CHAPTER 199
Caught in the Act of Kindness - September 2025
Celebrating individuals, groups and organizations that share their time, talent and treasure to meet the needs in our community.
“Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible” ~ Dalai Lama
Suncoast Custom Pools Owner & CEO Josh McKenna; Step Into Swim Manager Jillian Wilkins; and YMCA of Southwest Florida President & CEO Gene T. Jones.
Suncoast Custom Pools organized a charity golf tournament at The Quarry Golf Club raising $100,000 for the YMCA of Southwest Florida, specifically for its water safety education and swim programs.
Collier Community Foundation granted $51,000 to Harry Chapin Food Bank for food purchases to help restock pantries across Collier County.
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Copperleaf Charitable Foundation hosted a veteran appreciation golf tournament in remembrance of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and to honor veterans for their valued service. More than 30 veterans enrolled in Home Base Florida’s wellness and fitness programs participated in the day of golf with Copperleaf Golf Club members.
Suncoast Credit Union Foundation gifted $50,000 to The Immokalee Foundation in support of the Foundation’s nationally recognized Career Pathways program and to provide postsecondary scholarship support.
Ware Bluegrass Foundation awarded a $40,000 grant to Florida Lions Eye Clinic to support its mission of providing free eye care to underserved and uninsured individuals across Southwest Florida.
Naples Airport hosted its Be a Lifeline for Our Neighbors food drive to benefit St. Matthew’s House, collecting more than 330 pounds of food and toiletries using an inflatable life raft placed in its lobby.
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Elizabeth K. Galeana Charitable Foundation granted Youth Haven $30,850 for a new shaded on-campus bus stop.
Through the support of local businesses, individual donors and volunteers who provided supplies, funding and time, the Children’s Advocacy Center of Southwest Florida distributed more than 250 backpacks filled with essential school supplies to children served at its East United Way Resiliency Hub and main campus.
Moorings Park Foundation awarded a $25,000 grant to David Lawrence Centers for Behavioral Health in support of increased services for uninsured and underinsured seniors.
Sunshine Ace Hardware and Crowder Bros. Ace Hardware customers donated $5,870 to support pediatric health care through its Miracle Bucket Sale, a three-day promotion to raise money for Children’s Miracle Network.
Loretta Ede and Peggy Davis with The Shelter’s Annual Giving & Stewardship Manager Lauren McDermott (left).
Loretta Ede and Peggy Davis of St. Leo's Catholic Church delivered Kids Totes to support the little ones at The Shelter for Abused Women & Children.
With support from Florida Blue Foundation — including a grant for construction costs and 27 volunteers who contributed 197 hours — Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties handed over the keys of a newly built home to local healthcare hero Janice Rayner.
Girl Scout Ariana at a marshalling session at Naples Airport's Girls in Aviation Day.
Naples Airport partnered with Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida for a Girls in Aviation Day, where more than 50 Girl Scouts climbed aboard vintage planes, learned aircraft marshalling signals and met Collier County MedFlight pilots and EMTs.
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.
