Gulfshore Life October 2022

PRESENTS

AN EXCLUSIVE LUXURY EXPERIENCE FEATURING THE FANCY YELLOW SUNBURST COLLECTION

A DEDICATION TO MAGNIFICENCE

Entrust your custom home building experience to an enduring award-winning builder and let Stock Custom Homes create a residence that is a true expression of how you live. Build your dream home on your own homesite or choose from our limited collection of custom homes now under construction throughout Southwest Florida.

BROKER PARTICIPATION WELCOMED. ORAL REPRESENTATIONS CANNOT BE RELIED UPON AS CORRECTLY STATING THE REPRESENTATIONS OF THE DEVELOPER. FOR CORRECT REPRESENTATIONS REFERENCE SHOULD BE MADE TO THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY SECTION 718.503, FLORIDA STATUTES, TO BE FURNISHED BY A DEVELOPER TO A BUYER OR LESSEE. NOT AN OFFERING WHERE PROHIBITED BY STATE LAW. PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.

Designing Rooms You’ll Love

Get started by visiting our stores.

Each store features a different selection of home furnishings.

Everything in our collection is available for immediate delivery.

What are you waiting for? Visit us today!

EVERY GREAT DESIGN BEGINS WITH AN EVEN BETTER STORY. YOURS.

Discover how our acclaimed design team creates bespoke luxury interior design solutions driven by the chapters of your life that inspire you. Schedule a complimentary personal Design Profile at our inspiration studio located in Mercato, Naples or at DWest.com.

What’s the Benefit of Making Florida My Primary Legal Residence?

Declaring Florida domicile is an important decision, and although we can’t provide tax or legal advice we can coordinate with the expertise of your legal and accounting professionals.

Moran Wealth Management ® offers personalized, comprehensive advice and guidance regarding your investments and together we can coordinate a smooth transition. Contact us today and discover what extraordinary service can mean for your financial future.

Please call 239.920.4440 or send a request through our website MoranWM.com to schedule your private consultation.

5801 Pelican Bay Boulevard Suite 110 | Naples, FL 34108 239.920.4440 | MoranWM.com

Moran Wealth Management ®️, LLC is a registered investment adviser. For additional information about Moran Wealth Management ®️, LLC, including its services and fees, send for the firm’s disclosure brochure using the contact information contained herein or visit advisorinfo.sec.gov

Moran Wealth Management ®️ is a separate entity and not affiliated with any other entity or practice that uses the same name.

82 / Forces of Philanthropy

Southwest Florida’s nonprofit scene is led by countless female leaders changing the way we look at fundraising, advocacy and giving.

Linda Oberhaus photographed by Omar Cruz

Now Open in the Heart of Olde Naples

275 8th St S, Naples, FL 34102 239-963-0780

Serving you is our top priority.

“Serving our clients is our top priority at FineMark, which is why we are thrilled to announce the opening of our newest location on 8th Street S. We will be closer and convenient to those who live and work in the heart of Olde Naples.”

—Adria D. Starkey President, Collier County

Member FDIC

Equal Housing Lender

FDIC insured, are not guaranteed by the bank and may lose value.

100 / Naples’ Youngest Type 1 Warrior

For Leah Shwedel, an 8-year-old living with Type 1 diabetes, daily life offers the chance to educate others about her disease, while fighting to find a cure.

Scott McIntyre

Contents

Insider

Artist Profile

52

Photojournalist Kinfay Moroti founded hopeful images to help nonprofits tell their stories.

— In Every Issue

Departments 60

34

Editor’s Note 36

From the CAB 38

Gulfshore Treasures 284 Parting Shot — Insider 42

Table Service: Culinary maestros give back 52

Artist Profile: Kinfay Moroti shares an unfiltered view

Wine Watch: A Champagne to love 68 Guest List: People + Places

It' s tim e to surrender to a sleep story defined by a legacy of respected brands. As representatives of Hästens and Vispring, The Luxury Bed Collectio n carries the torch of excellence - guided by high-to uch serv ice and a commitment to your wellbeing.

King beds starting at $6,600.

Contents

Departments

Home

Stylish Living

198

Architect Joyce Owens’ renovation honored the historic charm of this 1900s Captiva cottage while bringing it into the modern age.

— Home

198

Stylish Living: From historic to modern in Captiva

210

Favorite Things: Leili Fatemi shares artful objects

214 Talking Shop: Off-White Palette’s minimalist world

220 Realty Check: Dream homes

— Healthy Life 228

All Stars: Michael Egan’s athletic life

237

Editors’ Pick: Local athleisure

— Taste 240

Raise a Glass: Harold Balink’s bar expansion 244

Dining Guide: 150+ essential restaurants

— Arts + Culture

268

Curator’s Corner: Erin Wolfe Bell’s botanical view

276

Agenda: Top events for October

POSTMASTER:

26101 S.

Bonita Springs, FL 34134

President/CEO

Jim Schwartzel

Director of News + Local Content

Tom Doerr

Editor in Chief Stephanie Granada

Creative Director

Scott Glick

Managing

Gina Valentino

Editor at Large

Dorothea Hunter Sönne

Senior

Jaynie Bartley

Assistant

Zahra Khan

Editorial Assistant

Addison Pezoldt

Editorial Fellows

Lily Poorman, Whitney Ward

Contributing

Jennifer Cole

ART Art Directors

Julie Low Ed Melnitsky

Alberto Orta

P hoto Editor

Elizabeth Bankmann

ADVERTISING

Associate Publisher

Mindy Roosa

National Account Director

Wendy Tooley Marketing Consultants Holly Baldwin Natasha Gonzalez Meredith Parsons

MARKETING

D irector of Marketing and Events

Rachel Galante

Digital Media Marketing Manager

Brittney Kleis

CIRCULATION

Director of Audience Development

Kerri Nolan

PRODUCTION

Production Manager

Martha Leavitt

Production Services Manager

Ankita Joshi

ADMINISTRATION Advertising Services Manager/ Reprint Sales & Distribution

Kathleen Hill

Reader Services

OFFICE ADDRESS 26101 S. Tamiami Trail  Bonita Springs, FL 34134

Call or text us at (239) 498-8500 Website: gulfshorelife.com Email: info@gulfshorelife.com

SUBSCRIPTIONS

Your subscription includes 12 issues of Gulfshore Life a year. If you have a question about your subscription, call or text us at (239) 498-8500; write to Subscription Services, Gulfshore Life, 26101 S. Tamiami Trail, Bonita Springs, FL 34134; email subscriptions@ gulfshorelife.com; or visit gulfshorelife.com

GIFT SUBSCRIPTIONS

Call or text us at (239) 498-8500 or order from gulfshorelife.com . We will send a gift announcement card to the recipient.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS

Send the old and new addresses and a mailing label, if possible, to Gulfshore Life, 26101 S. Tamiami Trail, Bonita Springs, FL 34134. Visit gulfshorelife. com/subscribe to log in and update your address; call or text us at (239) 498-8500; or email subscriptions@ gulfshorelife.com.

BACK ISSUES

Order online at gulfshorelife. com/backissues , purchase by mail for $9.95 postage paid or at our office for $5.95 each, plus tax. Call or text us at (239) 498-8500.

REPRINTS

Visit gulfshorelife.com/reprints for plaques and reprints.

LETTERS

Send letters to Gulfshore Life, 26101 S. Tamiami Trail, Bonita Springs, FL 34134; or visit gulfshorelife.com . Include full name, address and phone number.

Gulfshore Life adheres to American Society of Magazine Editors guidelines, which require a clear distinction between editorial content and paid advertising or marketing messages.

©Gulfshore Life Media, LLC. All rights reserved. 26101 S. Tamiami Trail, Bonita Springs, FL 34134

Gulfshore Life and Gulfshore Life Media, LLC retain exclusive rights to all editorial and photographic materials used. Materials cannot be reproduced in any manner without written consent.

© Copyright Gulfshore Life is published by Gulfshore Life Media, LLC. The entire document of Gulfshore Life is © 2022 by Gulfshore Life Media, LLC. No portion may be reproduced in whole or in part by any means, including electronic retrieval systems without the express written permission of the publisher. Gulfshore Life HOME Gordon Drive MINI Healthy Life Southwest Florida Guide to the Arts Visitors’ Guide, Men and Women of the Year, Best of the Gulfshore, Taste of the Gulf, Weekend Insider and Shore Thing are copyrighted service marks and are the property of Gulfshore Life Media, LLC., all rights reserved. Editorial content does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher of this magazine. Editorial or advertising does not constitute advice, but it is considered informative. Gulfshore Life is locally operated. Occasionally we make our subscriber list available to carefully screened companies that offer products and services that we believe would interest our readers. If you do not want to receive these offers, please advise us at Gulfshore Life, 26101 S. Tamiami Trail, Bonita Springs, FL 34134. Please include your name and address as it appears on the mailing label of your most recent issue.

Community Advisory Board

Ingrid Aielli Co-Owner, Aielli Group 2016 Woman of the Year

2000 Woman of the Year

Ellin Goetz

President, Goetz+Stropes Landscape Architects 2000 Woman of the Year

Elliott H. Singer Managing Director and Founder, Fairview Advisors Trustee, Naples Children & Education Foundation Member-at-Large

Adria Starkey

President, Collier FineMark National Bank & Trust Trustee, Naples Children & Education Foundation 2000 Woman of the Year

Brian Tietz (12); Courtesy Shirlene Elkins, Ellin Goetz, Mark Loren, Shelly Stayer/Roland Scarpa

Denise Cobb Chair, Community Advisory Board Trustee, Naples Children & Education Foundation

Scott Burgess President and CEO, David Lawrence Center 2018 Man of the Year

Shelly Stayer President/Co-Owner, Johnsonville Foods 2013 Woman of the Year

Dwayne Bergmann Principal Designer/ Owner, Dwayne Bergmann Interiors 2020 Man of the Year Mark Loren Head Jewelry Designer/Owner, Mark Loren Designs 2016 Man of the Year

Shirlene Elkins Real Estate Professional, John R. Wood Properties Trustee, Naples Children & Education Foundation 2003 Woman of the Year

Gail Markham Founding Partner, Markham Norton Mosteller Wright & Company 2011 Woman of the Year

Brooke Denson Real Estate Professional, Dina Marie Realty Trustee and Treasurer, SWFL Children’s Charities 2019 Woman of the Year

Mary Susan Clinton Founder, Gallien Global Vision Inc. Trustee, Naples Children & Education Foundation 2002 Woman of the Year

Sandra Stilwell Youngquist Owner and CEO, Stilwell Enterprises 2006 Woman of the Year

Rebecca Maddox Owner/Developer, Three60 Market, Three60 Wine and Celebration Park 2019 Woman of the Year

David Corban President, David Corban Architects 2020 Man of the Year

On the Cover

Photographed on location at Artis—Naples by Omar Cruz

Stylist Anna Ruiz HMUA Sam, Duality Artistry Photo Assistant Andres Beligoy

The Art of Giving

Our September cover feature has been in the works for more than a year. After seeing an arti cle that talked about the lack of female leadership among national nonprofits, we noticed the opposite is true in Southwest Florida. Kathleen van Bergen at Artis—Naples, Sarah Owen at Collaboratory, Angela Melvin at Valerie’s House—we kept rattling off names.

The more we learned about these women and their organi zations, the more links we saw among them and their efforts for the people they serve. I couldn’t be prouder of the story our senior writer Jaynie Bartley produced about the female leadership that propels local nonprofits (p. 82). It’s no small feat to identify and talk to dozens of individuals and distill their lofty lives and missions into 18 pages. We hope in reading

the feature, you are as inspired by these women and what they’re building as we are. And, it’s not just because they’re women. They’re phenomenal leaders, period. But I must admit, as a mostly female team, we’re all pretty excited about the sisterhood that runs through local nonprofits and the great role models young girls can look up to. The optimism swells when we consider the major gains among charitable organizations, with groups like David Lawrence Centers and Guadalupe Center opening new campuses, and new organizations emerging like Pat ty’s Place, in Cape Coral, which aims to connect families with mental health care. We touch on this and many more highlights in our Social Register “New + Noteworthy” feature (p. 120). We also talk to Fort Myers pho tojournalist Kinfay Moroti, who launched hopeful images to help tell nonprofits’ stories (p. 52); restaurateurs like Nicole and Brian Roland, who make giving a cornerstone of their businesses (p. 42); and forces of nature, like Leah Shwedel (p. 100). Many of us remember Leah winning over the

room at the JDRF Hope Gala this year. Since being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when she was 5, the 8-year-old and her family have advocated for research to find a cure.

While there’s a lot of good hap pening, our community needs us to keep showing up. And in this issue, we offer hundreds of ways to get connected to the causes that matter most to you.

Stephanie Granada Editor in Chief

Deciding which day is the best day at Kalea Bay is quite simple. It’s any day that ends in “Y.” Mondays are made for workouts on our sky deck. Tuesdays are for tennis. On Wednesdays, watch the sun setting from your oversized lanai. Treat yourself on Thursdays with poolside service. Friday night fun is always found at the Club and around the bar. Splash away your Saturdays atop 23 stories at our rooftop pool. Sunday morning mimosas taste best when sipped in your own space. Yes, every day is the best day at Kalea Bay.

At Kalea Bay, the perfect day ends in “Y”

From

In Great Company

This issue largely focuses on the women who rock the nonprofit world, leading with heart, vision and a spirit of collaboration. The idea of women lifting women has always been important to me. Over the years, when there’s been any major issue—like 9/11 or hurricanes—I’ve called on fellow female bank presidents, and we’ve always collaborated for the good of our businesses and communi ties. Women just do that; we call on each other and the combined effect is always better.

When I moved here, I was fortunate to get introduced to a few incredible philanthropic pioneers, like Lou Drackett, Myra Janco Daniels and Lavern Gaynor—women who were always doing good. I still draw inspira tion from them to this day and do my best to support women trying to do great, big, scary things now. To me, it’s almost intuitive for women to support each other.

I’ve been here 33 years, and I’ve seen a big shift in Collier County, with more females stepping into important leadership roles.

There are many dynamic ladies who grew up here and chose to stay, but as a community, we’ve also done a great job recruiting powerhouse women: Linda Oberhaus moved from Tampa 15 years ago to run The Shelter for Abused Women & Children, and the organization is just soaring under her leadership. In the last decade, they expanded their mis sion to include serving victims of human trafficking, which so few of us realize happens right in our backyard. Likewise, Eileen Connolly-Keesler was recruited from Wisconsin to run the Collier Community Foundation almost a decade ago, and she is changing our world as we know it. Then, I think about Maria Jimenez-Lara with Naples Children & Educa tion Foundation (NCEF)—she is just dynamic. She was running our NCEF grant committee for a short period, but her leader ship skills were so evident that she was asked to lead the entire organization. We also have Julie Pedretti doing great work at

Healthcare Network; Lisa Lefkow, with Habitat for Humanity, mak ing an impact on housing needs; Kathleen Passidomo rocking the political world; and retiring superintendent Kamela Patton, who has made major strides with Collier County Public Schools. We only hope to see bigger things from Kam’s next chapter! Aren’t we fortunate to have so many rockstar allies championing and uplifting our community?

Adria Starkey President, Collier FineMark National Bank & Trust Trustee, Naples Children & Education Foundation 2000 Woman of the Year

Gulfshore Treasures

The season has officially started, and it’s shaping up to be a stellar time. One of the grandest and longest-running affairs is Naples Botanical Garden’s Hats in the Garden. Attendees dress to the nines and spend months with stylists and milliners to find fanciful headpieces to match the wonder of the 170-acre garden the event supports. Read more about the fundraiser and other nonprofit news in our Social Register (p. 113).

Reagan Rule

INSIDER / People, places and ideas making waves on the Gulf

Service:

Watch:

maestros

to

Guest List:

Profile: Kinfay Moroti shares an unfiltered

+

Stepping Up to the Plate

Through partnerships with nonprofits, the local food scene finds ways to give more than just a delicious night out.

Restaurants are a vital part of a community’s social fabric. They can revitalize neighborhoods, spark innovation and host your most memorable events. So, it’s not surprising that here, where philanthropy is ingrained in the culture, restaurateurs, caterers and makers find ways to make charitable giving a cor nerstone of their businesses.

“I believe it’s a social obligation to give back and help those who are less fortunate,” says Ingrid Aielli, who, with her chef-husband Fabrizio, owns Sea Salt, Barbatella, Dorona and Grappino in Naples. Throughout the year, the couple hosts Celebrity Startender Nights at Dorona, opening the modern

Italian steakhouse to local nonprofit leaders, who act as “start enders” for a cocktail reception. They pour drinks, share infor mation about their organizations and collect donations. Ingrid and Fabrizio also donate time to several children’s charities, including serving as co-chairs of Youth Haven of Southwest Florida’s 50th anniversary Starry Nights Gala in March. Every year, the couple hosts a Christmas Eve luncheon at Barbatella for about 20 kids from the shelter, complete with visits from Santa and the Grinch, gifts and a festive feast.

Children are also a focus at FK Your Diet, with five locations in Florida, including in Fort Myers, Cape Coral and Punta

Gallagher

Anna Nguyen; Brian Tietz

Among other efforts, chef-owner Fabrizio Aielli’s restaurants host events, like the Celebrity Startender Nights at Dorona, with featured nonprofits.

