Caught in the Act of Kindness - November 2022
Celebrating individuals, groups and organizations that share their time, talent and treasure to meet the needs in our community.
You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around us. Everything you do makes a difference. You just have to decide what kind of difference you want to make. ~Jane Goodall
CHAPTER 110
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.
Russell Budd, founder of PBS Contractors, hosted his semiannual award-winning barbecue, known as “Russell’s Barbecue,” raising over $15,000 for Collier County 100 Club.
Collier Community Foundation’s Collier Comes Together Fund is making incredible strides in community recovery efforts, having already granted over $2 million in relief funds.
Homeowner Dolores Armstrong with new AC system
A Lehigh Acres veteran living without air conditioning was surprised with a new HVAC system from Lee BIA Builders Care, along with Haines Air Conditioning & Refrigeration and Lennox Air Conditioners prior to Veterans Day.
CITY Furniture donated $6,000 to Better Together to help the organization reach its goal of recruiting and approving 200 new volunteers this year.
Immokalee Foundation middle school students Carol, Marcella and Angela
The Immokalee Foundation received a $50,000 grant from the Women’s Foundation of Collier County.
The Shy Wolf Sanctuary was awarded a $4,650 SeaWorld Conservation Fund Emergency Grant for Hurricane Ian recovery.
Collier Community Foundation provided a $2,500 grant to Collier Resource Center and, through its Collier Comes Together Hurricane Relief Fund, provided financial support to Fun Time Early Childhood Academy.
Kari Lefort, Annette Montgomery, Nina Gray and Kimberly Loman Clapp
Collier Resource Center hosted an Evening of Gratitude to thank supporters.
Operation Warm partnered with local charitable foundation Laces of Love to provide over 10,000 pairs of brand-new shoes to children recovering from Hurricane Ian.
Champions For Learning awarded a record-breaking 280 grant checks totaling $166,288 to teachers in 55 schools in Collier County.
Southwest Florida Symphony held three hurricane relief benefit concerts, raising just over $5,000.
Guests were all in for Family Initiative.
Family Initiative’s All in for Autism Casino Night raised $195,000 to support the launch of Thrive Academy.
Carlisle residents turned fashion models
Though greatly impacted by Hurricane Ian, The Carlisle Naples raised nearly $1,000 at its “Fall into Fashion” Charity Luncheon and Fashion Show.
Check Presentation to Pace Center for Girls
Through “gomerica Gratitude,” Comerica presented donations to 20 nonprofits aligned with the company’s three giving priorities: education, economic and community development, and human services.
The Collier Community Foundation awarded a $30,000 grant to the Holocaust Museum & Cohen Education Center and a $25,000 grant to the Florida Lions Eye Clinic.
Child’s Path received a $45,000 grant from the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation.
Avow's bereavement room in the Center for Grief Support
Avow received a $20,000 grant from Moorings Park Foundation and a $5,000 grant from Truist to support grief and bereavement programming.
Alliance for Period Supplies of SWFL received a $10,000 Hurricane Relief Grant from Phillips Foundation and a $10,000 Collier Comes Together Grant from Collier Community Foundation.
Opera Naples received a $12,000 grant from the Collier Community Foundation to expand their resident artists in-school programming.
Elite DNA Behavioral Health’s Behavioral Health Day School Therapist Madi Tezak and Registered Clinical Social Worker Intern Isabella Alcantara unload truck of relief supplies
Elite DNA is collecting Hurricane Ian relief supplies at more than 25 offices across the state, including Fort Myers, Naples, Lehigh Acres, Port Charlotte, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Orange Park, Gainesville, Bradenton, Brandon, Brooksville, Jupiter, Lakeland, Loxahatchee, Maitland, New Port Richey, Ormond 0Beach, Oviedo, Sarasota, Tampa, Venice, Wesley Chapel and Weston.
Avow Human Resources Director Suzanne Parsons with scholarship recipient APRN Ashley Russetto
Avow created a Nursing Scholarship Program, funded by the 2022 Nurses Week campaign, designed to assist employees who are advancing their education in the field of nursing.