal Cleanup, logging over 3,800 service hours and removing 4,100 pounds of trash from Collier County waterways.
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The League Club granted $20,000 to Guadalupe Center to support its nationally accredited Early Childhood Education Program, helping to expand early literacy to more than 500 children.
Collier County Medical Society announced the winners of its 2025 Foundation Healthcare Scholarship awards, each of whom received a scholarship ranging from $2,500 to $6,500: Alejandro Aguilar, Ronasia Duprat, Arnold Morales Loyola, Hailey Mathieu, and Kayla Miranda.
Foundation of the Rotary Club of Bonita Springs donated $30,000 to the Wonder Gardens to build a Seminole Chickee Hut to serve as a vital space for private events and educational programs.
The League Club granted Youth Haven $25,000 to fund the purchase of a new van, which will be used to transport its residents to activities and employment. Additionally, Suncoast Credit Union Foundation gifted $17,500 to support the nonprofit’s education initiatives.
Collier Community Foundation donated $25,000 to Better Together’s Better Families and Better Jobs programs, which strengthen families and reduce foster care by providing parents with connections, work opportunities, mentoring, and short-term child care.
Moorings Park Foundation awarded Lighthouse of Collier, Inc. – Center for Blindness & Vision Loss a $14,000 grant to help seniors with vision loss to become more independent in their kitchens. Additionally, Bob Rommel, executive director of Florida for the America First Policy Institute and a former state representative, donated $1,500 to support the nonprofit’s mission.
Lawrence Falisi, Dennis De Rienzo, Andrea Jones and Larry Falisi
The Hang Out by Two Guys hosted its annual 9/11 Memorial event, donating $1,613 to the Collier 100 Club to support Collier County first responders and their families with essentials such as rent, rebuilding, clothing, and food during times of tragedy.
Suncoast Credit Union Foundation gifted $10,000 to the Boys & Girls Club of Collier County to support the nonprofit’s services to children attending more than 70 schools.
Collier Community Foundation granted $20,000 to Collier Senior Center-Golden Gate to support its general operations and technology needs.
The Daniel R. & Anne M. Harper Foundation granted $25,000 to Children’s Advocacy Center of Southwest Florida to renovate its recently opened Harper Foundation Resource Center.
Collier Community Foundation granted $10,000 to Grace Place for Children and Families for its food pantry in Golden Gate.
Tim and Sheila Zellers, Evelyn Rossetti-Ryan, and A.J. Zellers
Tamiami Ford collected more than 800 lbs. of food for Our Daily Bread Food Pantry of Collier as part of a global community initiative by Ford dealers worldwide.
Community Cooperative’s 19th annual Becoming Cosmopolitan: Mad About Hunger event raised $162,000 to fight hunger by helping fuel vital programs like Sam’s Community Café and Kitchen, Meals on Wheels of SWFL, mobile food pantries and more.
Suncoast Credit Union gifted $25,000 to Harry Chapin Food Bank in honor of Hunger Action Month while also sponsoring and volunteering at a distribution event at the food bank’s Golden Gate Community Center, which provided nourishing food for 300 families in need.
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.