Gorda. Founded by Doug Miller, who grew up in the foster-care system (FK stands for foster kid), the restaurants donate 5 percent of revenue to nonprofits that focus on vulnerable chil dren, including Embrace Families and Every Child Initiative, a Summit Church Program. “Foster kids are the bottom rung of every bad statistic you can think of. Kids, like me, who age out of foster care without a forever home, typically end up in prison or homeless,” Doug says. “Every single day, we spend money on foster kids; we try to hire and mentor them.” Other programs include an annual Thanksgiving feast for people in need and graduation galas for foster kids who finish high school. Doug

and co-founder Amy Eldridge give beyond Florida, too. They raised roughly $20,000 for victims of the war in Ukraine earlier this year and the Uvalde school shooting. In May, the couple traveled to the Texas town, where they purchased $5,000 in gift cards from local mom-and-pop restaurants to donate to families in the community.

Other Lee County establishments are also pledging a portion of their proceeds to worthy causes. At Urban Buzz Coffee, a pop ular drive-through coffee shop in Cape Coral, owner Alex Eble and his mother and business partner, Sharene, hold quarterly Give Back Days, when $1 from every cup of coffee sold goes to a

designated charity, such as Wounded Warrior Project, Donate Life America and Keep Lee County Beautiful. At The Wine Room in downtown Fort Myers, 3 percent of each purchase goes to the customer’s selected nonprofit from a list of three. “Since we opened in 2020, we have donated to Pace Center for Girls, CROW, Cape Coral Animal Shelter, Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida and more,” owner Sarah Newcomb says. “We also donate our space to multiple organizations for net working events.” To select the year’s featured nonprofits, Sarah opens voting to the public each October.

“We started receiving requests from nonprofits in the area right out of the gate. I’ve never said no,” Kyle Cebull, of Fort Myers’ Millennial Brewing Company, says. Since opening in 2016, he estimates the brewery has worked with more than 200 charitable partners, donating about $500,000 in direct contributions, goods, services and access to the space. The brewery hosts mostly street fairs and 10 percent of the profits

“Giving is, indeed, a circular gift.” —Nicole Roland, Crave Culinaire

Courtesy Crave Culinaire

Crave Culinaire, run by chef Brian and Nicole Roland, remains the go-to caterer for local fundraisers; they often auction private dinners for charity.

often go to local causes. Last year’s three-day Oktoberfest—the brewery’s largest annual event—raised $4,000 for Blessings in a Backpack, Valerie’s House and Lee County Schools.

Blessings in a Backpack also benefits from Sizzle Dining (formerly Naples Restaurant Week), held over three weeks in September. After the event, $1 is donated from each of the $32 or $42 three-course dinners at nearly 50 participating restaurants, spanning from Naples to Sanibel. Guy Clarke, who runs the event with his wife, Erin, has partnered with the nonprofit on events since 2014, when he founded BaconFest Naples. “I’m blessed to have food on the table, yet here we are in the richest counties and we have thousands of kids who can’t afford to eat,” he says. “It’s not fair when we’re being gluttonous during restaurant week that kids go hungry.” In 2021, Sizzle Dining restaurants donated $20,000 to Blessings in a Backpack, which funded more than 14,000 meal packs to feed children in Collier and Lee Counties on weekends.

Brian Tietz, Erik Kellar

Sarah Newcomb, of downtown Fort Myers’ The Wine Room, donates 3 percent of purchases to designated nonprofits chosen by the public.

Ingrid Aielli and her husband, Fabrizio, give behind the scenes and at their restaurants, including hosting Christmas Eve dinner for children living at the Youth Haven shelter.

Several restaurants also chose to make additional donations or sponsor a child for the entire year.

St. Matthew’s House in Naples has created a more direct relationship between restaurants and nonprofits. As part of its programming, which combats hunger, homelessness, pov erty and substance abuse, the group operates the sit-down restaurant LuLu’s Kitchen and a catering company, Delicious by Design, which caters the VIP viewing area for Cars on Fifth. Both provide on-the-job culinary training for graduates of the organization’s recovery programs, and revenue helps cover operating costs for St. Matthew’s House.

When it comes to catering for the events that fill the society pages, Crave Culinaire is the region’s go-to. Run by chef Brian Roland and his wife, Nicole, the Bonita Springs-based company is celebrating its tenth year, in 2023, of feeding guests at luxe private dinners and charity galas, like those for Golisano Chil dren’s Museum of Naples, Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens

“I believe it’s a social obligation to give back and help those who are less fortunate.” — Ingrid Aielli, Sea Salt, Barbatella, Dorona and Grappino

Brian Tietz

Millennial Brewing Company’s Kyle Cebull estimates they’ve collaborated with more than 200 nonprofits since opening in 2016.

and Bonita Springs’ The Wonder Gardens. The couple regularly gives back to more than a dozen nonprofit partners, including Literacy Volunteers of Collier County, Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida, Make-A-Wish Foundation and Naples Children & Education Foundation.

Last December, after Brian was injured during an event, members of the community held a candlelight vigil outside of Lee Memorial Hospital, where he was being treated. Though Brian remained in recovery, Crave pushed forward with the season’s slate of events, including donating dinners for auc tions. At SWFL Wine & Food Fest in January, a dinner catered by Crave led to a bidding war that drove the price to $25,000. Nicole generously offered to cater a second dinner, raising a $50,000 to benefit SWFL Children’s Charities. “Brian and I are so grateful to this community. We can’t thank everyone enough for their support and prayers,” she says. “Giving is, indeed, a circular gift.”

Brian Tietz; Courtesy Crave Culinaire

Artist Profile

By Stephanie Davis

In the Frame

Photojournalist Kinfay Moroti gives face to inclusion, one picture at a time.

Kinfay Moroti is easily one of the most recognized photojour nalists in Fort Myers, known for his images that dive deep into the soul of the area. He remembers the moment he left the corporate world of newspapers to start his own venture, hopeful images, a company that works to tell the stories of local charitable organizations.

“It’s still so clear in my mind,” he says. “It was spring break, 2019—my boss had asked me to go to Fort Myers Beach and cover the Cincinnati firefighters.” The firefighters have been going to the Lani Kai Island Resort (spring break central) for years to put on a Magic Mike type show, which the paper covers as clickbait fodder. Kinfay told his assignment editor that he didn’t want to do it. “I tried to explain it without making a moral judgment,” he says. “I was questioning whether the paper needed to cover that type of event, with gyrating and bikinis, when there’s so much else going on across the area—meaningful stuff, you know?”

His boss didn’t budge, and Kinfay did the job. But, afterward, walking to his car, he promised himself two things: He would leave his position by the end of the year and dedicate his time and cre ativity to helping nonprofit organizations.

Brian Tietz

The transition made sense—Kinfay was with the paper for 14 years, and the majority of his feature work focused on organizations like Pace Center for Girls, which helps and educates young women at risk; Gulf Coast Humane Soci ety; and Community Cooperative, which feeds the hungry. “I decided that this was how I wanted to focus my energy,” he says.

Kinfay reached out to his friend, Sarah Owen, who runs the Collaboratory, and she encouraged him. “Kinfay has mas tered the art of taking a passion and marrying it to what he is uniquely gifted to do,” Sarah says. “He brings storytelling that is normally reserved for for-profit entities to the nonprofit world.” In short, he helps nonprofits tell their stories.

By now, the 52-year-old photographer has collaborated with more than 20 charitable organizations to share their mission, whether by photographing kids at play at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County, showing people in line for food at the Pine Manor Community Center or sharing the work of Megan Rose at Better Together as she and her organization work to reunite parents and children living in temporary homes. “Kinfay has a huge heart for this community, which shows in everything he does,” Megan says. “Not only does he give generously of his time, but he gives every project his whole heart. He has a gift for connecting with people and showing empathy and compassion.”

The photographer believes that much of that empathy stems from his childhood experiences growing up on the streets of

Insider

Artist

Kinfay has spent years photographing sporting events, wars, protests and local heroes for newspapers. In 2019, he created hopeful images, to help nonprofits like Pace Center for Girls, Better Together and Gulf Coast Humane Society share their stories and missions.

Courtesy Kinfay Moroti

Chicago and in foster homes. When his mother was young and became pregnant with him, her family threw her out, and Kinfay’s father chose not to involve himself. Kinfay’s mother suffered from mental illness and struggled to care for him. As a toddler, he found himself bouncing through a series of rough fos ter homes. Growing up, he took solace in museums and libraries, where the creativity he saw left a mark. “My mother gave me the best gift—she gave me life,” Kinfay says. “As I’ve grown into an adult, I have such an appreciation for her bravery. That she was courageous enough to try to raise me alone, faced with so many challenges, says so much about her.”

Kinfay was working in a camera store in 1999 when he started his vocation. A woman was desperately seeking a last-minute replacement to photograph the Pan African

Festival in Macon, Georgia, after the original photographer backed out. “I had no experience, but I felt a need to help her,” he recalls. “That was my first job, and it took off from there.”

Most of Kinfay’s friends and mentors have been strong women who run large businesses or charitable organizations—and the reason isn’t lost on him. “I made friends with Allyson Ross, who was with Pace, and started capturing images there. I imagine my mother would have benefited from Pace when she was in her teens,” he says. “Then I started working with Megan from Better Together and learned how they help foster kids and their parents get out of the system. I knew that they could have helped my mother. And there’s Dress For Success Southwest Florida, [founded] by the late Barbara Dell. They get women in need into the workforce. Barbara was like a mother figure to me.”

THE BEST SELECTION OF DESIGNER FRAMES

OPEN

ANNOUNCING Two New Residence Buildings at Siena Lakes!

It’s a great time to make the move to a vibrant retirement at North Naples’ premier senior living community.

The real estate market is redhot and Siena Lakes℠ opened two brand-new residence buildings featuring:

• Spacious floor plans with high-end finishes

• Hurricane-ready construction designed for community safety

• On-site restaurants, medical center, and fitness center

• Convenient location close to shopping, beaches, and more

Limited homes remain.

1-800-989-5802 today to learn more and receive your free brochure.

Naples

When Kinfay talks about his work, he does so with passion. For a recent exhibit at BIG ARTS on Sanibel, he used a mixed-media approach (for example, placing photographs in a cage) to show the everyday challenges and achievements of local minority communities. He prefers to leave his images raw. “Documentary photojournalism shows what is. Not what we want to be ... It shows us who we are now. And who we are now is more than enough,” he says. “And that’s what I was trying to say to those families that would take me into their home. ‘As I am—flawed, battered, abused—this little boy is worth you keeping.’”

These days, Kinfay uses his camera to shine the spotlight on moments that show his community how worthy these organiza tions that mean so much to him are. And at that moment, he shows not only his worth but also his heart.

Kinfay focuses on photojournalism with minimal retouching to reflect things as they are.

Brian Tietz

O

N

A T

O N

Champagne Dreams

One bottle of bubbles from a grower-producer committed to a holistic approach piques the palate of a wine educator at The Wine Store in Naples.

Champagne may be a centuries-old invention, but one particular bottle currently has Lexi Strachan of The Wine Store in Naples bubbled over with excitement: Hervieux-Dumez’s Brut de Chardonnay Premier Cru. This Blanc de Blancs is crafted in a brut nature style, meaning no sugar is added during the dosage when bottles are topped off before final corking. And unlike Champagnes from large maisons like Roederer and Mumm, which source grapes from other farmers, grower Champagnes, like this one from Hervieux-Dumez, are produced by winemakers who grow at least 95% of the fruit in their vineyards.

Brut nature Champagnes (also called non-dosage) have grown enormously in the U.S. as grower-producers pave the way

for terroir-driven bubbly. These bottles are often more artisanal, embracing vintage variation as a unique facet of their character—which makes them more interesting for connoisseurs.

“The absence of additional sugar allows for the true expression of the wine’s personality and terroir, and translates to a high-acid, vibrant expression that spotlights the fruit,” explains Lexi, who leads educational experiences at The Wine Store.

The shop is known for specializing in small-production offerings from family-farmed vineyards that follow sustainable, organic and biodynamic practices. And Lexi especially touts this Hervieux-Dumez bottle, made with estategrown grapes and minimal intervention.

Lexi Strachan (center), who leads educational experiences at The Wine Store in Naples, loves Hervieux-Dumez’s Brut de Chardonnay Premier Cru for its terroir-driven flavor and bright acidity.

Brian Tietz (4); Courtesy Hervieux-Dumez (6)

The Champagne house practices minimal-intervention winemaking and sustainable viticulture with no insecticides— bees, chickens and caterpillars help tend the vines.

The century-old grower-producer— whose legacy continues with the found ing couple’s grandson, Laurent, and his sons, Clément and Timothée—focuses on biodiversity. They incorporate a vast species of plants, animals, fungi and microorganisms in the vineyards to synergistically sustain a healthy ecosys tem: They have beehives. They naturally enhance nitrogen levels among the vines by planting cover crops, which encour ages soil-nourishing earthworms. They raise chickens to foil bud-eating cater pillars and weed the soil through their pecking and scratching. They eschew all insecticides. They collect rainwater to wash the tractors. The result is a thriving

ecosystem and Champagne you can feel good about sipping.

Elegant and fresh, with bright acidity and notes of lemon, vanilla and citrus blossom, the wine is steely and austere, which Lexi finds perfect for an aperitif or enjoyed throughout a meal, especially when paired alongside oysters and caviar, seared foie gras or truffle-topped filet mignon.

Lexi initially studied resort and hos pitality management at Florida Gulf Coast University, which led to a career in catering sales, but after attending a Champagne dinner hosted by a local wine store, she was hooked on France’s famous liquid export. “I didn’t have friends my

Gallerie Indigo is a brand new concept in retail art sales. We offer over 500 curated pieces of affordable, on-trend, framed art that is ready to enhance your home. Everything from large format canvases to smaller framed pieces along with unique accessories

Legendary Dragon Kiln

Family Glazes

Elegance

age who were interested in the intricacies of Champagne or willing to pay $200 to attend,” she admits. “I saw it as an invest ment in myself and went alone.”

That night, she gleaned fascinating insight on the storied French beverage— like the fact that it takes six twists to remove the cage encasing the cork, and that vine roots run deep through seven layers of soil, including porous limestone chalk, which ramps up the wine’s signa ture minerality and acidity levels. “Since then, I’ve been going down the rabbit hole, learning more each day,” she says.

In addition to hosting events at The Wine Store, Lexi accompanies owner Bruce Nichols to nonprofit events, such

as the Naples Winter Wine Festival, fur thering the retail shop’s philanthropic legacy. Gala and festival season is a fitting time to uncork a stellar effervescent elixir and toast ongoing efforts to give back to the community. “Champagne is art; it’s a labor of love—it’s synonymous with lux ury and celebration,” she says.

In the end, whether you are popping a bottle at a black-tie gala, gathering with friends for a long overdue dinner party, or indulging in a luxurious pairing with fried chicken, Champagne brings people together and elicits happiness. “I don’t believe anyone has had a bad time drink ing Champagne,” Lexi says. “Perhaps that’s why I love it most.”

Define your path. See more clearly. Be true to your dreams. With a positive mindset and passionate coaching, Michael Komara delivers the tools to foster financial confidence, peace of mind, and strategic illumination to embrace your optimum future.

Empower yours today.

1 Ingrid & Fabrizio Aielli

2 Rasit & Ilkay Turk, Sophia Alanis, Whitney Fernanda

3 Meghan & Jamie Houde, Dani Marie Glickson

4 Rickey Lamitie, Linda Malone

5 Stephen & Amanda Jaron

6 Lyn Paulsin, Brenda Melton, Kimberly Anderson

7 Brent & Jana Seaman, Kenzie & Ryan Wilson

8 Diane McCaw, Roz Travis, Dan McCaw, Nancy White, Matt Koch

9 Selma Nettles, Robin Garceau

10 Jim & Liz Jessee

11 Charlie Chesebrough, Sandi Moran

Insider — Guest List — Photography by Reagan Rule

Starry Nights / Hosted at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples in support of Youth Haven

Hats in the Garden /H osted at and in support of Naples Botanical Garden

Insider — Guest List — Photography by AP Alexander & Reagan Rule

1 Designer Naeem Khan and models

2 Simone Lutgert, Heather Dockweiler

3 Jane Purdy Berger, Mary Ann Bindley

4 Ann Scott, Martha Braun

5 Karen Scott, Leslie Fogg, Mish Tworkowski, Eleanor Chabraja, Vicky Smith

6 Carly Stewart, Patty Baker

Hats in the Garden /H osted at and in support of Naples Botanical Garden

1 Elizabeth Star, Shelly Stayer

2 Maddie, Darby, Barbie, Coco & Lauren Hills, Amy Baier

3 Mary Stone, Donna McGinnis

4 Leela Lavasani, Diana Carrau, Kiran Gill, Christine Allen

Insider — Guest List —

Photography by AP Alexander & Reagan Rule

PATRICk J. CARRIgAN DMD

ROBERT C. HEDgEPATH DMD

EDWARD

kURTIS

Hats in the Garden /H osted at and in support of Naples Botanical Garden

1 Model wears Naeem Khan’s designs

2 Laina Kennedy, Nelly Shotwell, Stephanie Prebish

3 Carol Dinardo, Kathleen Kapnik, Amy Moglia Heuerman, Wynnell Schrenk

4 Tom & Linda Koehn, Maribeth Mulready, Jon Koehn

5 Kathy Woods, Manisha Kapani

Insider — Guest List —

Photography by AP Alexander & Reagan Rule

1 Adam & Ashley Gerry

2 Powerhouse: The Next Generation performs

3 Casey & Shera Askar

4 Clarke Swanson, Jr. & Elizabeth Swanson

— Guest List —

Photography by AP Alexander

Angel Ball /Hosted at The Ritz-Carlton, Naples in support of Community School of Naples

Angel Ball /Hosted at The Ritz-Carlton, Naples in support of Community School of Naples

1 John & Amy Quinn, Courtney Hansen & Jay Hartington

2 Joe & Jenn Pavich, Dominic Lacquaniti

3 Michael & Alice Lee

4 John & Becky Allen

Insider — Guest List —

Photography by AP Alexander

A LIFESTYLE APPROACH TO REAL ESTATE

We know your home is a place where you live, work, entertain, raise your kids, relax and enjoy all that Southwest Florida offers.

