Grant Recipients
We actively work with multiple grant recipients each year to maximize the impact of our funding and address a broader range of concerns.
We provide an effective and convenient way for SW residents to improve the lives of those in need for the SWFL area.
Grants are awarded to selected, high-performing and well-established local charities.
College scholarships are offered to SW employees or their dependents and vocational training scholarships are offered to graduates of high schools in Estero and Bonita Springs.
Resident Champions are closely involved with the local charities and are a requirement for grant consideration.
The following are our current grant recipients:
Housing
Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit housing organization working in local communities across all 50 states and in more than 70 countries around the world. Their vision is of a world where everyone has a decent place to live. The local chapter of SWFL, encompassing Lee and Hendry counties, builds and improves homes in partnership with individuals and families in need of a decent and affordable place to live.
Resident Champion: Doug Timmell, dougtimmel@shadowwoodcf.com
Created in 2013, this Florida nonprofit’s purpose is to support homeless veterans, and their families, who find themselves without the necessities of everyday life. This can involve finding transitional housing, food, support to find employment, applying for benefits, as well as providing transportation to the V.A. clinic. The HHV serves more than 800 SWFL veterans each year.
Resident Champions: Tim Devitt, twdevitt@gmail.com and Wilson Berry, lwberry@comcast.net
Education
The Literacy council is dedicated to improving English language and literacy skills in our community. The organization’s mission is to assist adults and children in acquiring the literacy skills necessary to improve their quality of life. They have been helping students improve their literacy skills since 1989 through ESL classes and individual tutoring.
Resident Champion: Allen Post, acpstocks@gmail.com
New Horizons of SWFL successfully changes the lives of under-resourced students by providing tutoring, mentoring and character-building programs in 5 locations in Bonita Springs and Estero. An estimated 600 students benefit from this program each year and achieved a 100% graduation rate last year and are moving on to enroll in colleges, technical schools or the military.
Resident Champions: Carol and Ken Herbold, miamimail@aol.com
Food
This local community of volunteers and business partners come together each year to prepare, package and deliver complete Thanksgiving meals which feed thousands in our community. Since the mission began, over 90,000 meals have been prepared and delivered to those in need.
Resident Champion: Susan Nicoletti, susan.nicoletti09@gmail.com
The Interfaith Charities goal is to feed the hungry and provide hope and help for those in need. Wide ranging initiatives include food distribution through a food pantry (over 3,300 children, adults and seniors benefit each year), financial assistance for rent and utility bills, budget workshops, tax preparation and computer assistance.
Resident Champion: Lisa Wilkes, wilkeslisa01@gmail.com
The Café of Life provides funds to help operate the Leitner Neighborhood Park feeding facility as well as support rental assistance, medical/dental services, music lesson and a popular back-to-school supplies program. In addition to the weekday meal service and grocery distribution, there are cooking and sewing classes and various outreach programs.
Resident Champion: Marietta Bala, mariettabala@gmail.com
Health and Human Services
The statistics are often surprising and shocking - 1 in 4 women and girls struggle to purchase period products, resulting in missed events, activities and school days. The Alliance wants to change this by providing free, monthly products to women and girls so they may participate fully in daily life.
Resident Champion: Maryanne Dignan, madignan@aol.com
A.N.A.’s Friends work tirelessly to provide vulnerable young individuals with support, care, guidance and resources they need to overcome adversity and build brighter futures. On any given day in SWFL over 1,000 children are displaced due to abuse, abandonment, and neglect in their home. Their various programs provide a semblance of normalcy to alleviate anxiety and nurture their confidence during these stressful times.
Resident Champion: Gary Lederer, garylederer@yahoo.com
Eyesight is a critical sense that helps to provide opportunities and enjoyment of life – and many in the SWFL area cannot afford these critical vision services. The clinic provides comprehensive eye care for those in need, including state-of-the-art medical and surgical eye care. Help is provided to 2,900 patients with over $1 million worth of services provided free of charge annually.
Resident Champion: Cipora Levine, ciporalevine@gmail.com
The Salvation Army provides a wide range of traditional social services and emergency assistance programs. At the Bonita Springs Service Center, programs include a food pantry, diapers and hygiene products distribution, case management assistance, crisis counseling, and financial assistance for urgent needs. Over 4,300 were assisted last year alone.
Resident Champion: Mary Kessinger, kessingermary@att.net
Valerie’s House is a special place where children connect with one another and learn the tools to heal after they have experienced the death of someone they love. At Valerie's House, children learn that loss doesn't have to limit their dreams. In addition to the dedicated staff, many of their volunteers have lived this journey and are here to help others find hope. All of their resources go directly to providing children and their families a safe place to share, grieve, and grow.
Resident Champion: Donna and Peter Verrill, peterverrill@comcast.net
Home Base Florida is dedicated to healing the invisible wounds of war – such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), anxiety, and depression. Help is provided for Veterans, Service Members and their Families through world-class clinical care, wellness, education, and research. All services are provided at no cost to the participant or family.
Resident Champion: Pat Derry, derry182@comcast.net
