The turning of the seasons has always given me pause. As Summer gave way to Fall, I reflected on the year, my mind drifting back to Spring, when it seemed...
It’s no secret that COVID-19 has changed everything. From the way we greet each other, to the way we organize our lives around new realities, to the way we gather...
The ability to navigate life with language that communicates complex thoughts, ideas and emotions makes us uniquely human. But our capacity to connect with and understand each other extends far...
Many have fled deprivation and persecution in search of a better life. They hold tight to their American Dream. They’re vital to Southwest Florida’s economy. They are the undocumented immigrants...
While preparing to welcome a new baby to the family is typically a time of wonder and joy, an expectant mother’s rollercoaster of anticipation and nervousness is also accompanied by...
When COVID-19 closed schools in the spring, it also shut down a primary food distribution channel for Brighter Bites, a nonprofit organization that stocks elementary school pantries with nutritious food...
It’s been said that seeing is believing. But it also takes believing in a shared mission among caring Southwest Floridians to make seeing a reality for thousands of adults and...
When it comes to rallying support for families coping with heightened food insecurity during the COVID-19 crisis, the Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida has not backed down from the challenge of meeting a 40% increase in the...
As I am confronted with the social upheaval in the wake of the inhumane killing of George Floyd, the most recent in an abhorrent series of unjust deaths and devastated...
School is a crucial and complex part of growing up. It’s a period when young people develop not only academically in the classroom, but also socially and emotionally as they navigate life in the hallways, at...
When the COVID-19 crisis closed schools throughout Southwest Florida, grade school students and their families were suddenly thrust into the unknown as they followed social-distancing guidelines and sheltered at home. But...
Cone of uncertainty. The term crossed my mind as I watched reports on Tropical Storm Arthur, which flared up before hurricane season even officially began. We’ve grown accustomed to hearing...
When the service missions end for local military veterans and their families, the mission of the nonprofit Home Base Southwest Florida begins. With the latest figures from the U.S. Department of...
There is a great deal of talk these days around adaptability. Personal, professional, business, government and healthcare adaptability are top of mind as we navigate the pandemic in all aspects...
Submitted by Sarah Owen, president & CEO, Southwest Florida Community Foundation and Jeannine Joy, president & CEO, United Way of Lee, Hendry, Glades and Okeechobee Counties SPECIAL TO THE NEWS-PRESS With the seeming...
I spend a good portion of my time these days virtually connecting with people who desperately want to do something to help those suffering as a result of the pandemic. ...
The subject line of the email proclaimed “This Event is NOT Cancelled” and for obvious reasons it caught a lot of attention. I’ve learned that some people felt a momentary flash...
This column is difficult for me to write as it hits close to home. My birth year of 1963 places me on the cusp of the baby boomer generation, and...
I’ve always been intrigued by television programs and news articles that look back at past decades and propose overarching themes that seem to characterize them. The 1920s were “roaring,” the...
I often describe myself as a delusional optimist, which means I don’t spend a lot of time feeling discouraged. I tend to broker in the world of possibilities and the...
An estimated 36,000 adults in Southwest Florida, 3.4% of the population, identifies as LGBT, according to a new regional analysis by the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law funded...
Recently I heard the Mayor of Pittsburgh, Bill Peduto, speak on the culture of collaboration in his City. Pittsburgh is a big-time sports town, so he used a striking sports...
Rose is pictured with her Big Sister Alex. My name is Rose and I am a graduating senior. I am a happy, healthy, well adjusted, young woman who excels in school...
I have always been perplexed by people who become upset with inanimate objects. Someone who stubs their toe and is mad at the table, or unattended burned cookies become the...
Hands down the best part about my job is meeting the interesting people who do exceptional things and give to their community in unique ways. This story starts with a self-described...
Over the holidays a friend stopped by with a fresh baked cherry pie – so fresh it was still steaming from her oven. Standing there on our doorstep three days...
The Southwest Florida Community Foundation recently hosted more than 60 local nonprofit leaders, their board and team members for a holiday party at Collaboratory. The event included a presentation on the...
The Washington Monument is beautiful at night and when I am on journeys to our nation’s capital I make a point to visit the iconic landmark in the moonlight. On...
Every year our tribe of grantees make the journey to the Center for Public Interest Communications at the University of Florida. While on retreat, the tribe members work on strategies...
I decided to work from home today, so I am not wearing my business attire and am writing this from my comfortable couch with a very different view out the...
by the Team of the Southwest Florida Community Foundation What on earth do you plan to do in honor of Earth Day this week? While the official Earth Day is April...
The Southwest Florida Community Foundation has launched an Earth Day campaign to raise awareness and funds for the environment in Southwest Florida. The “Earth Day the SWFL Way” campaign is meant...
This is a little bit of alphabet soup for you in the new year, but good news nonetheless. First, let’s just say that there are some nice benefits to being...
FAFSA form required for scholarships The Southwest Florida Community Foundation’s scholarship application process for the 2018-2019 school year will begin this month and all scholarships require the Free Application for Federal...
During this time of the year at the Community Foundation, our phone is ringing off the hook with people interested in expressing their philanthropy in the smartest, most effective ways....
The Robert Rauschenberg Foundation is announcing emergency grants for two Florida organizations to provide support and aid in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma. The Foundation donated $25,000 to the Harry...
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...
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...
It’s all gone. That was the message delivered by my friend who emailed to let me know that the home shared by multi- generations of her family had been lost...
One of my favorite questions over a cup a coffee with a friend, colleague or new acquaintance is, “What’s on the horizon in your world that you are most excited...
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...
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...