Therefore, our team’s focus is always on how a property meets those needs. We understand you want the lifestyle, and we can help provide that experience before you buy! Interested in golfing, boating, tennis or finding dog parks for your furry friends? We’ll make the arrangements; you enjoy the experience! To find the lifestyle you crave, call us today! (239) 850-3765

FEATURES / A deep dive into the soulful stories of the region

“[The] spirit of collaboration has allowed for so many women to rise to the top and has made our commu nity stronger in so many ways.” —Maria Jimenez-Lara, CEO of Naples Children & Education Foundation

Who runs the world? In Southwest Florida’s nonprofit scene, it’s women. And they’re changing how we approach fundraising, advocacy and giving.

By Jaynie Bartley Photography by Omar Cruz Styled by Anna Ruiz

or the first time in our fourth-annual “Forces of Philanthropy” feature, we turn the lens from the philanthropic givers to the doers working behind the scenes to make it all happen. These leaders propel the philanthropic community into the future through mentorship, collaboration and camaraderie. And as it turns out, many of them are women. While working on our 2022-2023 nonprofit listings, we found that 122 of 207 orga nizations featured are led by women, from Jackie Stephens at Children’s Advocacy Center of Collier County to Sarah Baeck ler at Humane Society Naples to Heidi Taulman at SWFL Chil dren’s Charities—it just goes on and on. “Down here, it really appears that women run nonprofits,” Kristen Coury, Gulfshore Playhouse’s founder and producing artistic director, says. When we gathered eight of them at Hayes Hall at Artis— Naples for the cover shoot, they greeted each other like old friends (which many of them are); chatting about plans for partnerships, sharing best practices for hiring, promoting and nurturing their teams; and joking about their collective switch from business-casual to Vogue -glam for the day. The room buzzed with their enthusiasm and dedication to their causes.

“WHEN YOU LOOK AT [ARTIS—NAPLES] AND THIS COMMUNITY, THERE HAS BEEN CELEBRATED MATRIARCHY.” __ Kathleen van Bergen

For the past century, Southwest Florida has attracted plenty of philanthropic residents, and there’s been a long line of influ ential women who have left their legacies in the region, paving the way for a female-forward future and inspiring many of today’s leaders. Their names grace endowment funds, schools, art centers and street signs throughout the region, like the late second-generation Naples philanthropist Lavern Gaynor’s eponymous elementary school in Golden Gate and Myra Janco Daniels’ namesake road that leads to Artis—Naples’ campus. In the ’80s, Myra, who passed away this summer at 96, retired to the area after a ceiling-shattering career in Chicago’s cutthroat advertising world. She dreamt up Naples Philharmonic (now Artis—Naples) to fill the region’s need for top-tier art.

Since taking over as CEO and president at Artis—Naples in 2011, Kathleen van Bergen—a classically trained violinist who has worked for several centuries-old arts organizations, including The Philadelphia Orchestra—has carried on the founder’s vision while making her mark. She’s grown the cen ter’s programming, partnering with other arts organizations, donors and patrons to engage the community with concerts, Broadway shows and fine art. This season at Artis—Naples, The Baker Museum, she worked with her predominantly female team to bring a slate of impressive exhibits, including a collec tion by postwar abstract expressionist Helen Frankenthaler. “My role is different. It’s the great responsibility to carry on

“WHEN YOUNG WOMEN SEE OTHER WOMEN RISE TO THE TOP, THEY SEE IT’S POSSIBLE FOR THEM, TOO.”

Maria Jimenez-Lara

the promise of a gift, the promise of growing something that past generations have started,” Kathleen says. “I love matching someone’s treasure with an idea.”

When Linda Oberhaus, CEO of The Shelter for Abused Women & Children, and her team identified a need in Immoka lee, four female philanthropists stepped up to fund the Shelly Stayer Shelter for Victims of Human Trafficking & Domestic Violence—which has served more than 400 survivors since opening in 2020. Linda took the helm at The Shelter in 2007, when the organization relied heavily on images of battered women to spread awareness. She quickly recognized that focus ing on success stories could be more effective in inspiring donors and volunteers, and switched her team to a “happy, healthy, whole” motto, focusing on the positive outcomes rather than the trauma. She’s also introduced programs to support the LGBTQ+ community, and notably influenced Naples Pride president Cori Craciun’s decision to start her own nonprofit through years of support. Years back, Cori volunteered with The Shelter, passing out the nonprofit’s LGBTQ+ pamphlets long before she opened Naples Pride Center in 2020.

Baton-passing from woman to woman has been big in recent years. In the arts sphere, film festival organizer Molly Deckart took over at Alliance for the Arts following Lydia Black’s 13-year reign. And last year, when longtime volunteer and CEO Tracey Galloway retired from her position at Community Cooperative

“ALL OF THESE WOMEN ARE PEOPLE WHO REALLY BELIEVED IN SOMETHING AND NEVER TOOK ‘NO’ FOR AN ANSWER.”

(Fort Myers’ nearly 40-year-old, hunger-based nonprofit), she passed the torch to her mentee Stefanie Ink Edwards. Unlike many of her predecessors—among the first generation of women to make it to leadership positions—Stefanie had strong female role models. Although she began her career in marketing and finance, one of her mothers, Theresa Ink, the founder of spayand-neuter clinic PAWS of Lee County, inspired her to branch out into the nonprofit world.

But even today, some of these women are starting new ven tures with no formal mentors to follow. Take Megan Rose, who is making waves in the family sector with Better Together, an organization dedicated to keeping kids out of foster care and helping parents get back on their feet. Likewise, Sarah Owen leads Fort Myers’ forward-thinking Collaboratory on its mis sion to establish a socially and economically sustainable region by 2040, when today’s newborns reach adulthood. Sarah sees her team members as future CEOs: She encouraged Collabo ratory’s director of social innovation and sustainability, Tessa LeSage, to launch FutureMakers in 2015 when Tessa saw a need to address the community’s graduation and college acceptance rates. Now, Tessa oversees FutureMakers’ programs to keep young professionals in the region. Sarah also champions bud ding business owners and new nonprofit founders, like Patricia DeVost, who recently created Patty’s Place to address mental health issues in Lee County. Collier Community Foundation’s

Sarah Owen

president and CEO Eileen Connolly-Keesler commends Sar ah’s efforts: “It’s about developing these women, who you want to be the best and the brightest.”

Eileen has left her mark throughout the nonprofit world since she took over Collier Community Foundation and its Women’s Foundation of Collier County branch almost a decade ago. This year, she led the foundation into a record year, allocating more than $43 million in grants. And, she’s the queen of collaboration. This fall, she’s working with Sarah on a series of roundtable chats to assess the community’s needs and come up with solutions. She’s built partnerships with other area leaders, like Mary Beth Geier at Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation and Maria Jimenez-Lara at Naples Children & Education Foundation (NCEF). The trio is currently working on the CARES app to help smaller nonprofits structure their organizations like a small business, for maximum efficacy. “That spirit of collaboration has allowed for so many women to rise to the top and has made our community stronger in so many ways,” Maria says.

Maria built her career working with underserved communi ties on Florida’s east coast before Redlands Christian Migrant Association (RCMA) recruited her to run its Immokalee Com munity School. Now at NCEF, one of the area’s top-earning nonprofits—and one in which 14 of the 15 team members are women—she’s known to take donors and new executives on tours of local impoverished communities to assess the

“THERE ARE A LOT OF STRONG WOMEN WHO ARE IN THIS COMMUNITY AT THE SAME TIME.”

Eileen Connolly-Keesler

region’s needs. Under her direction, the organization hosts the nation’s biggest charity wine auction, Naples Winter Wine Festival, which has brought in nearly $244 million to support local kids’ nonprofits.

Beyond chairing events, women step up as donors, too. The Women’s Giving Circle consists of 114 local women—many of whom sit on nonprofit boards—who pool their annual $1,000 membership fees to give directly to local groups. Fort Myers’ Gail Markham, a founding member of her accounting firm and avid donor to many of her city’s nonprofits, recently invited a hand ful of Lee County nonprofit leaders to a roundtable meeting, filling the room with powerhouse women, including Valerie’s House founder, Angela Melvin, and Alicia Miller, who took over as executive director at Our Mother’s Home in 2021. “I said to them, ‘I’m here to bring you all together to see if you can lever age your resources,’ then the room just went abuzz,” Gail says. The group unanimously decided to fold Stefanie Ink Edwards into their monthly meetings and help as she steers Community Cooperative through a challenging season, hindered by inflation and the lingering effects of the pandemic.

And where many may assume there’s competition, we see established partnerships. Each year, Artis—Naples’ Kathleen van Bergen teams up with Gulfshore Playhouse’s founder Kristen Coury to pair professional actors with Naples Phil harmonic for a formal Shakespeare production in Collier high

HAS A ROLE TO PLAY IN DEVELOPING AND

WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP.”

schools. Kristen started Gulfshore Playhouse as a one-woman show operating out of her house in 2004 and has grown it into a nationally recognized professional theater. “[When you’re] running a nonprofit, people don’t realize you’re running a business,” she says. “This venture was entrepreneurial at its core.” She’s currently laying the foundation for the new Baker Theatre and Education Center, which is expected to open in 2024, with hopes to connect to the Naples Design District via a walkable sculpture garden in partnership with METHOD & CONCEPT and Naples Botanical Garden.

Another influential collaborator, Donna McGinnis, presi dent and CEO of Naples Botanical Garden, often offers the Gar den’s expertise to nonprofits and eco-minded businesses. Her team’s recent plan for a Mexico-inspired season, anchored by a recreation of Frida Kahlo’s La Casa Azul, propelled a push to celebrate Hispanic heritage and culture at Collier County arts organizations throughout the season. “We want to be a garden for all, we want everyone to feel welcome here, and that means our programming, our exhibits, our tours, our experiences really need to reflect everyone in Southwest Florida,” Donna says. The initiative inspired others, like Marco Island Center for the Arts executive director Hyla Crane, to get involved too, shifting her season’s programming to honor Latin musicians and artists.

“THERE ARE SO MANY WOMEN HERE WHO ARE RETIRED, WHO HAD THESE AMAZING CAREERS, ARE HIGHLY EDUCATED AND STILL SERVING ON BOARDS ... THERE’S A WEALTH OF INFORMATION AND GUIDANCE HERE THAT YOU DON’T GET IN OTHER AREAS.”

Donna McGinnis

Artis—Naples’ Kathleen recalls an impactful collaboration to celebrate The Shelter’s 25th anniversary in 2011. She worked with Linda to host an intimate gallery reception of works made by survivors participating in The Shelter’s Healing Arts Pro gram. The idea of women supporting women spans organiza tions and areas of focus. Linda often sends abuse survivors to Megan at Better Together for parenting and job assistance. And Maria credits philanthropist Adria Starkey for rallying many of them into the International Women’s Forum, connecting them to global leaders. Beyond brand partnerships, the women often lean on each other for what Kathleen jokingly calls “cocktails and condolences.” She’s close with Donna, who cites Kathleen as the first person she met when she moved to Naples to take over the Garden. “We have lunch together and socialize, but we also keep in touch with the big things happening in our organi zations,” Donna says.

Southwest Florida philanthropy is rich with this network of incredible, inspiring women. And the convivial spirit is in full effect as the women leave the Hayes Hall stage after finishing their group cover shots for this issue. Dressed in flowing satin and chiffon, they squeeze in for a selfie; Stefanie holds out her cell phone to get the group into frame: “Is everybody in?” she asks. From what we see, they certainly are.

“EACH OF US IN THE NONPROFIT CIRCLE HAS OUR GO-TO WOMEN, WHO WE’RE ABLE TO CALL UP FOR ADVICE OR TO HAVE LUNCH.”

Coury

A Fighting Spirit

FOR LEAH SHWEDEL, AN 8-YEAR-OLD LIVING

WITH TYPE 1 DIABETES, DAILY LIFE OFFERS THE CHANCE TO EDUCATE OTHERS ABOUT HER DISEASE WHILE FIGHTING TO FIND A CURE.

BY TREE MEINCH

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SCOTT MCINTYRE

Leah Shwedel is full of one-liners. Some of them are real zingers, often eliciting bursts of laugh ter from a crowd that is fighting back tears.

Inevitably, plenty of people cry at the annual gala in Naples for Juvenile Diabe tes Research Foundation (JDRF) while listening to stories from kids like Leah. It’s a reasonable response to the unfair burden that an 8-year-old carries every minute of every day while living with Type 1 diabetes.

Like any good storyteller or comedian, Leah doesn’t let them wallow in sadness.

Nor will she make it easy for them to leave without making a significant contribution to finding a cure for her disease. That’s why she’s spoken at the fundraiser for three years straight, starting when she was 6 years old.

This past March, Leah took the stage, barefoot and wearing a frilly pink dress, beside her dad at the JDRF Hope Gala.

Over a few minutes, she told of her grim diagnosis and how it upended her life at age 5. “Living with Type 1 diabetes is not easy,” she explained to the crowd, incor porating dramatic pauses and gripping commentary with a heart-melting lisp.

“It’s totally unpredictable—kind of like my little brother.” The chronic disease essentially programs a person’s immune

system to destroy cells in the pancreas that produce insulin, a vital ingredient for turning sugar into energy.

Everything changed, not only for her but for her whole family. “And it is not, and I repeat, not because I ate too much cake,” she added, dispelling the myth that Type 1 diabetes is caused by excessive sugar intake. She then demonstrated how many shots she endures over three months, revealing a gallon freezer bag stuffed with small syringes—plus three other full bags that her dad, Scott, held up beside her.

Today, Leah is one of an estimated 1.9 million people living with Type 1 diabe tes in the United States alone. Currently, there’s no known way to prevent it, and no cure; just rigorous, round-the-clock management practices.

Rather than collapse under the daunt ing reality, Leah and her family have stepped up to change it, for themselves and everyone battling the condition. It started the summer after her diagnosis with a one-day lemonade stand that Leah ran with her cousins while visiting them in New York City. They decided to give the profits to JDRF, which led to them joining the Naples chapter of the organization. They first shared their story onstage at the March 2020 annual fundraiser. Leah appeared in a video for

Leah Shwedel was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when she was 5; the next year, she started sharing her story publicly at JDRF galas, where her charisma and grit enthrall the crowd.

the virtual-only event the following year. In 2022, Leah’s mother, Jessica, agreed to chair the themed gala, designed to inspire donors to help find a cure. The event raised a record-setting $1.6 million. The family has also generated nearly $30,000 more in contributions over the past three years through fundraising walks—while building community and sharing life-changing resources among those surviving juvenile diabetes.

Of course, their hour-by-hour process has not been easy. The milestones and celebrations are snapshots of an indefi nite roller coaster ride through traumatic hospital visits, sleep-deprived nights and ongoing lifestyle modifications that began with Leah’s diagnosis three years ago.

The Shwedels received the news of the disease in January, just a couple of months after Leah’s fifth birthday. She kept saying she was thirsty, despite drinking plenty of fluids. Jessica’s mother, Lynn, a retired elementary school principal, was visiting them in Naples and mentioned that insa tiable thirst could be a symptom of Type 1 diabetes. She recommended getting a test if it persisted for a week. Instead, Jessica scheduled a visit with the pediatrician the next day. “I’ll never forget when she said, ‘This is the part of my job that I hate,’” Jessica says. “I just remember completely losing it.”

Last season, Leah’s mom, Jessica, chaired the JDRF Hope Gala, which brought in a record-breaking $1.6 million for the cause. The family teaches others about the challenges and needs of children living with diabetes and the importance of research to find a cure. They’ve raised nearly $30,000 through fundraising walks.

The diagnosis required a full lifestyle shift for the Shwedels, including having Jessica and Leah’s dad, Scott, reading her glucose levels throughout the night and everyone adopting a low-carb diet in solidarity.

Because the family caught it early, Leah had not lost any significant weight or developed other common symptoms, such as blurry vision, bed wetting or fatigue. The pediatrician said this put the family ahead of the curve.

But for any parent or guardian receiv ing news of this chronic disease in their child—with long-term risks like nerve damage, heart and blood vessel disease, and a lifespan shortened by eight years on average—the real weight immediately follows the diagnosis: You will play pri mary caregiver.

The Shwedels spent three days in in-patient care at the hospital. While Leah was stable and mostly healthy, the stay facilitated a “crash course,” as Jessica calls it, on diabetes and how to manage it. Scott and Jessica watched nurses prick fingers, inject insulin and read glucose levels taken from their daughter’s body. By day two, they were playing nurse themselves, administering shots and monitoring blood sugar round the clock, under the watch of the experts. At the time, Jessica was still nursing their son, Seth, who was barely more than a year old. She drove 30 minutes back and forth daily between Seth, who was at home with Lynn, and Leah in a Fort Myers hospital.

The smell of the insulin made Jessica sick, and she didn’t feel ready to leave the hospital, calling it “the most over whelming thing in the world.” But after

day three, they were sent home with their vulnerable child and a mountain of med ical knowledge that Leah’s life depended upon. “You are acting now as your child’s pancreas,” Jessica says.

The daily goal, and endless routine, with Type 1 diabetes is keeping blood sugar within a targeted range. In most bodies, this plays out on autopilot thanks to the pancreas releasing insulin. With diabetes, the body’s immune system destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas—requiring the individual or caretakers to take the wheel with daily injections and diet. (While the cause of Type 1 diabetes remains unknown, research points to possible genetics, viruses and other environmental factors.)

“This is a 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week, full-time job that never gets any breaks,” says Scott, who works as a root canal spe cialist by day.

