Keeping Our GEMS in STEM
by Laura Frost, Director, Whitaker Center for STEM Education at FGCU Meet Cecelia who as a fifth grader loved math and science. When she got to middle school, she started to...
30
Aug
2017
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23
Aug
2017
Interwoven Works to Improve the Web
by Rachel Rainbolt, Development and Education Coordinator, Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife, Inc. Nature has always entertained and enthralled me; being a Southwest Florida native, I had exposure to the...
16
Aug
2017
Reaching the Alzheimer’s Caregiver
by Emily Reese, REACH Program Specialist, Alzheimer’s Association - Florida Gulf Coast Chapter There are few life experiences that prepare a person for the challenges of caring for someone with Alzheimer’s...
09
Aug
2017
Leveling the Playing Field
by Laura M. Perry, President, Glades Education Foundation, Inc. With baseball season in full swing, we savor the crack of the bat and the smell of popcorn and hotdogs, while relishing the...
02
Aug
2017
College Tours Expose Students of Dunbar to Possibilities
by Dr. Janet James, I Will Mentorship College tours are traditionally a process of gathering information from various colleges and universities, geographical areas, landmarks, hotels, restaurants, and student clientele. My experience with...
26
Jul
2017
Cooking up Career Success
by Vickie Rydz, Grants Manager, Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida For many Southwest Floridians, the mantra, “Season is over!” refers to reduced traffic, shorter waiting lines at grocery stores and shops,...
19
Jul
2017
Minimizing The Inheritance of Loss
by Alan Keller, PhD, Conservation Chair, Audubon of the Western Everglades Recently I read The Inheritance of Loss, a novel portraying political conflict and war in northeast India. Afterwards, it occurred...
12
Jul
2017
Southwest Florida Autism Center Bridges Gaps for Families of Children with Autism
by David Brown, President, Family Initiative, Inc./Southwest Florida Autism Center Valonna French recognized the signs just a couple months after her son, Lucas, was born. “He was a great baby, quiet, stared...
The Growth of a Collaboration
by Nola Theiss, Executive Director of Human Trafficking Awareness Partnerships and member of the former Rauschenberg Grant 2015 and the Community Impact Grant 2017. Our organization, Human Trafficking Awareness Partnerships, is...
28
Jun
2017
New Life for Lost Treasures
by Kara Walter, Development Project Assistant I found myself in a panic two days before a dear friend’s wedding because I did not have a dress to wear! I confess, I...
21
Jun
2017
The Role of Creative Arts and Dementia
by Anne M. Chernin, MBA, MSW, Director of Client Services JFCS of Southwest Florida Last month I had the opportunity to travel to the University of Florida in Gainesville to participate in...
31
May
2017
A Foundation for Change
The end of a school year is always a milestone. Sometimes that milestone is making it to first or fourth grade, like it was in my house just days ago. ...
24
May
2017
The Right Fit
I have a great pair of shoes that I never wear. I bought them the night before a special event and did not have much time to decide. When I...
17
May
2017
It’s Personal and Personalized
My latest coffee shop order is an iced grande cinnamon almond milk macchiato with sugar free cinnamon dolce, hold the caramel drizzle. I practice saying it in my head before...
10
May
2017
Community Storytelling
When I was a little girl if someone said you were telling a story that usually signaled you might not be telling the whole truth on a particular matter....
02
May
2017
Eat Local. Shop Local. Give Local.
He sat patiently in our waiting room. He didn’t have an appointment and I was tied up on a phone call. But he waited any way. When I greeted this...
26
Apr
2017
Throwback Thursdays Take on a Whole New Meaning
The gentleman at the monthly meeting of the Southwest Florida Historical Society had a twinkle in his eye as he shared the mischief he had created on the grounds of...
19
Apr
2017
Thanks for the Memories
Early in my family’s history we moved numerous times. For a few years we moved so often due to job transfers my kids’ friends thought we might be in the...
12
Apr
2017
Growing Up Together
Florida Weekly and I hit Southwest Florida right about the same time. I was a little bit ahead of them on the calendar but when they showed up on the...
05
Apr
2017
You Make Your Community
April is upon us and that means a couple of things are top of mind in my household. First, it’s that time of year when the weather starts to shift...
29
Mar
2017
Memories
My friend had tears in her eyes as she shared her visit with a woman she hadn’t seen in years at an assisted living complex in town. The facility was comfortable...
22
Mar
2017
Stay Curious My Friends
Are you a student of wonder? One of the 5 values that guides our team’s work at the Southwest Florida Community Foundation is encouraging curiosity and exploration to promote learning and...
15
Mar
2017
Who Will Cross the Bridges?
Recently there has been quite a bit of talk about bridge building in our nation and in our communities. Not the literal infrastructure kind of construction but rather symbolic scaffolding...
08
Mar
2017
Pause and Reflect to Imagine New Paths
I think one of the greatest technological advancements in my lifetime is the pause feature on machines of all sorts and electronic devices. Whether it is the ability to throw one...
01
Mar
2017
The Best of Times
A friend invited me to lunch last week. Not long ago she had a highly successful career, owned her own business, and was a leader in her field. Those were...
22
Feb
2017
Community Love Notes
Last week I was driving down College Parkway in Fort Myers and noticed a car stalled out in a turn lane. A moment later people were racing across the road...
