Caught in the Act of Kindness - January 2022
Celebrating individuals, groups and organizations that share their time, talent and treasure to meet the needs in our community.
That’s why we’re here, after all, to help others. ~ Carol Burnett
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.
If you have a related high-resolution photo, please include that as well.
CHAPTER 70
Markham Norton Mosteller Wright & Co., P.A. (MNMW) participated in a gift donation program for Foster Care Advisory Services, providing 57 children with Christmas gifts.
Collier Resource Center and Beverly's Angels made sure a CRC client had a merry Christmas. Every child received a special gift and mom received gift cards for food and additional presents.
Table Tennis Together at the Estero Rec Center has instituted a therapy program for individuals with disabilities, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and Dementia.
Brew Ha Ha raised $26,000 for Pace Center for Girls – Collier at Immokalee.
Carol Gaunt, Zak Williams and Kathy Maxwell
NAMI Collier raised a record $200,000 at its Hope Shines luncheon featuring Zak Williams, son of the late Robin Williams.
Lee BIA Builders Care and Lennar partnered to complete a home improvement project for Phyllis Puett, an 84-year-old Fort Myers resident having difficulty navigating her home, all at no cost. Other project partners included 84 Lumber Company, GMZ Masonry, Cemex Construction Materials, Sherwin-Williams, Ferguson, Carrigan Brothers, Juniper Landscaping, Johns To Go, Wayne Wiles Floor Covering, City Furniture, Prestige Cleaning of SWFL, Southwest Waste Services, Southwest Land Development, Sod Pro and Edmonson Electric.
The Naples Woman’s Club recently awarded a $10,000 grant to the Florida Lions Eye Clinic’s (FLLEC) programs for children and a $10,000 grant to Alliance for Period Supplies of SWFL.
Lee Association for Remarkable Citizens was awarded a $5,854 Lifesaving Equipment Grant by Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation to be applied toward the purchase of four automated external defibrillators (AEDs).
Paul Kessen, owner of Allegra Naples, far left, poses with the 2022 winners.
Allegra Naples presented $22,000 to 22 local nonprofits from the FootPRINT Fund®.
NTRC Lead Instructor Lea Haven, Ryan Pike and Occupational Therapist Mary Fellenz
Naples Therapeutic Riding Center (NTRC) received a $3,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Collier County (CFCC) to advance NTRC’s new occupational therapy with a horse program.
The Village School of Naples presented a $1,235 check to New Horizons of Southwest Florida.
Youth Haven, Inc. received a $7,500 grant from Bank of America to benefit its Rapid Re-Housing Program (RRHP) and Homeless Teen Transitional Living Program (HTTLP). The organization also received a $2,500 grant from Bailey and Friends, established by the Golisano Foundation to support animal welfare for cats and dogs in Western New York and Southwest Florida.
The Richard M. Schulze Foundation awarded a $46,500 grant to support 10 courses offered by the MicroEnterprise Institute in 2022 to help 120 aspiring entrepreneurs with limited incomes. The Foundation also gave a $40,000 grant to Leadership Collier Foundation for leadership and talent initiatives.
The Claw Bar’s Jeanne Tierney (left) and Megan Miller (center) presented Marie Rubenstein (right), Director of Philanthropy at the Immokalee Foundation, a check for nearly $2,500.
At a ‘Dine for a Cause’ event, the Immokalee Foundation and 30 local restaurants raised $17,000 to benefit the children of Immokalee.
Alan Cuevas Villagomez, a 3rd year medical student at the University of Pittsburgh, was able to attend college and medical school debt-free. Thanks to The Immokalee Foundation’s partnership with Take Stock in Children and the generosity of Foundation donors, Villagomez is one of many students given the opportunity to attend the postsecondary program of their choice.
Bonita Springs YMCA relaunched the Rock Steady Boxing program to help those with Parkinson’s, hosted the License to Swim program for 272 children who couldn’t afford swimming lessons and partnered with ACT to provide meals and toys to children who are victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking to identify additional children in need through donations by the community, Y members and Y staff.
WGCU staff and friends provided educational materials from PBS Kids and PBS LearningMedia and added other crafty kits for the kids at the ACT (Abuse Counseling & Treatment) shelter in Fort Myers.
Sheriff Marceno with speaker, Sasha Joseph Neulinger, and LSCO Team
CAC Team with Jill Turner and Julie Boudreaux
Children’s Advocacy Center’s 40th celebration raised more than $100,000 to support services needed to assist children in healing from abuse and neglect. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office contribution to this event was a significant donation of $25,000 as part of the overall total.
Miracles in Action was presented a check from Kelly E. Capolino to fund nutrition programs for children located in remote villages of Guatemala.
To reduce police interactions, a group of local community organizers, students, Florida Gulf Coast University Young Democratic Socialists of America (FGCU YDSA) and Southwest Florida DSA opened the SWFL DSA Free Brake Light Clinic.
