CHAPTER 179
Caught in the Act of Kindness - November 2024
Celebrating individuals, groups and organizations that share their time, talent and treasure to meet the needs in our community.
“How do we change the world? One random act of kindness at a time.” ~ Morgan Freeman
Jean Ann Lynch, Lois Thome, Emily James, Sheila Zellers
Ruth Morency
Baby Basics of Collier County held its 17th Annual Fashion Show with over 280 women in attendance. The goal of the fundraising luncheon was to raise enough funds to secure an entire tractor trailer load of diapers; that goal was met with over $100,000 raised! In addition to the fashion show, Baby Basics founder Jean Ann Lynch spoke about the need to help families keep their babies in clean diapers and gave attendees the latest updates about the successful diaper program. With the help of donors, sponsors and event attendees, Baby Basics has been steadfast in its mission to supply diapers and kindness to over 600 babies and 2500 family members each month.
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Tom Lear, Mary Lear, Pat Ermler, Rick Ermler
Florida Department of Education awarded two 21st Century Community Learning Centers grants to Boys & Girls Club of Collier County, totaling $4 million over the next four years to support an additional 480 students at seven schools. The nonprofit also raised more than $420,000 at its 21st annual Fore the Kids golf tournament held at Club Pelican Bay.
Collier County philanthropists Jeffrey and Julie Diermeier gifted $4 million to David Lawrence Centers for Behavioral Health for the creation of the Diermeier Access and Integrated Care Center, a key component of DLC’s Hope for Collier: Building Stronger Minds Together initiative.
Clips for Cancer and other local events raised $270,000 to support Barbara’s Friends, the Golisano Children’s Hospital cancer fund. The other local events included:
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3 Pepper Burrito raised $5,250 through the sales of kids' meals during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
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Perfect Game, featuring the top 14U baseball players in the country, raised $30,465 through fundraising competitions.
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Palm City Brewing Company raised $438 from the proceeds of its Ocean View Lager and the special release of “Fighter’s Gold,” a specially brewed, custom labeled beer.
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Riverdale High School raised $10,000 through the sale of T-shirts designed by Marison Bradley, 15, from Naples during homecoming events and the homecoming game.
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Pure Barre & Cycle Bar raised $2,500 through benefit classes it offered.
Jordan DeLorenzo, James Pickett, photo of Adyn Pickett - Photo courtesy of Barbara's Friends
Avow Foundation Team Members
Collier Community Foundation granted $40,000 to Avow, directly supporting its non-hospice outpatient palliative care program and the opening of its new satellite palliative care clinic in Immokalee. Avow also set a fundraising record for the organization at its first ever Fall into Fashion Show, raising $150,000 to support its mission to provide hospice, palliative care, and grief and loss support services to the community.
Photo credit: Zee Anna Photography
STARability Foundation’s 7th Annual Run, Walk and Roll 5K featured a record-breaking number of participants, raising over $90,000 to support STARability’s innovative, life-transforming programs and services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Collier Community Foundation granted $20,000 to Wonder Gardens for its “We Can Bee SENSE-Sational Scientists” program, designed to bring first grade students from 22 public, Title 1 Collier County elementary schools to the gardens for environmental education field trips.
Sizzle Dining raised $62,529 for Blessings in a Backpack of Southwest Florida through the sale of an unprecedented number of meals during the 2024 event — 62,529 meals were sold at 114 participating restaurants in Lee, Collier and Charlotte counties.
Southwest Florida MicroEnterprise Institute, a small business program by Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida that provides low-to-moderate income aspiring entrepreneurs with the skills they need to succeed, recently received financial support from the following institutions:
Fifth Third Bank, $12,500 • Bank of America, $10,000
Third-Federal Savings Bank, $10,000 • Bank OZK, $5,000
Lipman Family Farms donated $25,000 to Harry Chapin Food Bank to support its in-school pantry program.
Shy Wolf Sanctuary Education & Experience Center held its 4th Annual Shy Wolf Scramble, raising $18,000 in support of the sanctuary’s mission to rescue and educate about captive-bred exotic and un-releasable wild animals.
Collier Community Foundation donated $15,000 to Better Together in support of its Better Families program.
Suncoast Credit Union Foundation granted $5,000 to Alliance for Period Supplies of SWFL to support purchasing essential period products for Collier County Public Schools, ensuring 1,980 girls who cannot afford period products have the resources they need.
Pictured left: The Schwab-Bees won the prize for best dressed at Dodge for a Cause.
Christ Child Society of Naples granted $15,000 to Grace Place for Children and Families in support of the Bright Beginnings program, which provides vital early childhood education to young learners. The nonprofit also raised $4,000 at its first annual adult co-ed dodgeball tournament, Dodge for a Cause.
U.S. Bank Foundation awarded HELP (Housing, Education, Lending Programs), an affiliate of The Housing Alliance, a $10,000 community possible grant to fund its Housing Navigator Program.
NTRC Executive Director Dr. Kellogg and NTRC Staff: Laura Burns, Lillian Mendez, Cathy Chickerell, Kayla Buffum, Bryan Young, Colleen Riley and Christian Vanorsdale
Kellogg Family Foundation donated $10,000 to Naples Therapeutic Riding Center for the opening of the “Giddy Up Library,” a new educational space designed to enhance the learning environment for riders, their families, and the wider NTRC community.
Through Five Guys Gives Back, various Five Guys franchise locations raised $6,500 for Kids’ Minds Matter to support educational programs, community outreach and more.
Minnesota Twins Community Fund awarded Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida a $1,500 Southwest Florida Community Grant to support its Pathways Sports League program.
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.