He recalls finding a rhythm of daily management somewhat quickly after Leah came home. But it required a full lifestyle shift, such as shots in the morning before breakfast and Jessica or Scott checking on Leah and reading her blood levels through out the night, which they still do. Jessica decided to attend preschool with Leah that first spring after diagnosis, sitting in the building daily for six weeks to monitor her daughter and inject insulin. For kindergarten, there was a school nurse, which allowed Jessica to stay home but remain in frequent communication with the school about Leah. The pandemic cre ated a unique opportunity for Leah to stay at home, which allowed for Jessica’s close oversight. The family opted to continue that through the spring of 2022, with Leah returning to the classroom in August—a fraught decision for her parents. Sending

Her little brother, Seth, is participating in a trial that studies kids who don’t have diabetes in the hopes of developing a medication to delay the disease’s onset.

Leah can now administer her shots, allowing her the freedom to go to school and pursue hobbies, beyond her parents’ watchful eye. But they’re still ever vigilant. “You are now acting as your child’s pancreas,” Jessica says.

her out of sight to things like diving and acting classes—Leah’s favorites—is still nerve-wracking. But Leah now knows how to administer her shots, if needed, which brings some comfort.

To help their daughter, the whole family has embraced a low-carb diet, something they discovered after roughly a year of diabetes management. Scott and Jessica say it has significantly reduced the high and low swings in Leah’s glucose. It is also a prominent example of the commitment and solidarity of every family member, including a reluctant 5-year-old brother, Seth, who is also helping his sister by taking part in a trial that studies kids who don’t have juvenile diabetes in hopes of developing a medication to delay the disease’s onset. “He talks about his lowcarb lifestyle more than anyone else,” Scott says.

He’s the first one to sneak a handful of sugar-loaded treats when he’s away from Leah or out of the home. Recently, Jessica says, he was thinking out loud what might happen after death, as 5-year-old brains do: “‘I believe that when you die, you get adopted by another family. And I’m going to get adopted by a high-carb family.’ It’s sad but hilarious,” she adds.

Sad. And hilarious. That combination, or posture, seems to have bolstered the family, one day and one handful of shots at a time. It’s the same charm that Leah lays on thick during her speeches.

Naples International Film Festival

October 27-30, 2022

Opening Night Film and Party

Thursday, October 27 · Doors Open 6pm · Film 7pm · Hayes Hall, Artis—Naples

Films at Silverspot Cinema

Friday-Sunday, October 28-30 · Silverspot Cinema, Mercato

Closing Night Awards Ceremony, Film and Wrap Party

Sunday, October 30 · 5:30pm · Daniels Pavilion, Artis—Naples

Jurassic Park in Concert

Naples Philharmonic · Jack Everly, principal pops conductor Sunday, October 30 · 7:30pm · Hayes Hall, Artis—Naples

For more details and information on how to buy tickets, visit artisnaples.org/NIFF

The Naples International Film Festival is generously supported by Festival Presenting Sponsors Dr. Richard Lublin and Christine Stahl Lublin.

A special thanks to the Collier County Tourist Development Council for their ongoing support.

Media sponsors:

5833 Pelican Bay Blvd · Naples, FL 34018 · 239-597-1900

#IamNIFF

Laura Dern and Sam Neill in ‘Jurassic Park,’ 1993, Universal/Courtesy Everett Collection

is is our Moment

Gulfshore Playhouse at the Baker eatre and Education Center will be a dazzling destination for exciting professional theatre in an iconic downtown location, opening Fall 2023.

Have a look at nextstage.gulfshoreplayhouse.org

e curtain is rising on our bright future, and we need your help. As the 2022–23 season unfolds at our existing venue, we’re so close to our goal, and a gift of any size will truly make a di erence. With your donation, we’re one step closer to a bold new center where theatregoers will share exceptional experiences, where every seat has an amazing view of the Broadway-sized stage, and where we’ll create new ways for people of all ages and interests to discover the joy of theatre. We can’t wait to meet you in our bright future.

To make a donation, contact Kimberly Dye at kdye@gulfshoreplayhouse.org

By:

By: Dominique

By: Robert Harling

Kristen

By: Neil Simon

By: Carey Crim

by Kristen Coury

SEASON HIGHLIGHTS:

NEW IN

119

NONPROFIT REGISTER

135

FUNDRAISER CALENDAR

171

LET YOUR GIFT SHINE

MAKE A DONATION WHERE THE MIRACLES ARE

At age 9, Jaxson was diagnosed with cancer following a rare side effect of the lifesaving kidney treatment he received as an infant.

At Golisano Children’s Hospital, lifesaving care for children like Jaxson is provided regardless of the family’s ability to pay. That is only possible with the support of generous donors, including those who give to the Children’s Miracle Network.

Jaxson, age 11

NEW + NOTEWORTHY

Nonprofits go bold with over-the-top events, mobile services, record-breaking fundraising and strong focuses on water quality and mental health.

Produced by Zahra Khan

Reagan Rule

Turn of Events

Fundraising takes centerstage this season with immersive themes, showstopping productions and venues to match.

When it comes to showing up and showing out for a good cause, Southwest Florida reigns supreme. From an elegant polo fundraiser benefiting the Community School of Naples to a Catch Me If You Can-themed gala held at a private hangar to support the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), nonprofit events bring good-hearted citizens together for fantastical evenings. Such pro ductions require atmosphere and attitude, presence and personal ity. And Gulfshore Playhouse is the glittering chandelier that sits atop the scene, illuminating the way for its peers.

Sarah Owen, the Playhouse’s director of development, regularly pulls together functions like the theater’s opening night shows. But, creativity really shines at the annual gala. For Sarah, it’s important for guests to feel a part of the event from the minute they arrive.

Actors from the Playhouse might hand out secret codes for a speakeasy-themed soiree; host horse races during a Gimmicks and Games cocktail hour; or Broadway talent may perform numbers

from My Fair Lady, as occurred at The Loverly Gala in 2021. Stage and costume designers, lighting directors and sound engineers help guests magically step into the scene. Because the more peo ple get carried away by the enchantment and see the value of the Playhouse, the more they give. Earlier this year, at Under the Big Top—where guests dined surrounded by acrobats, fire eaters and outlandish visual effects—Gulfshore Playhouse raised $2.5 million, the largest amount in the event’s history.

CEO Kristen Coury says the galas are the most important piece of the puzzle for their fundraising. And she and Sarah are diligently working toward the March 6th event, a masquerade ball, themed around The Phantom of the Opera, with iconic music from the show and performances from students in their education program. Riding this year’s high, Sarah hopes the gala nets another year of record-breaking donations, which help run day-to-day operations and expand educational programming. Bravo! —Addison Pezoldt

4 More Galas That Go Above and Beyond

Naples Zoo’s Moonlight in Malaysia

This sold-out event celebrates more than 100 years of the Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens. On Nov. 17, find yourself transported to the jungles of Southeast Asia, where you can bid to name the zoo’s new Malaysian tiger—all in honor of the late Eko.

C’MON Saturday Night Fever

The Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples hosts a disco-themed affair in 2023 for its fundraiser—known as the most spirited of the season, with frequent celeb appearances and guests going all-out with costumes. Wear your funkiest getup for the groovy Jan. 28 event, where Three60 Market’s Rebecca Maddox curates wines for the $20,000-plus-level tables.

Ronald McDonald Storybook Ball

In its 27th year, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southwest Florida’s Storybook Ball transports guests to the Polynesian Islands for a Moana-themed night on Feb. 18, complete with hula and fire dancing.

Naples Botanical Garden Hats in the Garden

One of the longest-running events in the region is complete with fanciful hats, the lushest venue, big-name designers and an award for most elab orate topper. For the 19th annual fundraiser, on March 29, Oscar de la Renta makes a scene as the featured designer. —A.P.

The Cause: Water

Water quality can’t be taken for granted. Now, Southwest Floridians are paying attention and standing up, with a slate of recent environmental efforts and wins. Here’s a look at where we’ve been, where we are and where we’re going in the fight to protect the heart of the region.

The Issue

The red tide disaster in July 2018 is an ecological catastrophe locals remember well. While the news revealed that 4 million pounds of marine life were killed because of red and blue-green algae outbreaks, we recall the white-bellied mangrove snappers washing up on our beaches, the manatees that drifted lifelessly in the Gulf and the smell of stagnant blooms caught in the corners of our canals. As devastating as the harmful algal blooms were from the Lake Okeechobee release, it became a rallying cry to push water quality to the top of Southwest Florida’s docket.

The Defense

When Governor Ron DeSantis announced an unprecedented $960 million budget for initiatives like Everglades restoration and water quality improvements in November, the celebration was short-lived. In February, legislators introduced Florida Senate Bill 2508, which aimed to weaken the proposed bud get and undo decades of clean water progress. The bill would

Stovall

place Lake Okeechobee water releases, which contain harmful algal blooms, on the political back burner and delay funding for the Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir, the heart of the Everglades restoration plan. But Captains for Clean Water, a grassroots organization dedicated to defending the health of our waterways, jumped to action. During a weekend, they assembled representatives of Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation and Everglades Foundation to dissect the legisla tion and uncover its potentially harmful effects. A couple of days later, they rallied a group of 50 advocates to speak out against the bill in Tallahassee, driving about six hours through the night to address the senate. The next week, Captains and a caravan of 200 clean water activists returned to the Capitol for a sit-in while voting commenced to pass the bill. Their efforts were fruitful: A handful of Captains members stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the governor as he announced his veto of the bill in June, securing Everglades restoration and water quality funding. The fight for clean water lives on.

In Their Words

Local water warriors drove up to Tallahassee in the middle of the night to rally against Senate Bill 2508. Here, three of them sound off on the importance of water quality and why activism matters.

Holly Smith, mayor of Sanibel Island

“Water is everything we are throughout the state of Florida. We are a tourism state. If we don’t have clean water surrounding us, then I’m not sure what our economy would be like. Our environment is based on clean water; our economy is based on clean water.”

Oona Watkins, environmental illustrator and founder of Oona Seas

“It’s much more powerful to be in someone’s face about the issues. You know you can make calls, write emails and sign petitions, but when it comes down to it, elected officials seeing people’s faces in the audience or hearing them make public commentary drives the point home.”

Daniel Andrews, co-founder of Captains for Clean Water

“[The bill] was an assault on all that progress. We figured if there’s one opportunity to comment on it, then we need to get a bunch of people up there as soon as we could … Our waterways can’t speak for themselves, so it depends on the people who love them and make their living off them and run their businesses near them to stand up and speak.”

Social

The Outlook

Taking matters a step further, The Water School at Florida Gulf Coast University merged the environmental schools into one college that focuses on regional issues like water quality.

“[After Hurricane Irma] we had the beginning of the fifth longest red tide in Florida history,” says Greg Tolley, director of The Water School. “In the middle of that red tide, we had a huge blue-green algal bloom from Lake Okeechobee and the Caloosahatchee River … so we launched The Water School in March of 2019, showing the state of Florida that the university was really going to be investing in water.” In August, the new department got a home—a $58 million building dedicated to its students, the public and the future of water quality. “Universities do more than educate students,” he says, adding that a primary goal for the school is to attract top-notch water scientists to the region. “We also facilitate change and improvement in our local communities.” —Zahra Khan

Zach Stovall; Courtesy FGCU Water School/Dale Ward; Anna Nguyen

Up next in Southwest Florida’s fight for clean water is the opening of FGCU’s Water School (below)—a leading hub for environmental research and education.

JUST KEEP SWIMMING

Sea turtles are one of the oldest creatures on Earth and have remained undisturbed for 110 million years until human activity threatened their existence. Of the seven species of sea turtles in the world, all of them are listed as vulnerable or endangered. But here, sea turtles are nesting on beaches in record numbers. Collier County Parks and Recreation cites 312 more nests in the county than last year, and Conservancy of Southwest Florida (which celebrates 40 years of their monitoring program next year) reported their biggest nesting season on Keewaydin Island. “Those hatchlings we protected 20-30 years ago are now coming back as adults to lay eggs,” the Conservancy’s Kathy Worley says. In Lee County, Turtle Time, an organization focused on sea turtle conservation, reports 22 more nests than in 2021 on Fort Myers Beach. “We are reaping the rewards of years of nest protection,” Kathy says. Z.K.

The Cause: Health

Programs use the arts to provide wellness

Minds Over Matter

Nonprofits fight for mental health and overall wellness and expand services to better address our region’s needs.

In the wake of COVID-19, mental health has been top of mind nationwide. Our region follows suit, with generous donor sup port and ample nonprofit efforts for the cause.

But local service organizations recognize mental wellness is more than a trend: They know it’s as crucial as physical health and that the two equally affect each other. We’ve seen strong gains, with organizations like David Lawrence Centers (DLC) leading collaborative efforts across a range of spheres, including with Home Base Florida for veterans and Healthcare Network for holistic healing. Signaling DLC’s growth and ability

to provide needed care in the region, the organization opens a $25 million, Golden Gate campus in 2023 after the 105 percent increase in service use over nine years. They also created a Mind Your Mind campaign this year to encourage everyone to make mental health a priority. Other groups are also mobilizing and making strides. Florida Gulf Coast University—which debuted its Community Counseling Center two years ago—launched a Community Autism Program to be a hub for care; Golisano Children’s Hospital just opened an animated immersion room for pediatric cancer patients; and Kids’ Minds Matter has raised more than $10 million to assist the estimated 46,000 local children who need mental care.

This season promises to continue the upward trajectory of support. Youth Haven of Southwest Florida, a safe space for neglected or homeless children in Naples, recently launched community therapeutic services for families that cannot afford it independently. In Cape Coral, Patty’s Place, which is backed by the Collaboratory, is slated to open this fall, as an interim helper—or triage center—for youths ages 10-to-26 to find immediate support before moving on to longterm mental health resources. The facility alleviates some of the difficulties families face by intervening during the average six-to-eight week waiting period for therapeutic care. And next year, Naples Children & Education Foundation dedicates its annual Naples Winter Wine Festival Fund a Need to healthcare to help with programs that include social-emotional screenings and mental health assessments for underprivileged children. —A.P.

Wellness Takes Centerstage

The Naples Players mobilizes the arts as a means for healing, with thespian Summer Pliskow leading the charge.

The stage is set, and The Naples Players are ready for their next cue. The community theater has been emphasizing the use of performing arts as a means of improving quality of life since they launched their Wellness and Education program in 2019. In March, the group brought in Summer Pliskow—who studied the intersection of art and wellness at the University of Florida and for her Master’s in London—as arts and health specialist. She’s already proving to be a force.

In less than a year, Summer has forged new partnerships and established longterm relationships with local organizations. This month, she launches a project with Valerie’s House that relies on the seasons to help bereaved children; in the fall, she’ll use leaves to illustrate how the changing foliage can reflect the changes in the kids. She’s also created interactive storytelling programs with memory care groups. In one workshop, members of The Arlington of Naples use pictures and music—sensory-driven techniques—to help spark conversations and encourage com munication. Summer has seen participants who are primarily nonverbal or withdrawn engage during the programs. And, she’s working with the Alzheimer’s Support Network on a program where participants produce their own film, writing, directing and screening it publicly. The goal: to engage people living with cognitive impairments in decision-making and allow them to have a sense of ownership over something they’ve created. “A smile or being able to verbalize something—these are things that we take for granted or we see as small, but for these participants, they’re huge,” Summer says. —A.P.

Summer Pliskow leads The Naples Players’ expanding Wellness and Education program, which uses the performing arts to promote wellbeing.

Headliners

Nonprofit groups, programs and leaders making waves

Notable Expansions

Southwest Florida’s charities are growing, breaking ground and defying expectations. Naples Botanical Garden blooms into a new season this fall with the construction of its $15.5 million Evenstad Horticulture Campus to expand its seed bank and research endeavors. Meanwhile, after receiving a $100,000 grant, Alliance for the Arts goes off campus this month with its Family Art Labs, which offers pop-ups at Lee County commu nity centers to provide activities inspired by their exhibitions. This month, Alliance also creates a Digital Art Lab, which offers free classes to everyone from middle school students to senior citizens in programs and skills like Photoshop, filmmaking and 3D modeling. The goal is to enhance digital literacy and provide career opportunities and technological access across the county.

In Collier County, Rob Moher, CEO and president of the Con servancy of Southwest Florida, debuts the Southwest Florida Music Education Center in collaboration with the Berklee College of Music. The center will operate out of Artis—Naples until its building on Naples’ Hodges University campus is ren ovated (to the tune of $10 million) and opens in the fall of 2024. The school provides 2- or 4-year music certificates that serve as a high school transition program and a post-secondary program for neurodivergent adults, ages 18 to 30. And, also in the educa tion sphere, the renamed Jay and Patty Baker’s Preschool of the Arts, which exposes pre-K kids to all aspects of the art world, breaks ground on a 17,000-square foot expansion with the Chabad of Naples, to be completed in 2024. —Z.K.

Unprecedented Giving

Generosity is flowing as nonprofits report record-breaking fundraising: Collier Com munity Foundation (CCF) distributed over $43 million in grants, up from $33 million last year; Saint Ann School Foundation raised $11.3 million for scholarships in 18 months (they were aiming for $7.5 million in 24); and Boys & Girls Club Lee County raised more than $1 million before they even launched their $2.5 million campaign for a new club. Groups reached big milestones at galas, too, with Naples Children & Educa tion Foundation bringing in $22 million in January, STARability Foundation raising $3.2 million at its event, and Gulfshore Playhouse, Naples Zoo and Conservancy of Southwest Florida closing their galas with more than $2 million each. Many of these were aided by matching gifts, like Julia Van Domelen, and Denny and Tanya Glass matching earnings at Zoo Gala, Patty and Jay Baker at Gulfshore Playhouse’s gala and the Richard M. Schulze Foundation matching CCF’s Give Where You Live campaign. Let’s raise our paddles high and keep it going for the 2022-2023 season. —Z.K.