15
Feb
2017
Some Who Wander Are Actually Lost
I enjoy the challenge of navigating a new city, particularly as a solo traveler. I feel empowered when I am able to get from point A to point B on...
08
Feb
2017
All We Need Is Love, or Is It?
I love the way kids think. That’s why I always end up talking to mine about topics that aren’t on your typical list of kid conversation ideas. To be fair,...
01
Feb
2017
An Open Shelf
The first home my husband and I bought together was a 1920s bungalow just a couple blocks off Daytona Beach. It had hardwood floors hidden under carpet and many other quaint...
25
Jan
2017
Giving is the UnSelfie
As I pulled up to a busy Southwest Florida intersection last week I noticed a long line of cars backed up in the opposite direction. For a moment I reconsidered...
18
Jan
2017
Ladies and Gentlemen, Start your Treadmills
I went to a new gym last week. I realize lots of people went back to gyms over the past few weeks as part of a blurry eyed pact they...
11
Jan
2017
How are you going to change the world?
How are you going to change the world? It was an innocent enough question that I asked each of the young professionals who visited our office last week. These six young...
04
Jan
2017
Have Resolve, Think Local
In December, there is always a long list of fun activities going on at the kids’ elementary school. My two little ones love to dress up on theme days, participate...
28
Dec
2016
It’s Review Week
The tables at my favorite coffee shops have been occupied to overflowing the last couple of weeks. At first glance I thought it was probably the influx of winter residents...
21
Dec
2016
A Little More Can Add Up to A Lot More
I learn new things every day. Many of my life lessons come from the team I work with and the donors I interact with at the Southwest Florida Community Foundation. Working...
07
Dec
2016
Holiday Dinners, Dolls, and Dignity
Holiday giving is heartwarming. There are so many opportunities to reach out into the community and do something generous for a neighbor. I don’t think there is any easier time of...
30
Nov
2016
A Potluck of Purpose
My preteen eyes would scan the table spread with bubbling casseroles and gelatin salads in search of the coveted homemade macaroni and cheese. It would arrive safely in its protective...
23
Nov
2016
Gratitude in the Present Tense
My sister-in-law has a decorative plaque hanging in her house that begs the question, “What if tomorrow you had only the things you gave thanks for today?” Inspirational quotes show up...
16
Nov
2016
Never Too Early for Others
Like clockwork, a few weeks before Halloween the holiday decorations began creeping onto store shelves. It seems as soon as employees crack open the boxes of the latest tinsel and ornaments,...
09
Nov
2016
Some Records Are Made to be Broken
I recently heard a story in which a man was trying to break a Guinness World Record by rowing the distance in a boat made out of a huge, human-sized...
02
Nov
2016
Reading, Writing and Arithmetic
As we do every year, the Southwest Florida Community Foundation handed over this column to the nonprofits we fund. It is such an honor to walk alongside and support some...
26
Oct
2016
United Arts Council of Collier County helps make Arts:Work
Through music, performing and visual arts, the UAC works with our community to make real and positive change. by Laura Burns, Executive Director What’s your definition of success? Or how about economic...
19
Oct
2016
WISE Women Project at Happehatchee exposes women to employment and self-employment skills
by Julie Gerhard, Happehatchee Center The WISE Women Project (Working to Improve through Self Employment) at Happehatchee Center is helping local women and families learn many important skills. The Southwest Florida...
12
Oct
2016
Opera Brings Harmony Choir to the Region
by Steffanie Pearce, general director, Gulfshore Opera The Gulfshore Opera Harmony Youth Choir program started with only one location in partnership with Artis-Naples. After receiving a grant from the Southwest Florida...
05
Oct
2016
Glades County Regional Training Center Will Stimulate the Economy
by Paul Carlisle, Glades County Manager The Glades County Regional Training Center located in Moore Haven Florida has just signed leases for two training classes. The grant that the training center...
28
Sep
2016
Bridging the Gap
The room was already filling up with first grade parents when Mrs. Sanchez arrived. She sported the standard attire of soiled jeans, long sleeve shirt and a loosely knotted kerchief...
21
Sep
2016
Connecting People with Plants and Beyond
by Renee Waller, Communications Coordinator, Naples Botanical Garden At Naples Botanical Garden, we strive to not only connect people with plants, but also to inspire and offer barrier-free access to the...
14
Sep
2016
The Immokalee Foundation gives young readers the literacy boost they need to succeed
by Steven Kissinger, executive director of The Immokalee Foundation When older students help younger students improve their reading skills, the impact is great on many levels. The Immokalee Foundation’s Immokalee Readers program...
07
Sep
2016
Pre-school/Library Partnership for Success: Moving the Needle on Kindergarten Readiness
by Ava Barrett, Director, Hendry County Library Cooperative How do you change unfavorable educational ratings in a county? The Hendry County Library System believes the answer is “from the bottom up.”...
31
Aug
2016
Flexibility. Engagement. Recognition.
by Karly Marcy, 2016 Florida Fellow, Southwest Florida Community Foundation Flexibility. Engagement. Recognition. Estate planning attorneys Guy Whitesman and Eric Gurgold emphasized these three words throughout our meeting about estate planning...