CHAPTER 175
Caught in the Act of Kindness - September 2024
Celebrating individuals, groups and organizations that share their time, talent and treasure to meet the needs in our community.
“What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” – Jane Goodall
Photo courtesy of Baker Senior Center Naples
BSCN Geriatric Mental Health Counseling
BSCN Music Therapy
HUGS (Happy Ukelele Group) donated $2,650 — the proceeds of its First Annual Naples Ukelele Festival — to Baker Senior Center Naples for its Veteran’s Programs. The nonprofit was also awarded $260,000 from the Florida Department of Elder Affairs for its Dementia Respite Support Program and Geriatric Mental Health Services. Additionally, Collier Community Foundation awarded a $242,500 grant to BSCN to expand essential services to more low-income seniors in the community.
Women's Foundation of Collier County provided $290,000 in grants to seven local nonprofits that provide services and programs to our community’s women and girls including: Baker Senior Center Naples, Inc.; Boys & Girls Club of Collier County; Collier Senior Center; NAMI Collier County; St. Matthew's House; The Immokalee Foundation; and Housing Development Corporation (HELP).
Youth philanthropist, Christopher, influenced by his parents’ recent investment in Pathways Early Education Center, organized a fundraiser — painting and selling planters at his community’s farmers market — to purchase much-needed supplies that he personally delivered to the nonprofit.
Naples Children & Education Foundation awarded a $115,000 grant to Avow specifically intended for the Avow Kids program. Also dedicated to funding Avow Kids, Suncoast Credit Union Foundation awarded a $7,500 grant to Avow for the same purpose.
Hertz, sponsor of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County’s 2024 Back to School Event, donated items collected through an employee-driven campaign, allowing nearly 275 Boys & Girls Club members to choose a new backpack and fill it with necessary school supplies to ensure success as the new school year begins.
Suncoast Credit Union awarded a charitable gift of $30,000 to David Lawrence Centers for Behavioral Health to support its Children’s Behavioral Health Care program that includes activities focusing on art, music and animal therapies.
Park Family & Cosmetic Dentistry and Neighborhood Health Clinic collaborated with Caring for Collier 2024 to provide free comprehensive dental care to qualified low-income, uninsured patients — a philanthropic giving to our community in the amount of $200,000.
Alliance for Period Supplies of SWFL donated 250,000 period products to St. Matthew’s House, providing access to reliable and dignified menstrual care to over 1,000 financially challenged women in our community.
Women’s Foundation of Collier County awarded a $57,500 human services grant to The Housing Alliance to help provide immediate funds for at-risk senior women.
Ayden Abreu
Ali Lagergren
Marc Michel
Hazel White
Warrior Homes of Collier awarded $5,000 college scholarships to four Collier County students with military ties: Ayden Abreu, Alexandria “Ali” Lagergren, Marc Michel, and Hazel White.
NAMI hosted Resiliency Nights as part of its HUGS program thanks to the grant provided by Collier Community Foundation.
Women’s Foundation of Collier County granted $30,000 to NAMI Collier County, allowing the program coordinator to carry out home visits, attend client’s medical appointments, and provide direct support to senior women experiencing (or at risk of) depression. Collier Community Foundation also granted $3,500 to the nonprofit to support its Children’s Mental Health Program, HUGS.
Photo credit: The Conservancy of Southwest Florida
The Conservancy of Southwest Florida collected approximately $5,600 in donations and gifts at its annual baby shower in support of the von Arx Wildlife Hospital that cares for the conservancy’s youngest, most delicate patients.
Comerica donated $7,500 to Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida to support the MicroEnterprise Institute that helps aspiring small business owners gain the skills they need to succeed as entrepreneurs.
Middle school student receives career guidance from Immokalee Foundation career counselor Mr. Kent
Physicians Regional Healthcare System generously covered the costs of The Immokalee Foundation’s Healthcare Summer Camp at Florida Gulf Coast University, benefiting 42 Immokalee Foundation students, ages 13-17, who are interested in healthcare careers. Additionally, The New York Life Foundation and the Afterschool Alliance provided The Immokalee Foundation a $15,000 grant to support students in the Career Pathways program.
Elite DNA and Children's Advocacy staff with backpack-stuffing volunteers
Elite DNA Behavioral Health teamed up with United Way of Lee, Hendry, and Glades and Children’s Advocacy Center of Southwest Florida to host a Back-to-School Drive that supported more than 250 local families through nearly 1,000 donated school supply items.
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.