Southwest Florida Music Education Center, a collaboration with Berklee College of Music, debuts this fall to train neurodivergent young adults in the musical arts.

Trailblazers

These three women wasted no time tackling of-the-moment issues

The Issue: The Teacher Shortage

In February, when a Child’s Path location closed due to a lack of teachers, CEO Heather Singleton took it as an opportunity to reorganize how they recruited and retained educators. Knowing the centers are vital in serving nearly 400 children from work ing families and teen parents who depend on them as one of the largest early education providers in Collier County, she sprung to action. She attracted new teachers by increasing wages by $5 an hour, offering a $2,000 signing bonus and agreeing to close for three weeks over major holidays. Of the 19 similar centers that permanently closed due to COVID-19, Child’s Path beat the statistic and slowly reopened within six weeks.

The Issue: Affordable Housing

Under the 20-year helm of CEO Lisa Lefkow, Habitat for Humanity Collier County is embarking on its biggest project yet—and one of the largest among its national partners—as the team builds 281 homes in Immokalee. The 100-acre Kaicasa community aims to offer affordable housing for the commu nity, and it isn’t the only venture like this Habitat Collier has in the works. A 125-home neighborhood and 52 condo-like homes are also coming to Naples within two years. The nonprofit is the largest producing affiliate of the organization in the country, erecting almost 100 homes a year to try to meet the increased demand for affordable housing.

Anna Nguyen, photographed at Luminary Hotel & Co., Autograph Collection

The Issue: War in Ukraine

Tetyana Pyatovolenko, an administrator at Florida Gulf Coast University’s Bower School of Music & The Arts, uses her talent as a cellist to aid people in her native Ukraine. In April, the 30-year-old musician raised more than $10,000 for the Kyiv Rotary Refugee Initiative through a concert she organized at the university. She’s performed benefit shows on Marco Island and in Pennsylvania, where she played as a soloist for the Harrisburg Symphony Orches tra, raising a total of around $20,000 for her homeland. And, she has another benefit concert in the works for January. —Z.K.

On the Go

Issues of accessibility to quality healthcare and education, which festered prior to the pandemic, have exploded since. And lowincome populations are the most affected. To take the help where it’s most needed, several organizations are meeting these challenges on our roads.

Groups like Premier Mobile Health Services, Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, Project Health and Healthcare Network of SWFL provide low-to-no-cost medical care to thousands of locals with their mobile clinics. From dental screenings and chronic disease management to vaccinations and HIV testing, these organizations help curb preventable medical emergencies and tackle everyday health needs in our most vulnerable communities.

Pet health also benefits from on-the-go care with Naples Humane Society’s Paige Conery Mobile Veterinary Clinic. Work ing on an honor-based system, the roving vet offers wellness exams, spray and neuter services, and vaccines for a $10 minimum contribution per pet.

To bolster environmental literacy on the Gulf, the Conservancy of Southwest Florida rolled out a state-of-the-art bus last year, expanding their after-school science curriculum to Title 1 schools, which have high rates of low-income students. On board, kids have access to microscopes, monitors, and a touch table to learn about topics like sea turtles and the dangers of ocean pollu tion. —Whitney Ward

Out of Plein Air

Naples painter Paul Arsenault enlists local kids for a mural to celebrate Youth Haven’s 50th anniversary.

Naples plein air painter extraordinaire Paul Arsenault is on a mission to preserve the region’s charm—documenting beloved landmarks, educating local youth and supporting local nonprofits. This summer, he took a week to team up with the kids at Youth Haven to create a mural celebrating our local ecosystem, with images of native plants and endangered animals, like the Florida panther. The image spans the back of the campus’ administrative building, serving as a backdrop for the wooded park that fills the backyard. —Jaynie Bartley

The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples

The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples

Kids Give Back

Motivated by her love for reading, Natasha Agarwal started BelieveNBooks in 2021 when she was 14 years old. Studies show that reading scores are often proportionate to the number of books a kid can access, so she started the Fort Myers-based nonprofit to donate books to children in need. Since April, Natasha has donated almost 30,000 books to organizations, such as the Gua dalupe Center, the Golisano Children’s Hospital and the Shelter for Abused Women & Children.

Ten-year-old Sutton Shanahan estab lished Kidz 4 a Cause in February to encourage kids to help other children by donating any small amount they can from their allowances or neighborhood fundrais ing efforts and volunteering. In the same month, Kidz 4 a Cause raised $15,000 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

A Naples-based trio of brothers, 13-year-old Andrew, 11-year-old Marc and 7-year-old Nico Sanchez, started Brothers Unleashed. They sell handmade dog

leashes and donate a portion of the profits to animal groups, like Humane Society Naples and the Lee County K-9 Unit.

Father-son duo Vikram and Ethan Chhabra use their Estero-based nonprofit, One Flower Project, to sell and donate seed kits, with an easy-to-grow blend of sunflowers and wildflowers, which attract crucial pollinators, like bees and butterflies. —Lily Poorman

NONPROFIT

More

CHANGEMAKERS

Joshua Colt Fisher

WHERE TO GIVE

Consider this your definitive guide to giving, with a list of more than 200 nonprofits fueling the philanthropic scene in Collier and Lee Counties. Check with the organizations for the latest information. All phone numbers are area code 239 unless otherwise noted.

COLLIER COUNTY

Additional Needs, Inc.

The organization provides a user-friendly and time-saving website with current and comprehensive information about available resources and tools for children and adults with additional needs. This website also assists the

families of these individuals in finding appropriate servic es. ANI shares their insights through personal articles on reaching one’s full potential.

Founder and CEO: Douglas Sharpe 298-1499

P.O. Box 110124, Naples additionalneeds.info

Animal Compassion Project, Inc.

The nonprofit opertates companion animal rescue, promotes alternatives to euthanasia/TNR for cats, assists with spay/neuter/pet food, advocates for animal rights, serves as an educa tional resource and operates a sanctuary for unsocialized,

behaviorally challenged and special needs cats.

President: Michele Antonia 825-4093 7620 Rookery Lane, Naples animalcompassionproject.org

Artis—Naples

As the premier organization for the visual and performing arts in Southwest Florida,

Many of our region’s nonprofits work to preserve and protect the natural environment including our waterways.

Artis—Naples presents a unique range of world-class programs including music, film, dance and comedy, as well as a variety of exhibitions and lectures.

CEO and President: Kathleen van Bergen 597-1111

5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples artisnaples.org

Audubon Western Everglades

Protecting Southwest Florida’s natural resources and wildlife through advocacy and education.

Executive Director: Ted Rodman 643-7822

12250 Tamiami Trail East, Suite 330, Naples audubonwe.org

Ave Maria School of Law

Ranked a Princeton Review Best Law School, a national Military Friendly school and the nation’s Most Devout Law School, Ave Maria Law offers a distinctive Catholic education characterized by the harmony of faith and

reason. Visit the North Naples campus in the Vineyards to witness the mission of educating future lawyers with impeccable technical skills and a firm commitment to the moral and ethical values that have made this country great.

Associate Dean of Academic Affairs: Maureen M. Milliron 687-5405

1025 Commons Circle, Naples avemarialaw.edu

Avow

The organization provides hospice, palliative care and grief support services, with compassionate care for patients of all ages in Collier County. Avow guides them through life’s most challenging transitions.

President and CEO: Jaysen Roa 261-4404

1095 Whippoorwill Lane, Naples avowcares.org

Baby Basics of Collier County

The mission is to provide and distribute diapers and kindness to babies of

low-income, hard-working families in Collier County. The nonprofit also extends services to Bonita Springs.

President and Founder: Jean Ann Lynch 617-510-4468

PO Box 413005, Naples babybasicscollier.org

Better Together

Helps struggling parents with the tools and support system to thrive, keep their children out of foster care, find work and address the root causes of their problems to reunite.

CEO: Megan Rose 470-2733

15275 Collier Blvd., Suites 201-284, Naples bettertogetherus.org

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast - Collier Matches children with an adult volunteer mentor (a Big Brother or Big Sister) to help them achieve educational success, increase confidence, improve relationships and reach their full potential.

President and CEO: Joy Mahler 331-7133

1016 Collier Center Way,

Suite 100, Naples bbbssun.org

Bikes for Tykes

A bicycle ‘re-cycle’ program that supplies those in need of transportation. There’s emphasis on children, but they help adults as well. Established in 1987, BFT has produced more than 39,000 bicycles for those in Collier and Lee Counties.

Founder and CEO: Skip Riffle 774-5846

5950 Cope Lane, Naples bikesfortykes.org

Books for Collier Kids

Books for Collier Kids provides a new, top-quality, age-appropriate book each month to more than 10,000 disadvantaged Collier students in pre-K, kindergar ten, first and second grade. Since 2005, the organization has provided more than 1.5 million books.

Board Chair: Sallie Williams 394-4062

P.O. Box 10811, Naples booksforcollierkids.org

Social Register — The Nonprofits

Boys & Girls Club of Collier County

The Collier County location serves more than 4,000 children and teens in Naples and Immokalee, ages 6 to 18. The team provides a safe, enriching environment during out-of-school time— a critical time of day for youth. Here, 96 percent of members receive free or reduced lunch, 55 percent of members come from homes

where English is not the main spoken language and 100 percent of members receive partial or full scholarships to attend the clubs.

President and CEO: Megan McCarthy 325-1700

7500 Davis Blvd., Naples bgccc.com

Center For Reduction of Religious-Based Conflict With international headquar

ters in Naples, its purpose is to sensitize and educate people and governments to the very real problem of religious-based conflict, its causes, its problems and its increasing costs. The nonprofit describes longterm solutions, which go beyond the current mantra of tolerance, and show how they can be immediately and realistically implemented.

Director: Terry O. Trowbridge

821-4850

649 Fifth Ave. S., Suite 201, Naples center2000.org

Champions For Learning

As the education foundation supporting Collier County schools, Champions For Learning creates life-changing learning experiences by connecting students with the community to provide a culture of learning, innovation and support for college and career readiness. 643-4755

3606 Enterprise Ave., Suite 150, Naples championsforlearning.org

Charity for Change

With a vision to end hate, violence, bullying and cruelty, Charity for Change connects the hearts and minds of children by developing mental wellness, character, gener osity and gratitude through academics. Children learn to care about each other and the world around them while improving social-emotional learning skills and academic outcomes.

Founder, President and CEO: Karen Conley 592-6787

10681 Airport-Pulling Road, Suite23, Naples charityforchange.org

Children’s Advocacy Center, Naples Children & Education Foundation and Child’s Path are just a few of the organizations dedicated to helping kids in Collier County.

Child’s Path

The nonprofit enriches the lives of working families and underserved children in Collier County through high-quality early childhood education.

CEO: Heather Singleton 643-3908

15275 Collier Blvd., Suites 201-359, Naples childspath.org

Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) of Collier County

The CAC works to minimize the trauma to child victims who have been physically or sexually abused. The CAC accomplishes this through intervention, treatment, advocacy and counseling.

CEO: Jackie Stephens 263-8383

1036 Sixth Ave N., Naples caccollier.org

Christ Child Society of Naples

An all-volunteer, multidenominational organization dedicated to improving infant care, providing basic needs, promoting literacy, and providing college and technical scholarships for the underserved children of Collier County.

President: Gloria Gaughan 404-4410

8805 Tamiami Trail North,

#202, Naples christchildnaples.org

Collier Community Foundation

The trusted leader in identifying and responding to critical needs, CCF optimizes charitable giving through community knowledge, grant oversight and personalized service. The organization also operates the Women’s Foundation of Collier County and has trademarked the slogan: Informed giving. Powerful results.

President and CEO: Eileen Connolly-Keesler 649-5000

1110 Pine Ridge Road, Suite 200, Naples colliercf.org

Collier County 100 Club

This team works to assist first responders and their families financially in times of tragedy.

Executive Director: Ellie Krier 262-0015

P.O. Box 2008, Naples collier100club.org

Collier-Lee County

Honor Flight

A 100 percent volunteer organization created solely to honor local American war veterans for their sacrifices. Honor Flight salutes the

heroes by transporting them to Washington for the day to visit and reflect at their respective memorials. There is never a charge to the Veterans being honored.

Founders: Sean and Deborah Lux 777-9295 P.O. Box 8001, Naples collierhonorflight.org

Collier County Hunger and Homeless Coalition

The mission is to support the planning, delivery and coordination of high-quality services to the hungry, the homeless and those at risk of homelessness in the community.

Executive Director: Michael Overway 263-9363 P.O. Box 9202, Naples collierhomelesscoalition.org

Collier Senior Center

Formerly Collier Senior resources, the center provides comprehensive services and resources, including daily lunch, emergency assistance and socialization for older adults.

Director of Senior Center: Esther Lully 252-4541 4898 Coronado Parkway, Naples collierseniorcenter.org

Community Pregnancy

Clinics, Inc. (CPCI)

Founded in 1974, the pro-life medical organization provides free services to women experiencing crisis pregnan cies and has saved more than 20,000 babies.

CEO: Scott Baier 262-6381 940 5th Ave N., Naples supportcpci.com

Community School of Naples

The school is committed to academic excellence. It’s mission is to inspire and empower students to realize their potential as engaged learners and responsible global citizens.

Head of School: Dr. David Watson 597-7575 13275 Livingston Road, Naples communityschoolnaples.org

Conservancy of Southwest Florida

A nonprofit environmental protection organization with a 58-year history focused on the issues impacting the water, land, wildlife and future of the five-county region. The Conservancy accomplishes this mission through the combined efforts of experts in the areas of environmental science,

policy, education and wildlife rehabilitation.

President and CEO: Rob Moher 262-0304

1495 Smith Preserve Way, Naples conservancy.org

Cypress Cove Landkeepers Inc.

Purchases, preserves and restores ecologically sensitive lands and wildlife corridors in Southwest Florida. The Landkeepers manage the 10-acre Gore Nature Education Center in Naples to encourage research, nature education and local habitat exploration.

President: Shane Duff 308-0281

4261 40th Ave. SE, Naples cclandkeepers.com

David Lawrence Centers for Behavioral Health (DLC)

DLC is Collier County’s only comprehensive, nonprofit provider serving children, adults and families with compassionate, advanced mental health, substance use and integrated healthcare solutions. DLC’s innovative treatment includes inpatient, outpatient, residential and community-based care.

President and CEO: Scott Burgess 455-8500

6075 Bathey Lane, Naples dlcenters.org

Empty Bowls Naples, Inc. An all-volunteer 501c organization fighting to end hunger “one bowl” at a time. Empty Bowls funds grants for agencies that distribute food to those in need in Collier and Lee Counties. So far the team has distributed more than $642,000 to Commu nity Cooperative’s Meals of Hope, Midwest Food Bank, St. Matthew’s House and The Shelter for Abused Women and Children.

President: Betsy L Dawson 591-8848

2221 Corporation Blvd., Naples emptybowlsnaples.com

English-Speaking Union, Naples Branch

The goal is to promote literacy and foster global understanding by providing education and cultural opportunities for students, educators and members.

President: Pamela Voss 330-2533

P.O. Box 413005, PMB 22, Naples esuus.org

Everglades Society for Historic Preservation

Strives to preserve historic sites, structures, documents,

For the Love of Cats is on a mission to find homes for all stray felines in the Marco Island area.

artifacts, and memories within the Everglades Area. The society is currently restoring the 1927 Bank of Everglades Building and operates the Visitor Center in Everglades City.

President: Patty Huff 719-0020

P.O. Box 46, Everglades City eshp.org

Feral Felines

Cares for stray cats in the Everglades area with a neu ter/spay/release program and daily feeding follow-up.

President: Barbara Lewinski 243-2226, 695-2905

24 Spoonbill Ave., Chokoloskee

First Tee Naples

A positive youth development organization integrating golf with nine core values. The organization creates active learning experiences that build inner strength, self-confidence, resilience and prepares kids and teens for life, school and careers.

Executive Director: Cindy Darland 825-4851

1370 Creekside Blvd., Naples firstteenaplescollier.org

For the Love of Cats

As a rescue group since 2002, the nonprofit saves cats and kittens throughout

the community with pro grams to help community cats and senior cats, as well as providing pet food and assistance to help families keep their pets.

Founder: Jan Rich 642-8674

P.O. Box 1777, Marco Island fortheloveofcatsfl.com

Foundation of Collier County Medical Society (CCMS)

The mission of the Founda tion of CCMS is to provide support and leadership programs that address access to healthcare and

promote health education.

Contributions help provide scholarships for students pursuing careers in health care, support health educa tion programs and fund local healthcare programs in need.

Executive Director: April Donahue 435-7727

88 12th St. N., Unit 200, Naples ccmsfoundation.org

Freedom Waters Foundation

The foundation improves the lives of individuals and vet erans with special needs and

serious illnesses by providing therapeutic marine-related experiences on the water.

Founder and Executive Di rector: Debra Frenkel, LCSW 263-2377

895 10th St. S., Suite 302-F, Naples freedomwatersfoundation.org

Friends of the Collier County Museum Inc.

Since 1986, the group has contributed funds, profes sional services and countless volunteer hours to support the museums’ collections, exhibitions, programs and

restoration projects.

Executive Director: William Dwight 248-866-4364

P.O. Box 2181, Naples foccm.com

Friends of Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park

Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park is one of the last remain ing underdeveloped barrier islands in Collier County.

Funds raised through volunteer activities are used to improve park facilities and provide necessary amenities.

President: Ursula Gibbons

Hundreds of children in Southwest Florida have suffered abuse and neglect, and they desperately need your help. Contact us today to change a life for good.

