CHAPTER 126
Caught in the Act of Kindness - March 2023
Celebrating individuals, groups and organizations that share their time, talent and treasure to meet the needs in our community.
The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the greatest intention. ~Kahlil Gibran
Champions For Learning raised $630,000+ at its 2023 Night of Champions.
Charlie Kerwood
Give Where You Live Collier, hosted and matched by Collier Community Foundation and the Richard M. Schultze Family Foundation, raised $3.3 million for local nonprofits.
Amanda Strickland, Megan Kohan, Gabriela DeLuca, Jillian Fridley, Corina Castellano, Victoria Wright, Lisa Branch and Caitlin Beaver
As part of National Women in Construction Week, the ladies at Suffolk Construction of Estero pounded nails, installed insulation, and more in a Habitat for Humanity build in Lehigh Acres.
2023 Festival Co-chairs Nena and Bill Beynon, Rick and Libby Germain, and Julia and Rob Heidt. Photo courtesy of Lane Wilkinson.
The Naples Children & Education Foundation (NCEF) invested a record $25.6 million in close to 50 nonprofit organizations supporting underprivileged and at-risk children in Collier County.
STARability Foundation’s 5th annual STAR Gala: Night on the Red Carpet raised $2.8 million to support programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Collier County.
The 7th Annual Kids’ Minds Matter Signature Event: Reflect & Envision raised more than $800,000.
The American Cancer Society’s 2023 Bucket List Bash raised more than $1.1 million.
Nearly half a million dollars was raised at Wonder Garden’s Enchanted fundraising gala in support of its strategic and master plan.
click on video below
Dr. Greg Beaulieu, Dean Sanders, Dr. Dan Ostler, Sherida Ostler, Regis Bernardi, Alison Bernardi, Dr. Lindsey Clark, Sandy Metzger, Dr. Lizmarie Andino and Luis Cruz
Neighborhood Health Clinic Services’ Celebration of Hope & Healing event raised close to $1.4 million.
Joe North, Benita North, Charles Barnes, Joe North Jr. and James North
Attorney Joe North donated $100,000 to the Lee County Black History Society for the Black Cultural Center.
Opening Ceremony with Bobby Nichols
The Bobby Nichols – Fiddlesticks Charity Foundation raised $1 million at its 21st Annual Nichols Cup tournaments and auction gala to serve abused and at-risk children in Southwest Florida.
Jessica and Brian Campbell and Ruth and Kris Pfaehler
Fun Time Early Childhood Academy’s Broadway Event raised in excess of $600,000 toward providing education and care for children and parents from low-income working families and preparing the children for kindergarten.
Stephen Ruffino Jr., John Tobe, Luke Guthrie, Stephen Ruffino Sr. and Bob Tobe
Immokalee Foundation’s Charity Classic Pro-Am Golf Tournament raised more than $365,000 for educational programs in Immokalee.
Guadalupe Center’s signature gala, Elevate, raised $1.4 million to support its Early Childhood Education Program, After-school Tutoring & Summer Enrichment Program and college-preparatory Tutor Corps Program.
National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) Collier County ‘Cocktails and Conversation’ event raised awareness and $304,000.
Bill Swartz
The Naples Therapeutic Riding Center’s Annual Hoof & Hike Poker Run raised $26,000 for the retirement of therapy horses.
Kay and Tom Hudson
The 24th annual Step Up for Parkinson’s Walk raised awareness and more than $40,000 that directly benefits more than 7,000 local community members diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease.
David Lawrence Centers received a $10,000 transportation grant from Trinity-by-the-Cove Episcopal Church.
Charity for Change received a $15,000 grant from Arthrex for improving the emotional well-being and academic performance of at-risk students.
GulfShore Mustang Club donated $8,463 to Lee BIA Builders Care.
Collier/Lee Hadassah members took its Woman to Woman and Girls project to Temple Shalom’s Mitzvah Day to provide supplies to Alliance for Period Supplies of SWFL.
For the Love of Cats received a donation of $143 from the Winn Dixie on Marco Island through its Community Bag Program.
Tim Zellers and Sheila Zellers
Avow hosted its annual Giving Societies Luncheon for donors and dignitaries who have gone above and beyond in their dedication to and involvement in the growth and success of Avow’s campus and programs.
Immokalee Foundation Business Management & Entrepreneurship Pathway students Daisy H., Daniel A. & Lionisia C. with KeyBank’s Karen Crane, Michael T. Schneider and James A. Bitonte
Engineering & Construction Management Pathway students
KeyBank Foundation awarded a $30,000 grant and Truist Foundation provided a $25,000 grant to support The Immokalee Foundation’s Career Pathways Program.
FGCU ATO hosts philanthropy event to support DLC
Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) Alpha Tau Omega (ATO) fraternity expanded its partnership with David Lawrence Centers for Behavioral Health (DLC) through an ongoing fundraising and awareness campaign. It also chose DLC as its annual charity of choice, raising $16,600.
Immokalee Fair Housing Alliance (IFHA) celebrated the start of construction for the first of eight apartment buildings at a ‘Wall Raising’ event. As a tribute to Arol Buntzman, co-founder of IFHA, an anonymous donor pledged to match up to $25,000 of donations to Immokalee Fair Housing Alliance.
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.
