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...
by Kelsey Pena, 2016 Florida Fellow, Southwest Florida Community Foundation On Tuesday afternoons, while the Florida sun is beating down and the cicadas are chirping in their never-ending symphony, Diane Nghi...
by Taylor Tringali, 2016 Florida Fellow, Southwest Florida Community Foundation In the eight short weeks of my fellowship with the Southwest Florida Community Foundation, I have been immersed into the world...
The Southwest Florida Community Foundation recently hosted more than 20 of its Women’s Legacy Fund’s Prima Donors for a dinner at its Community Hub. The evening featured dinner conversations exploring housing,...
by Lisa Milne, Vice President of Programs Alzheimer’s Association-Florida Gulf Coast Chapter Right now, in the United States of America, there are over 5 million people living with Alzheimer’s disease. According to...
by Jason Kurek, Champions for Learning “If you know you have the potential to do something, then you need to do it,” says Darchelle Excellent, Champions For Learning Real World Learning...
by Mary C. Schoeffel, Development Director, The Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) It is wild baby season! Are you one of the millions who watch YouTube videos of animals,...
by Gina Frazier, iWill Mentorship The youth’s eyes glistened with tears as he passed me in the hallway. Fearing the worst, I hesitantly asked “how’d it go?” He smiled ear to...
by Tina Figliuolo Director, Community Relations and Development Charlotte County Homeless Coalition Four years ago a group of human service agencies, including many food pantries, gathered to discuss hunger in Charlotte County. For...
by Dr. Debra Mathinos, The Heights Foundation Fifty-six year old Roderick Lee has a past he isn’t proud of, but he’s not shy about saying so. Since 2010 he has been unemployed. ...
by Anjali Van Drie, MA, MSW, BCBA, Vice President Family Initiative, Inc. Every Saturday, a few minutes after 1pm, Dylan comes running in to the gym smiling and giving hugs. After making...
Allows Donors to Focus on Progress and Results The Southwest Florida Community Foundation has earned the Platinum GuideStar Nonprofit Profile Seal of Transparency, the highest level of recognition offered by GuideStar,...
by Janelle Beaber, Director of Project Advancement, New Mission Systems International Two years ago, New Mission Systems International was opening The Fig Leaf Boutique, an upscale, second hand clothing and furniture...
Nearly $250k awarded to organizations providing safety net for Southwest Florida The Southwest Florida Community Foundation and Robert Rauschenberg Foundation announced today that ten local nonprofits will receive $250,000 through their...
Two summers ago I had the opportunity to wake up very early in the morning in New York City and make my way to one of the network morning shows...
This summer, the Southwest Florida Community Foundation is spotlighting the nonprofit organizations funded through the 2016 competitive grant cycle. We have asked our 2016 grantees to send us their stories. ...
by Fred Richards Vice President of Community Support Services Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida It is going to be a hot and hungry summer for many of our neighbors. Combining hunger with a...
Recently I was asked about my experience navigating my way into college. I graduated from high school in 1981 which was a very long time ago but I distinctly remember...
The Women’s Legacy Fund hosted its Spring luncheon on Thursday, May 12 at Gulf Harbour Yacht & Country Club exclusively for its WLF contributors and Prima Donors....
Over the past few weeks I have been telling anyone who will listen that it’s great to be 40…again! Those that know me roll their eyes while those who don’t are...
Something special happens when we get together with friends who share a long and common history. It might be high school teammates, college roommates or colleagues we worked with building...
What's Your Word? Every week we will feature one of our Faces of Philanthropy in honor of the Foundation's 40th anniversary. Everyone has something to share in our community. Please engage...
I am the mother of two amazing little ones, a 7 year-old, compassionate, old-soul and a meticulous, thoughtful 5 year-old. They have an incredible power to rapidly change me. They...
When it comes to anniversaries and birthdays some numbers just seem to be bigger than others. Decade and half decade markers get the most attention and provide fantastic opportunities for...
Congratulations to the Southwest Florida Community Foundation board of trustees and senior advisors celebrating 40 years of philanthropy. The anniversary events were kicked off tonight with the awarding of the...
My youngest child is 15 years old now so Easter egg hunts have gone by the wayside. I considered hiding cash in plastic eggs all over the yard this year...
I grew up in Central Florida, which provided me access to Mickey Mouse, beautiful lakes, fresh oranges on demand and space shuttles. One of my favorite memories is going to Cape...
I am wondering what your reaction is when you read the headline to this week’s column. Some of you might be thinking, “Are you kidding me, season in Southwest...
by John Sheppard, Senior Advisor and Former Trustee, Southwest Florida Community Foundation Paying it back and paying it forward are not the same thing. Paying it back is paying back to a...
8-week Online Educational Program in Entrepreneurship Almost Fully Subscribed FORT MYERS, Fla. – Mar. 11, 2016 - Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) Institute for Entrepreneurship announced this week that the FAR-MAR...
Many Historians contend that one of the most uniquely talented and wisest men in human history was King Solomon. Among many thoughtful things he wrote “To Everything there is a...
The next generation of philanthropists, those who fit into “Gen X” (born 1964-1980) or “Gen Y/Millennial” (born 1981-2000), will wield more philanthropic power than any previous generation, according to Nextgendonors.org....
Most everyone enjoys a beautiful love story. Whether it’s a best selling romance novel or watching an unexpected marriage proposal in a public venue we seem to be inspired by...
Last year 63 million Americans took time out of their daily lives to volunteer for nonprofit organizations. The data crunchers who calculate these kinds of things report that if their...
I am generally a glass half full type of person. I am a delusional optimist about most everything including my work. A new year caters to this type of thinking,...
More than $500,000 available through 50 scholarships for students seeking post-secondary education The Southwest Florida Community Foundation’s scholarship application process for the 2016-2017 school year will begin on Friday, Jan. 15....
There is no doubt that a New Year gives us plenty of chances to count things down. It seems to begin right around the week before Christmas when we become...