855.933.KIDS

Social

— The Nonprofits

Nonprofits, such as Fun Time Early Childhood Academy, provide affordable, quality education to underserved youth.

287-7826

11135 Gulf Shore Drive

North, Naples delnor-wiggins.org

Friends of Fakahatchee, Inc

Provides financial and volun teer support to Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park. Educates the public about the park’s importance in the Everglades, its ecology and cultural heritage.

President: Francine Stevens 695-1023

P.O. Box 35, Everglades City orchidswamp.org

Friends of Foster Children Forever

The Friends strive to fulfill the needs of children in the foster care system throughout Collier County.

Executive Director: Ann Hughes 262-1808

3050 Horseshoe Drive N., Suite 260, Naples friendsoffosterchildren.net

Friends of the Library of Collier County

Supports the 10-branch library through major funding for e-books, providing return postage on CCPL lending services to homebound patrons, supporting branch enhancements for tangible items not covered in the

library budget, sponsoring library events, and funding genealogy software and research material.

President: Kenneth Assal 262-8135

650 Central Ave., Naples collier-friends.org

Friends of the Museum of the Everglades

Provides financial and volun teer support to keep history alive in the local museum, founded in 1998.

President: Vicky Wells 252-5026

P.O. Box 677, Everglades City evergladesmuseum.org

Friends of the River of Grass Greenway (FROGG)

FROGG is committed to establishing the safe use of US 41 across the Everglades between Naples and Miami, as well as focusing on safety and environmental education and stewardship for those hiking, walking, and cycling throughout the area.

Board Chair: Patricia Huff 719-0020

P.O. Box 5031, Everglades City evergladesrogg.org

Friends of Rookery Bay

The Friends connect people with the dynamic coastal environment in support of Rookery Bay National Estua

rine Research Reserve.

Executive Director: Athan Barkoukis 530-5940

300 Tower Road, Naples rookerybay.org

Fun Time Early Childhood Academy, Inc. The mission is to provide quality, affordable education for children and parents from low-income working families. Fun Time prepares children for kindergarten so that they’re ready to read and ready to learn.

Executive Director: Jessica Campbell 261-8284

102 12th St. N., Naples funtimeacademy.org

Golden PAWS

Assistance Dogs

This organization, which re cently opened a new center in Naples, promotes independ ence for combat wounded veterans and children with life-changing disabilities through assistance dogs. Founder and Executive Director: Jeannie Bates 775-1660

3645 Gateway Lane, Naples goldenpaws.org

Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples (CMON) CMON celebrates the natural

curiosity of children by offer ing a dynamic educational space that encourages exploration and discovery. This safe and wonderful place inspires children and families to have fun while learning together.

CEO: Jonathan Foerster 514-0084

15080 Livingston Road, Naples cmon.org

Grace Place for Children and Families

The nonprofit designs programs to serve Golden Gate families, with education programs for early childhood and adults. The mission is to cultivate an educational environment within house holds by engaging parents. The food pantry supports Grace Place’s mission by serving more than 2,500 families a year.

Executive Director: Lara Fisher 255-7220

4300 21st Ave. S.W., Naples graceplacenaples.org

Guadalupe Center, Inc Guadalupe Center is a Collier County-based nonprofit organization with a mission of breaking the cycle of poverty through education for the children of Immokalee.

President and CEO: Dawn Montecalvo 657-7711

509 Hope Circle, Immokalee guadalupecenter.org

Gulf Coast Big Band Inc.

The band plays six free jazz concerts in Cambier Park each season. The 17-piece group, under the direction of popular trumpeter Dan Miller, loves performing the music of such greats as Ellington and Basie for Naples audiences. Through the years, the band has provided more than $80,000 in scholarships for young Collier County jazz musicians, and these students have often played with the group at its concerts.

Conductor: Dan Miller 234-7630

255 Deerwood Circle, #4, Naples gulfcoastbigband.com

Gulfshore Playhouse

Naples’ premier professional regional theatre, committed to enriching the region’s cultural landscape through world-class productions and impactful education programs. These programs are elegant, inspiring, uplifting and thought-provoking.

CEO and Producing Artistic Director: Kristen Coury

261-7529

2640 Golden Gate Parkway, Suite 211, Naples gulfshoreplayhouse.org

Habitat for Humanity of Collier County

By partnering with donors and volunteers, Habitat Col lier provides homeownership opportunities for families in the Naples and Immokalee communities. Families qualify and invest sweat equity before purchasing their home with an affordable mortgage.

CEO: Rev. Lisa Lefkow 775-0036

11145 Tamiami Trail East, Naples Habitatcollier.Org

Hadassah Collier/ Lee Chapter Fighting for Holocaust and anti-hate education funding in schools, uncovering ground breaking medical research, or setting a young person on a path to success—Hadassah’s global impact brings healing to the world.

President: Joyce Toub 269-3666

3468 Donoso Court, Naples hadassah.org

Healthcare Network of Southwest Florida

Celebrating 45 years of care,

Social Register — The Nonprofits

Healthcare Network is a non profit organization working to ensure primary medical care is accessible to everyone in the community, regardless of job or insurance status.

President and CEO: Jamie Ulmer 658-3000

1454 Madison Ave. West, Immokalee healthcareswfl.org

Heil Luthringer Foundation, Inc.

The Heil Luthringer Foundation for MS provides multiple sclerosis education to afflicted individuals and their families, the local community, and healthcare professionals. Co-founder and President: Dr. Debbie Heil 595-7179

11623 Useppa Court, Naples empowermenteducation.org

Help A Diabetic Child (HADC) Foundation Inc.

HADC strives to ease the financial and emotional bur den for children and young adults living with diabetes.

Founder: Tami Balavage 821-5051

P.O. Box 110161, Naples helpadiabeticchild.org

Hope for Haiti Inc. Works to improve the lives of people living in Haiti—

particularly children —by helping community leaders in rural areas improve education, healthcare, infrastructure, access to clean water and economic opportunity.

CEO: Skyler Badenoch 434-7183

1021 5th Ave. N., Naples hopeforhaiti.com

Humane Society Naples Inc. An independent nonprofit serving the public by provid ing care, shelter and home placement for orphaned animals in the Collier County area through pet adoptions. The organization never plac es a time limit on how long dogs, cats and other pets stay at the shelter. Humane Society is supported solely by donations.

Executive Director: Sarah Baeckler 643-1555

370 Airport-Pulling Road N., Naples hsnaples.org

JDRF

The world’s largest nonprofit funder of Type 1 diabetes (T1D) research. While the focus is on finding and funding a cure, the team also works to support and improve the lives of those living with T1D.

Executive Director:

Kathleen Cleeland 591-2825

3369 Pine Ridge Road, Suite 202, Naples jdrf.org

KOVA Foundation

The foundation inspires hope, enhances the quality of life and contributes to nonprofit organizations for individuals and families in need, giving 100 percent of donations to the causes.

Chairwoman: Lisa Emma 61-2627

9130 Galleria Court, Suite 100, Naples kovafoundation.org

Lighthouse of Collier, Inc.

The independence is the mission. We offer programs and services, at no charge, to help the blind and visually impaired become independ ent in Collier County.

CEO: Scott Flagel 430-3934

2685 Horseshoe Drive S., Suite 101, Naples lighthouseofcollier.org

Literacy Volunteers of Collier County

Provides literacy services for children and adults, improving their English skills and enhancing the lives of students and their families.

Executive Director:

Susan Spry 262-4448

8833 Tamiami Trail E., Naples collierliteracyvolunteers.org

March of Dimes

Leads the fight for the health of all moms and babies.

The team supports research, lead programs, provides education and advocates so that every family has the best possible start.

Executive Director: Austin Simon 380-0388 marchofdimes.org

Marco Island Historical Society

The mission is to preserve and share the history and heritage of Marco Island and the surrounding area.

CEO: Patricia Rutledge 389-6447 180 South Heathwood Drive, Marco Island themihs.org

Marco Island Shell Club Inc.

The mission is to promote the study, conservation, his tory, and science of seashells and mollusks, and to encourage shell-related interests, such as shell col lecting, crafting and shell art.

President: Cindy Wesolowski P.O. Box 633, Marco Island marcoshellclub.com

Magee-Womens Research Institute/Foundation

Based in Pittsburgh, the foundation hosts a women’s symposium in Naples, and conducts research dedicat ed to women’s health and reproductive biology.

CEO: Michael Annichine 412-641-6091

3240 Craft Place, Suite 100 Pittsburgh, PA mageewomens.org

Naples Art

An award-winning nonprofit that has served and enriched the community since 1954, with classes and workshops for adults and children of all levels, an ARTScool summer youth arts education pro gram, exhibitions throughout the year, a myriad of collab orative outreach programs with area nonprofits, and an annual outdoor art shows.

Executive Director and Chief Curator: Frank Verpoorten 262-6517

585 Park St., Naples naplesart.org

Naples Botanical Garden

A 170-acre garden featuring plants from around the world, with a mission to develop and conserve collec tions and habitats represent ative of the flora and cultures between the 26th latitudes. It

Nonprofits, like the Marco Island Shell Club and Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum, focus on our region’s wealth of mollusks.

Social

provides arts, culture, educa tion, conservation, wellness and volunteer programs.

President and CEO: Donna McGinnis 643-7275

4820 Bayshore Drive, Naples naplesgarden.org

Naples Children & Education Foundation Inc.

The foundation improves the educational, emotional and health outcomes of children in the community. Since its inception, NCEF has impact ed the lives of more than 275,000 local children.

CEO: Maria Jimenez-Lara 514-2239

2590 Goodlette-Frank Road, Naples napleswinefestival.com

Naples Concert Band Inc.

Now in its 51st season, the Naples Concert Band is a nonprofit organization dedicated to entertaining the community with monthly Concerts in the Park during season at Cambier Park.

President: Dave Drewek 270-1221

P.O. Box 31, Naples naplesconcertband.org

Naples Garden Club, Inc.

A community-oriented charitable and educational organization fostering appre

ciation and understanding of horticulture, design, and the environment by providing opportunities for learning and sharing. 262-1272

4820 Bayshore Drive, Naples naplesgardenclub.org

Naples Historical Society

The society is the central voice of Naples history. It also runs the Historic Palm Cottage, which is considered the portal to the city’s past.

President and CEO: Elaine Reed 261-8164

137 12th Ave. S., Naples napleshistoricalsociety.org

Naples Jazz Society, Inc.

Founded in 1995 to promote jazz music—specifically the American music popular between 1890 and 1940— in Southwest Florida. The society hosts performances by Happy Jazz Band, The Naples Dixieland Jazz Band and The Naples Jazzmasters Dixieland Band.

President: Lois Kehoe 327-3835

3836 Jungle Plum Drive E., Naples naplesjazzsociety.com

Naples Lions Club

The primary goal is to preserve the sight and

hearing of individuals in need through funding, completing eye exams, providing glasses, eye surgery and hearing aids for adults and children.

President: Austin Raabe 566-7846

P.O. Box 110474, Naples napleslionsclub.com

Naples Senior Center at JFCS, Inc.

Enriches the lives of adults 60 and older by providing comprehensive programs and services to support and strengthen these adults and their families, often at times of vulnerability and crisis.

CEO: Dr. Jaclynn Faffer 325-4444

5025 Castello Drive, Naples naplesseniorcenter.org

Naples Therapeutic Riding Center

The center exists to improve the lives of children and adults with physical, social and mental health needs through therapeutic riding and other equine programs.

Executive Director: Martin de St. Pierre 596-2988

206 Ridge Drive, Naples naplestherapeuticriding center.org

Naples Woman’s Club

An organization dedicated

to enhancing the community through philanthropic activ ities and volunteer service.

The nonprofit hosts events during the year to support charitable causes and build friendships among women.

President: Patti Taylor 262-6331

570 Park St., Naples napleswomansclub.org

Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens

The zoo’s mission is to inspire people of all ages to respect, value, and help conserve wildlife and the natural world.

President and CEO: Jack Mulvena 262-5409 1590 Goodlette-Frank Road, Naples napleszoo.org

NCH Healthcare System

Established in 1956, the locally governed, nonprofit cares for patients throughout South west Florida. Philanthropic support from the community has grown the hospital from a small 50-bed operation to a nationally recognized 716-bed, two-hospital healthcare system. It’s now embarking on one of the most significant undertakings yet: redefining NCH as an advanced commu nity health system.

President and CEO: Paul Hiltz

624-2000

350 7th St. N., Naples nchmd.org

Neighborhood Health Clinic

Delivers quality medical and dental care to low-income, working, uninsured Collier County adults with a profes sional volunteer staff, funded by private philanthropy.

CEO: Leslie Lascheid 261-6600

88 12th St. N., Naples neighborhoodhealthclinic.org

New Horizons of Southwest Florida Inc.

Changes the lives of underresourced students by providing tutoring, mentoring and character-building programs at its trusted neighborhood clubs.

Executive Director: Linda M. Cunning 948-4146

P.O. Box 111833, Naples newhorizonsofswfl.org

Opera Naples, Inc.

A community-based, nonprofit arts organization rooted in volunteerism, education and world-class opera performances. The troupe produces a full season of opera and concerts at the Wang Opera Center and the Festival Under the Stars outdoor opera series.

Chairman: Larry Ost 963-9050

2408 Linwood Ave., Naples operanaples.org

Pace Center for Girls, Inc. –Pace Collier at Immokalee Pace Collier at Immokalee provides girls and young women an opportunity for a better future through education, counseling, training and advocacy.

Executive Director: Marianne Kearns 842-5406

160 N. 1st St., Immokalee pacecenter.org

Pan-Florida Challenge

This organization funds cancer-prevention research, patient support and provides cancer-fighting food to hungry children statewide.

Executive Director: Jeri Goetz 298-1620 2097 Trade Center Way, Suite D, Naples panfloridachallenge.org

PANIRA Healthcare Clinic, Inc. Fundraising event to support the Clinic’s needs.

CEO and President: Lawrence Egger 529-5580 4975 East Tamiami Trail, Naples panirahealthcareclinic.org

Parkinson’s Association of Southwest Florida

Provides proven and effec tive programs and services that educate, enrich and empower people affected by Parkinson’s Disease and related neurodegenerative diseases, improving their quality of life.

Executive Director: Mary C Schoeffel, CFRE 417-3465

2575 Northbrooke Plaza Drive, Building 300, Suite #301, Naples parkinsonassociationswfl.org

Path2Freedom, Inc.

The organization is working to create hope and healing for child survivors of human trafficking by providing safe environments and long-term programs for recovery.

President and Founder: Ana Stevenson 425-1298 1200 Goodlette Road N., #9916, Naples Path2Freedom.org

Pathways Early Education Center of Immokalee

As a leader in NCEF’s Early Learning Initiative, Pathways collaborates with other nonprofits to implement groundbreaking programs that close education gaps with high-quality early

learning programs.

Director of Development: Brandon Dowdy 261-1774 4060 Tamiami Trail North, Unit 1, Naples pathwaysearlyeducation.org

Project HELP, Inc.

Committed to providing hope, empowerment and healing to those affected by sexual violence, sudden death and other crimes.

Project HELP provides free counseling, advocacy services and a 24-hour Crisis & Referral Helpline.

Executive Director: Eileen Wesley 649-1404 3050 Horseshoe Dr. N., Suite 280, Naples projecthelpnaples.org

Providence House

Provides a faith-based, transitional housing and self-sufficiency program for motivated mothers who are homeless or at risk of becom ing homeless.

Executive Director: Carol Hollander 692-8779 P.O. Box 128, Naples providencehousenaples.org

RCMA

Established in 1965 and headquartered in Im

mokalee, it’s Florida’s largest nonprofit provider of early childhood education and a nationally-recognized charter school operator.

Executive Director: Isabel Garcia 800-282-6540

402 W. Main St., Immokalee rcma.org

Ricky King Children’s Fund

The fund empowers families of sick, dying and disabled children, with essential services and medical equipment that these families otherwise could not afford. All boys and girls deserve a happy and healthy childhood, including those with special needs. This organization is the last hope for many families in need.

Executive Director: Jennifer Weidenbruch 449-0209

625 9th St. North, Suite 203, Naples rickykingfund.org

Royal Palm Academy

A pre-K through eighth grade independent Catholic school committed to provid ing an extraordinary educa tion with rich academics and strong character formation.

Head of School: Michael Bussman 594-9888

16100 Livingston Road, Naples royalpalmacademy.org

Saint Ann School Foundation, Inc.

An independent nonprofit foundation dedicated to ensuring that faith-based education remains accessible to all families that desire it, regardless of income.

Executive Director: Pamela Macia 262-4110

475 Ninth Ave. S., Naples foundationstann.org

Sampson’s International Nursing Society

The mission is to provide student nurses the opportu nity to achieve their dream profession by providing scholarship grants and to serve local, state and international student nurses.

Executive Director: Linda Hill 370-7133

4400 23rd Ave. SW, Naples sampsons-nurses.org

Seacrest Country Day School

An early-learning through high school college-preparatory school committed to intellec tual engagement, ownership, and quality of character.

Head of School: Steven Caruso 793-1986

7100 Davis Blvd., Naples seacrest.org

Shy Wolf Sanctuary Education & Experience Center

The nonprofit’s mission is to heal hearts and minds through rescue, sanctuary and education. The center teaches about captive-bred exotic animal rescue, while also helping animals in need.

Executive Director: Deanna Deppen 749-9653

P.O. Box 3032, Naples shywolfsanctuary.org

Southwest Florida Music Education Center

In partnership with the Berklee Institute for Arts Education and Special Needs, SWFLMEC provides life-changing post-secondary music education for neurodi vergent young adults, creating new pathways to success, fulfillment, and employment.

Vice President: Jennifer Clark 205-8258

5551 Ridgewood Drive, Suite 102, Naples swflmusic.org

Special Olympics FloridaCollier County

Provides year-round sports training and athletic competition for individuals with intellectual disabilities

by giving them continued opportunities to share gifts, skills, and friendship.

Regional Director, West Coast: Megan Bosi 300-1927

27299 Riverview Center Blvd., Suite 106, Bonita Springs specialolympicsflorida.org

St. Elizabeth Seton School

Since 1981, the school has offered excellent academics in a caring family community of faith, tradition and values for grades PK3 – eighth.

Principal: Maria Niebuhr, M.Ed. 455-2262

2730 53rd Terrace SW, Naples saintelizabethseton.com

St. John Neumann

Catholic High School

Committed to providing a rigorous, college preparatory education rooted in Gospel values and the educational philosophy of St. John Bosco.

Principal: Sister Patricia Roche 455-3044 3000 53rd St. SW, Naples sjnceltics.org

St. Matthew’s House Inc. This nonprofit provides innovative, compassionate and disciplined solutions for

those experiencing hunger, homelessness, poverty and addiction. Through multi ple locations, it operates shelters, a recovery program, thrift shops, a car detailing center, catering company, a new restaurant—all of which offer job opportunities.

CEO: Steven Brooder 774-0500

2001 Airport-Pulling Road S., Naples stmatthewshouse.org

St. Vincent de Paul Society Naples

A network of friends, inspired

by Gospel values, building a more just world through per sonal relationships with, and service to, people in need. Principal: Kimberly Schul 775-2907

4451 Mercantile Ave., Naples svdpnaples.org

STARability Foundation

STARability Foundation exists to transform the lives of individuals with disabilities through social, vocational, and educational connections to the community, while strengthening awareness and respect for individuals with

different abilities.

Executive Director: Karen Govern 594-9007

5125 Castello Drive, Naples STARability.org

Storytellers Creative Arts

A faith-based outreach organization that uses the arts to transform the lives of underprivileged children and their families, as well as people battling addiction in Southwest Florida. Through its community programs and partnerships, Storytellers has touched more than

4,000 lives.

Executive Director: Dr. William S. Barnett 287-7331 P.O. Box 111742, Naples scanaples.org

Sunlight Home

A home and family for at-risk or homeless pregnant mothers and their children. Through mentoring and a structured program, Sunlight breaks the cycle of abuse and poverty.

Executive Director: Carmen Cisneros 352-0251

P.O. Box 9194, Naples sunlighthome.org

Taste the Impact

A youth entrepreneurship program with a mission to provide motivated high school students with hands-on experience in all aspects of business and career readiness skills, which will empower them to change their lives.

Executive Director: Marie Capita 297-6814

2221 Corporation Blvd., Naples tastetheimpact.org

The Alliance For Florida National Parks

The official philanthropic partner for Florida’s Everglades, Biscayne and Dry Tortugas National Parks, as well as Big Cypress National Preserve. The

Alliance supports programs through environmental education, exploration, preservation and protection, restoration and engagement.

Executive Director: Juan Cuet 665-4769

1390 S. Dixie Highway Suite 2217, Coral Gables floridanationalparks.org

The Archangel Fund for Collier County Charities

Administered by Trinity-bythe-Cove Episcopal Church, the fund supports programs to improve lives in under privileged communities. Last year, more than $130,000 was granted to Collier County charities.

Rector: Edward Gleason 262-6581

553 Galleon Drive, Naples artofgivingnaples.org

The Everglades Foundation

The foundation works to protect and restore America’s Everglades through science, advocacy and education.

By coupling science with policy expertise, they are positioned as one of the most influential leaders in the fight to preserve and restore these unique wetlands.

Executive Director: Eric Eikenberg 206-1685

18001 Old Cutler Road, Suite 625, Palmetto Bay evergladesfoundation.org

The Fresh Start Fund for Survivors of Abuse

Collier Community Foundation runs this fund, with a mission to support Collier County individu als leaving abusive homes. The fund provides financial grants for expenses such as rent de posits, vehicle down-payments, education and more.

President and CEO: Eileen Connolly-Keesler 649-5000

1110 Pine Ridge Road, Suite 200, Naples freshstartfund.org

The Gene Doyle Memorial Foundation

Created to honor the memory and adventurous spirit of Naples High graduate Gene Doyle, the foundation awards the Gene Doyle Adventure Scholarship to Collier County high school juniors and sen iors and college freshmen. 784-3014

P.O. Box 7225, Naples genedoyle.org

The Holocaust Museum & Janet G. and Harvey D. Cohen Education Center

For more than 20 years the center has shared the important lessons of the Holocaust and respect for others through educational partnerships with Southwest Florida communities, teachers and students.

President and CEO: Susan L. Suarez 263-9200

975 Imperial Golf Course Blvd., Suite 108, Naples hmcec.org

The Immokalee Foundation

Since 1991, the foundation

has supported the edu cational and professional development of Immokalee’s youth, from kindergarten to postsecondary education, providing students with the resources and training to follow their educational and career pathways.

President and CEO: Noemi Y. Perez 430-9122

2375 Tamiami Trail North, Suite 308, Naples immokaleefoundation.org

The League Club

An organization of women in Southwest Florida working to strengthen communities through fellowship, edu cation, volunteerism and philanthropy. Membership is open to women who have been active members of a Junior League. Junior Leagues must also be mem bers of the Association of Junior Leagues International.

President: Denise Hadley 353-3100

P.O. Box 413005-203, Naples leagueclub.org

The Naples Players

The nonprofit troupe seeks to enrich, educate and enter tain the community through a superior theatre experi ence. With a big expansion on the horizon, The Naples

Players inspires passion for the performing arts through unparalleled access to the process, experience and conversations surrounding the arts and the community.

CEO and Executive Artistic Director: Bryce Alexander 434-7340

701 5th Ave. S., Naples naplesplayers.org

The Patriot Fund

The fund serves the nation by honoring military veterans and their families, hosting fundraising events designed to inspire and educate the community about the needs of the local veterans. It part ners with reputable charities that passionately deliver immediate and long-lasting impacts.

Executive Director: William Markham 597-8410

P.O. Box 1818, Mount Laurel patriotfund.org

The Shelter for Abused Women & Children

The Shelter leads and collab orates with the community to prevent, protect and prevail over domestic violence and human trafficking. The nonprofit accomplishes this by providing two emergency shelters, nine transitional living cottages and more

than 30 programs and services including its resale store, The Shelter Options Shoppe. CEO: Linda Oberhaus 775-3862

P.O. Box 10102, Naples naplesshelter.org

The Village School of Naples

An independent, faith-based, Pre-K through 12th grade institution that provides students with a rich and varied curriculum of academ ics, arts and athletics.

Head of School: Dennis Chapman 593-7686

6000 Goodlette Road N., Naples villageschoolnaples.org

Trinity Life Foundation (TLF) Naples

The foundation is largely based on the principle of making a difference in the lives of at-risk youth in Collier County and acts as a source between the Juvenile Justice System and local agencies that provide support.

Founder and CEO: Bishop R.L. Neal 543-6181

480 Terracina Way, Naples trinitylifefoundation.org

Voices of Naples

Formed in 2002 to provide an opportunity for singers in Collier and Lee Counties to study and perform a variety of choral music, there are now 70 singers performing in this musical nonprofit group. 293-0645

2249 Clipper Way, Naples voicesofnaples.org

Wellfit Girls Program SWFL

Wellfit provides an adventur ous and meaningful leadership, fitness and empowerment program, specifically designed to combine adventure and experiential learning to empower girls and their belief in themselves. The curriculum challenges girls to step out of their comfort zone and become confident and empowered leaders. Executive Director: Tracey Williams 438-1079

6240 Shirley St., #204, Naples wellfitgirls.org

Women’s Foundation of Collier County (WFCC) WFCC is a catalyst for change in the lives of women and girls in Collier County. The group promotes this change through grantmaking, advocacy and education.

President and CEO: Eileen Connolly-Keesler 649-5000

1110 Pine Ridge Road, Suite 200, Naples wfcollier.org

YMCA of Collier County

The mission is put Judeo-Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all.

CEO: Cindy Love-Abounader 394-9622

101 Sand Hill St., Marco Island ymca.org

Youth Haven, Inc. Set on a verdant campus, Youth Haven is Southwest Florida’s only residential shelter for boys and girls ages 10-19 who have been removed from their homes due to abuse, neglect, aban donment or homelessness.

CEO: Linda Goldfield 774-2904

5867 Whitaker Road, Naples youthhavenswfl.org

LEE COUNTY

Abuse Counseling and Treatment (ACT), Inc. ACT serves victims of domestic violence and their children and survivors of human trafficking in Lee,

Hendry and Glades Counties.

Executive Director: Jennifer L. Benton 939-2553

P.O. Box 60401, Fort Myers actabuse.com

Alliance for the Arts Inc.

A visual and performing arts center that aims to enrich the community through the arts. The Alliance provides a creative space with a year-round programming, from classes to exhibitions to theatrical performances on its indoor-outdoor campus.

Executive Director: Molly Deckart 939-2787

10091 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers artinlee.org

Alliance for Period Supplies of SWFL

The alliance consistently provides period products to the two-in-five women and girls in our communities who cannot afford to purchase this basic necessity.

President: Dusti Beaubien 877-2528

20110 Riverbrooke Run, Estero apsofswfl.org

American Cancer Society

The mission is to save and celebrate lives, and lead

the fight for a world without cancer. Though the head quarters are in Tampa, the Society hosts fundraisers in the Naples and Fort Myers areas to support locals. Associate Director of Devel opment: Nina Gasparrini 321-5018

12810 USF Magnolia Drive, Tampa cancer.org

American Heart Association

This preeminent volunteer organization is known for its dedication to fighting heart disease and stroke. This chapter provides Southwest Florida residents with resources to live longer, healthier lives.

Executive Director: Kelly Glewa 495-4904

9200 Estero Park Commons Blvd., #7, Estero heart.org

Animal Refuge Center (ARC)

The center is Southwest Flori da’s largest no-kill shelter. It rescues, rehabilitates and re-homes pets in need. ARC maintains 23 acres, complete with 15 cat buildings and 40 dog lodges for homeless animals.

Executive Director: Peggy Gore 731-3535

18011 Old Bayshore Road, North Fort Myers animalrefugecenter.com

Asian Professionals Associa tion of SWFL (APASWFL) This nonprofit provides eco nomic, social, intellectual and cultural enrichment for the local Asian American commu nity to promote personal and professional growth.

Vice President: Pearl Cruz 771-9911

13650 Fiddlesticks Blvd., Suite 202-328, Fort Myers apaswfl.org

Barbara’s Friends

The nonprofit provides equipment, staffing and services to support lifesaving cancer care at Golisano

Children’s Hospital. The Pediatric Hematology/ Oncology Program is the only program of its kind in Southwest Florida.

Chief Development, Marketing and Communica tion Officer: Chris Simoneau 343-6950

9800 South HealthPark Drive, Suite 405, Fort Myers barbarasfriends.org

Best Buddies

Southwest Florida

Best Buddies provides social enrichment and relationship-

building for children and adults with and without intel lectual and developmental disabilities. The organization encourages leadership devel opment among its members.

Area Director: Melanie Musick 275-2510

5237 Summerlin Commons Blvd., #105, Fort Myers bestbuddies.org

BIG ARTS

As part of the Barrier Island Group for the Arts Inc., its vision is to create great arts, entertainment, programs and learning experiences to inspire, enrich and delight in Sanibel and Captiva.

Executive Director: Lee Ellen Harder 395-0900

900 Dunlop Road, Sanibel bigarts.org

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast - Lee County

The team matches youth with adult volunteers for a mean ingful, enduring mentorship to help students achieve confidence, improved rela tionships and bright futures.

Regional Director: Kelly Palmer 288-4224

8280 College Parkway, #201, Fort Myers bbbssun.org

Bobby Nichols—Fiddlesticks Charity Foundation

This foundation organizes an annual Pro-Am golf event, tennis tournament and auction to benefit charities that serve abused and at-risk children.

President: Mike Lancellot (941) 363-1215

15391 Cannongate Drive, Fort Myers nicholscup.org

Bonita Springs Assistance Office

Assists residents facing finan cial hardships due to crisis. Additional resources include a food pantry, annual Toys for Tots drive and monthly Senior Care and Share to distribute healthy food and hygiene essentials.

President: Teri Lamaine 992-3034

25300 Bernwood Drive, #6, Bonita Springs bonitaassistance.org

Bonita Springs Historical Society

Works to preserve, protect and promote the city’s rich heritage and operates the 1915 McSwain Home in the historic downtown area.

President: Derrick Botana 992-6997

P.O. Box 3015, Bonita Springs bonitaspringshistorical society.org

Bonita Springs YMCA

This nonprofit organization provides people of all ages and backgrounds access to its programs and services, regardless of economic status; includes the Suwyn Early Learning Center.

Executive Director: Angel Cerritos 221-7560

27200 Kent Road, Bonita Springs ymcaswfl.org

Bonita Wonder Gardens

The property showcases the region’s rare and singular species, with beautiful flora growing in the botanical gar den and habitats for rescued, unreleasable animals.

Executive Director: Neil Anderson 992-2591

27180 Old 41 Road, Bonita Springs wondergardens.org

Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County

The club works with youth in Lee County, empowering them to reach their full potential, both personally and within their communities.

CEO: Denise Gergley 334-1886

P.O. Box 62736, Fort Myers bgclee.org

Cancer Alliance of Naples (CAN)

CAN provides non-medical financial aid, resources, and support to children and adults battling cancer in Lee and Collier counties.

Director of Programs: Neftali Feliciano 643-4673

3384 Woods Edge Circle, Suite 102, Bonita Springs cancerallianceofnaples.com

The Canterbury School Inc. Provides a rigorous college preparatory curriculum in an atmosphere emphasizing character, leadership and service. Teachers strive to prepare students for success in the most demanding post-secondary institutions and professions.

Executive Director: Jessica Wells

Phone: 481-4323

8141 College Parkway, Fort Myers canterburyfortmyers.org

Cape Coral Caring Center, Inc. This emergency pantry service provides food and other necessities to those experi encing crises, from illness to job loss.

Executive Director: Julie Ferguson 945-1927

1420 SE 47th St., Cape Coral capecoralcaringcenter.org

Cape Coral Community Foundation Inc.

Fosters a healthy and dynamic community where people are inspired to support, strength en and enrich the quality of life through generosity and civic engagement throughout Southwest Florida.

Artis—Naples, The Baker Museum recently added works from Naples’ Mally Khorasantchi to its permanent collection.

CEO: Michael Chatman 542-5594

1405 SE 47th St., Suite 2, Cape Coral capecoralcf.org

Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife, Inc.

By fostering education and preservation efforts, the Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife protects the area wildlife, such as the burrowing owl and gopher tortoise.

President: Pascha Donalson 980-2593

P.O. Box 152761, Cape Coral ccfriendsofwildlife.org

Captains For Clean Water

This collection of local captains works within the community to restore and protect the area’s aquatic ecosystems through educa tion, awareness, and scientifi cally backed solutions.

Executive Director: Daniel Andrews (866) 670-2329

2031 Jackson St., Fort Myers captainsforcleanwater.org

Centers for the Arts

Bonita Springs

The centers provide resources for individuals to develop and explore visual and per formative artistic expression through its two campus locations and yearround

programming, which includes classes for adults and kids, exhibitions, and theater and musical performances.

President: Susan Bridges 495-8989

26100 Old 41 Road, Bonita Springs artcenterbonita.org

Child Care of Southwest Florida

The nonprofit provides early-childhood education for children between 6 weeks and 8 years old at its learning centers throughout Lee and Hendry Counties.

CEO: Chris Hansen 425-1008

6831 Palisades Park Court, Fort Myers ccswfl.org

Children’s Advocacy Center of Southwest Florida

Offers resources to promote the safety, wellbeing and de velopment of at-risk children and coordinated response services for child victims of neglect and abuse.

CEO: Julie Boudreaux 939-2808

3830 Evans Ave., Fort Myers cac-swfl.org

Children’s Network of Southwest Florida

This leading agency for child welfare provides care for

children adversely affected by abuse and neglect in Southwest Florida.

CEO: Nadereh Salim, MBA 226-1524

2232 Altamont Ave., Fort Myers childnetswfl.org

Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW)

The nonprofit runs a teaching hospital and visitor education center dedicated to saving wildlife through veterinary care, research, education and conservation medicine.

Executive Director: Alison Hussey 472-3644 3883 Sanibel Captiva Road, Sanibel crowclinic.org

Collaboratory

Formerly Southwest Florida Community Foundation, this forward-thinking nonprofit unites residents of all ages, backgrounds, beliefs and im agination together to create solutions to the region’s ma jor social problems by 2040, when today’s newborns will reach adulthood. The team also supports budding business owners and newly formed nonprofits to help achieve this goal.

CEO: Sarah Owen 274-5900

2031 Jackson St., Fort Myers collaboratory.org

Community Cooperative, Inc. The mission is to eliminate hunger and homelessness in Lee County and support sustained positive change by delivering innovative food solutions, education and social service programs.

CEO: Stefanie Ink-Edwards 332-7687

3429 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. communitycooperative.com

CREW Land & Water Trust

A nonprofit dedicated to preservation and stewardship of the Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed through land management and public education.

Executive Director: Robert Lucius 657-2253 23998 Corkscrew Road, Estero crewtrust.org

Dress for Success SW Florida

Works to break the cycle of poverty by providing profes sional attire to help women secure employment, as well as programming that fosters confidence and successful business skills.

Business Development Manager: Nickole Hendra 689-4992

12995 S. Cleveland Ave., #153, Fort Myers dressforsuccess.org

Drug Free Lee Works to reduce substance abuse in Lee County by rais ing awareness of prevention resources through education. Board Chair: Jonathan Engh 560-1929

3763 Evans Ave., #202, Fort Myers drugfreeswfl.org

ECHO, Inc. Operating from its Fort Myers’ test farm, ECHO

combats local and global food insecurity by promoting sustainable, lasting solutions to families and schools.

President and CEO: Dr. Abram Bicksler 543-3246

17391 Durrance Road, North Fort Myers echonet.org

Edison and Ford

Winter Estates

The winter homes of Thom as Edison and Henry Ford contains 20 acres of botanical gardens, a 15,000-squarefoot museum and a research

laboratory.

President and CEO: Michael Flanders 334-7419 2350 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers edisonford.org

Epilepsy Services of Southwest Florida

Provides low or no-cost medical services, prescrip tions and case management for uninsured adults with epilepsy. Free education and prevention programs are offered throughout the year.

Outreach Coordinator: Barbara Coleman 275-4838

4040 Palm Beach Blvd., Suite D, Fort Myers epilepsy-services.org

Family Initiative

Supports youth living with autism and their families through social skills programs, clinical services and commu nity education.

President: David Brown 910-0712

734 SW 4th St., Cape Coral fi-florida.org

NOT DISABILITY

STARability Foundation is shining a light on Ability,

For nearly four decades, STARability Foundation has been shining a light on abilities, not disabilities. Formed by a small community of caring parents, STARability has become one of Southwest Florida’s leading nonprofits. Today, the organization is opening a world of possibilities for hundreds of individuals ages 14 and older by offer ing a variety of inclusive programs focused on vocational training, continuing education, teamwork, social engagement and community involvement. STARability’s compassionate team supports people with disabilities by providing life-transforming opportunities that emphasize teamwork and a connection to the community while strengthening awareness and respect for individual abilities.

“We refer to the individuals in our programs as STARs because they brighten our lives, our community and our world,. Our STARs inspire our work and spark our passion to create new initiatives and to build on the innovative programs that help them thrive. STARs show us again and again the achievements and milestones they can accomplish – reaching new goals each day, developing critical life skills, and laying the foundation for a positive future.”

— KAREN GOVERN, CEO of STARability Foundation

To learn more about the services and program offerings available, please visit STARability.org 5125 Castello Drive, Naples, FL 34103 | 239.594.9007

Social Register — The Nonprofits

Nonprofit music groups, like Gulf Coast Symphony Orchestra, keep the music alive in our region, providing opportunities for local talent and cultural enrichment for audiences.

FISH OF SANIBEL-CAPTIVA

A human services organi zation that provides social services, education and assistance to Sanibel and Captiva residents.

Assistant Executive Director: Maria Espinoza 472-4775

2430-B Periwinkle Way, Sanibel fishofsancap.org

Florida Repertory Theatre

A professional regional theater company committed to improving the quality of

life in the Southwest Florida community by making theat rical arts accessible to all.

Executive Director: John Martin 332-4665

2268 Bay St., Fort Myers floridarep.org

Fort Myers Beach Art Association and Gallery

Led entirely by volunteers, the gallery promotes the arts within the Fort Myers Beach community. Programming includes workshops, exhibits, a studio space and classes.

President: Star Sherwood 463-3909

3030 Shell Mound Blvd., Fort Myers Beach fortmyersbeachart.com

Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida

A Chidlren’s Miracle Network

Hospital with comprehensive pediatric services, including a 24-hour emergency depart ment, hematology-oncology unit, milk lab, Regional Per inatal Intensive Care Center and Level III NICU with 70 private rooms.

Chief Development, Mar keting and Communication

Officer: Chris Simoneau 343-6950

9800 South HealthPark Drive, Suite 405, Fort Myers givegolisano.org

Grand Piano Series

The mission is to preserve and present musical literature featuring artists of the high est caliber and enrich the SWFL community through active outreach and student and senior engagement.

Executive Director: Milana Strezeva (646) 734-8179 grandpianoseries.org

Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce Foundation

This foundation supports the chamber of commerce through educational grants, scholarships and program ming for the Greater Fort Myers business community. Interim President and CEO: Dianna Ryan 332-2930 2310 Edwards Drive, Fort Myers fortmyers.org

Gulf Coast Symphony Orchestra Inc. Contributes to the region’s cultural enrichment by producing and performing

a variety of performances, events, and community and educational projects.

Music Director: Andrew M. Kurtz 277-1700

6314 Corporate Court, Suite #100, Fort Myers gulfcoastsymphony.org

Gulfshore Opera Serving Collier, Lee and Charlotte Counties, Gulfshore Opera presents the highest quality of opera, theater and classical vocal music perfor mances, and creates a positive social impact through a youth development choral program.

General and Artistic Director: Steffanie Pearce 529-3925

9911 Corkscrew Road, #105, Estero gulfshoreopera.org

Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties

This Christian-based, volunteer-based organization builds homes for those in need and provides service work to communities in Lee and Hendry Counties.

CEO: Becky Lucas 652-0434

1288 N. Tamiami Trail, North Fort Myers habitat4humanity.org

Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida Southwest Florida’s largest hunger-relief nonprofit (and a member of Feeding America) serves Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry and Lee counties.

President and CEO: Richard LeBer 344-7007

3760 Fowler St., Fort Myers harrychapinfoodbank.org

Home Base Florida Veteran and Family Cares

Home Base offers clinical, wellness and education services to veterans, service members and their families.

Senior Director: Armando Hernandez 338-8389

10501 FGCU Blvd. South, Fort Myers homebase.org

Hope Clubhouse of Southwest Florida, Inc. This organization supports adults living with mental illness by connecting them with opportunities for paid employment and access to education, housing, and wellness services.

CEO: Erin Broussard 267-1777

3602 Broadway, Fort Myers hopeclubhouse.org

Hope Healthcare

This nonprofit provides skilled hospice care and support for aging adults and resources to support their family members.

President and CEO: Samira K. Beckwith 482-4673

9470 HealthPark Circle, Fort Myers hopehcs.org

I WILL Mentorship Foundation (IWMF) IWMF uses E-STEM-based programs to promote academic achievement, community involvement and socioeconomic mobility for local youth.

President and CEO: Jesse Bryson 666-8171

3903 Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd., #2, Fort Myers iwmf2.org

IMAG History & Science Center

This interactive history and science education center offers programming and events geared toward all ages.

Executive Director: Matt Johnson 243-0043

2000 Cranford Ave., Fort Myers theimag.org

Interfaith Charities of South Lee

Offers services aimed at combating food and housing insecurity within south Fort Myers and Estero.

Executive Director: Nancy Martin 267-3510

17592 Rockefeller Circle, Fort Myers icslee.org

Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida

Prepares local future leaders and workforce by inspiring students through a diverse group of volunteer role models who teach them how to live, work and prosper in their community.

President and CEO: Angela Fisher 225-2590

13241 University Drive, Suite 102, Fort Myers jaswfl.org

Keep Lee County Beautiful Its volunteers protect Lee County’s natural environ ments through education and projects that promote beautification.

Executive Director: Trish Fancher 334-3488

1415 Colonial Blvd., #2, Fort Myers klcb.org

Social

Nonprofits

Kids’ Minds Matter

An organization dedicated to advancing pediatric mental and behavioral health services; developing clinical pathways to treat patients; enhancing public awareness; and lobbying for systemic change and sustainable funding.

Chief Development, Marketing and Communica tion Officer: Chris Simoneau 343-6950

9800 South HealthPark Drive, Suite 405, Fort Myers kidsmindsmatter.org

Lee Health Foundation

The foundation raises funds for Lee Health, including Cape Coral Hospital, Gulf Coast Medical Center, HealthPark Medical Center, Lee Memorial Hospital and Golisano Children’s Hospital; also provides financial sup port for lifesaving healthcare programs.

Chief Development, Mar keting and Communication Officer: Chris Simoneau 343-6950

9800 South HealthPark Drive, Suite 405, Fort Myers leehealthfoundation.org

Kimmie’s Recovery Zone

Serves people living with mental health issues and substance use disorders.

Peer-based recovery support services include awareness, prevention, education, harm reduction, advocacy and recovery.

Founder: Al Kinkle 451-4915, Fort Myers kimmiesrecoveryzone.org

LARC Inc.

Lee Association for Remarka ble Citizens serves the needs of individuals and families impacted by intellectual and developmental disabilities by celebrating their abilities and creating opportunities for all people in the community.

Executive Director: Angela Katz Phone: 334-6285 2570 Hanson St., Fort Myers larcleecounty.org

Lee BIA Builders Care

The mission is to provide emergency construction

services at no cost to needy and deserving elderly or disabled homeowners and their families, who cannot obtain repairs through traditional means.

Executive Director: Crystal Stouten 938-0056 6835 International Center Blvd., #4, Fort Myers leebuilderscare.com

Lee County Black History Society

The society recognizes and celebrates Black history in Lee County. The team also created and operates the Williams Academy Black His tory Museum in Fort Myers.

Chairman: Charles Barnes 332-8778

1936 Henderson Ave., Fort Myers leecountyblackhistory society.org

Lee Health Foundation

Promotes quality healthcare at Lee Health by raising awareness about the necessity of donation-based funding.

Chief Foundation and Development Officer: Chris Simoneau 343-6950

9800 S. Health Park Drive, #405, Fort Myers leehealthfoundation.org

Multiple Sclerosis Center of Southwest Florida

The center provides disability resources and services—art therapy, exercise, case man agement, support groups— to individuals living with MS.

Executive Director: Kay Jasso 319-0904

3372 Woods Edge Circle, #103, Bonita Springs mscenterswfl.org

Music For Minors Foundation, Inc.

Promotes musical arts in Collier and Lee Counties by providing students with instruments, access to private lessons and college music scholarships.

President: Don Rhynard 273-2250

P.O. Box 1503, Bonita Springs music4minors.org

NAMI Lee, Charlotte and Hendry Counties

This organization is run by and for families, friends and individuals affected by mental illness. NAMI LCH provides advocacy, edu cation, support and public awareness to help build better lives.

Executive Vice President: Vacharee Howard 337-9024

8191 College Parkway Suite 201, Fort Myers namilee.org

Our Mother’s Home of Southwest Florida Inc. Provides a safe and nurturing environment for young moms and their babies in foster care.

Executive Director: Alicia Miller 267-4663

7438 Carrier Road, Fort Myers ourmothershome.org

Pace Center for Girls

The Lee County campus of fers services, counseling and training that empower at-risk girls to succeed academi cally while promoting their emotional wellbeing.

Executive Director: Jennifer Cellitti 425-2366

3800 Evans Ave., Fort Myers pacecenter.org

Providence Compassion Foundation

Supports Southwest Florida’s community of developing athletes and horses with funding for education, training, coaching, compe tition and travel needs. The organization also funds the care of rescue horses and sanctuary animals.

President: Heather Cassese 948-7669

13731 E. Terry St., Bonita Springs providence.org

Rockin’ Christmas Fund, Inc.

The fund awards college scholarships to highachieving students expe riencing sudden loss of a parent. The group is also behind endowments at area high schools and universities.

Executive Director: Victoria Wolanin 225-6100

P.O. Box 1515, Sanibel rockinchristmas.net

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southwest Florida, Inc.

The regional branch of the national nonprofit offers programs that support the health and wellness of families and children in Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry and Lee Counties.

Executive Director: Laura Ragain 437-0202

16100 Roserush Court,

Organizations, such as Senior Friendship Centers in Fort Myers, offer services for elderly care, grief counseling and mental health.

Fort Myers rmhcswfl.org

Sanibel Community Association

The association manages the Sanibel Community House for residents to gather and socialize through education, culture and events.

Executive Director: Teresa Riska-Hall 472-2155

2173 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel sanibelcommunityhouse.net

Sanibel-Captiva Conserva tion Foundation (SCCF)

SCCF works to protect and care for Southwest Florida’s coastal ecosystems through its brand pillars of water quality research, advocacy, coastal wildlife, native land scaping, land preservation and education.

CEO: James Evans 565-3641

P.O. Box 839, Sanibel sccf.org

Senior Friendship Centers Provides assistance to home

Social

bound, low-income adults ages 60 and over through services, including monthly food bags, in-person visits, electrical assistance and a hotline number.

CEO: Erin McLeod 275-1881

12734 Kenwood Lane, Unit 85, Fort Myers friendshipcenters.org

Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center

Dedicated to bringing world-class art events to its restored, state-of-the-art facility, SBDAC presents a wide range of events, includ ing concerts, art exhibitions, galas, lectures and educa tional arts experiences for children and adults.

CEO: James Griffith 333-1933

2301 First St., Fort Myers sbdac.com

Special Equestrians, Inc.

Therapy meets horses at this nonprofit organization, where programs include therapeutic horseback riding, therapeutic carriage driving, hippotherapy and a veterans program.

Executive director: Jan Fifer 226-1221

P.O. Box 61528, Fort Myers specialequestrians.net

SWFL Children’s Charities, Inc.

This organization supports region’s growing pediatric healthcare system through its primary fundraiser, the Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest.

Executive director: Heidi Davis 433-4260

2031 Jackson St., Suite 110, Fort Myers swflwinefest.org

Symphonic Chorale of SWFL, Inc., DBA Choral Artistry

As the tri-county area’s only paid professional core community chorus, Choral Artistry produces concerts and collaborations with other ensembles, along with the annual SingOut! community choral festival.

Board President: Patricia Rice 560-5695

P.O. Box 07105, Fort Myers choralartistry.org

The Dubin Center

A nonprofit organization that provides resources, support groups, educational training and social activities to car egivers and individuals living with dementia in Southwest Florida.

Executive director: Lynne Thorp 437-3007

12685 New Brittany Boulevard, Fort Myers dubincenter.com

The Heights Foundation/ The Heights Center

This organization promotes family and community devel opment within the Harlem Heights neighborhood by providing education, wellness support and access to the arts.

Founder, President and CEO: Kathryn Kelly 482-7706 15570 Hagie Drive, Fort Myers heightsfoundation.org

Think Pineapple Foundation

Think Pineapple works to support and provide relief to local hospitality businesses and industry members in times of crisis.

President: Rafael Feliciano 271-6161

24840 S. Tamiami Trail, Bonita Springs thinkpineapplefoundation.org

Tommy Bohanon Foundation

The foundation helps at-risk youth reach their highest potential on and off the playing field. Since 2017, TBF has dispersed more than half a million dollars back into Southwest Florida’s children.

Executive Director: Katie Schaible Bohanon 671-0441

2031 Jackson St., Suite 180, Fort Myers tommybohanon foundation.org

Turtle Time, Inc. Licensed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, this all-volunteer organization is dedicated to conserving and recovering endangered and threatened marine turtles.

Founder: Eve M. Haverfield 481-5566

3627 Heritage Lane, Fort Myers turtletime.org

United Way of Lee, Hendry, Glades and Okeechobee

Dedicated to improving the quality of life for all people in the community through fundraising, fund distribu tion, community building, volunteer advancement and United Way 211 information and referral.

CEO: Jeannine Joy 433-2000 7273 Concourse Drive, Fort Myers unitedwaylee.org

GIVING

CONSERVANCY OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA

Protecting Southwest Florida is In Our Nature

For nearly 60 years, the Conservancy of Southwest Florida has worked to protect our water, land, wildlife, and future. From the Everglades to the beaches, the herons to our hearts, we are all connected in this uniquely beautiful and complex environment we share.

The Conservancy has a long and distinguished history of advocating for solutions that balance the needs of our growing community and the preservation of our natural resources. It is only when the public stands alongside trusted environmental advocates who pursue science-based policy that together we can shape our future for the benefit of us all.

Most of the Conservancy’s funding comes from generous donations to programs that: treat sick, injured, and orphaned animals; tackle the issues people and wildlife face in the midst of over-development; protect sea turtles and other threatened and endangered species; educate children and adults about our environment; and address water quality issues.

The Conservancy’s special events offer an opportunity to share the mission and goals of the organization with the community. All are welcome to visit and learn more through event attendance and sponsorships. Magic Under the Mangroves is one of Southwest Florida’s premier fundraising events and has raised $17 million for Conservancy programs in

just 18 years. Guests at this exclusive annual event, hosted in March at the Nature Center, enjoy an exquisite reception, exclusive silent auction, delicious dinner, and a renowned live auction hosted inside a large magical tent underneath the stars.

The annual RedSnook Catch and Release Charity Fishing Tournament, in its 15th year and held in October, is a community favorite that highlights the Conservancy’s commitment to water quality protection, as well as preservation and enhancement of local fisheries.

There are numerous ways to stand with the Conservancy. Your Annual Membership benefits conservation, protection, and research efforts. As a valued member of the Conservancy, supporters have access to free admission to the Nature Center, and discounts at 147 other nature centers across the country.

The broad mission and programs rely on committed volunteers who share a passion for the work we do. Volunteer opportunities are available in all areas and for those with a love for nature. Share your time, talent and skills with our members and guests, all while enhancing your knowledge about the environmental issues facing Southwest Florida.

Smith Preserve WayNaples, FL 34102 (239) 262-0304

|

THE IMMOKALEE FOUNDATION

THE FAMILY SOCIETY Changing Lives, Changing Generations

Family carries a different meaning for many people. For Immokalee, a small rural town 45 miles east of downtown Naples, it is woven into the fabric of the community and its culture. I can recall growing up in Immokalee feeling cared for and included in the community no matter who I was with, where I was, or what I was doing. This feeling still exists today not just for me, but for the thousands of proud families that call Immokalee “My Home.”

At The Immokalee Foundation, we carry on the essence of what makes Immokalee so special by creating an impact in the lives of children that continues for generations. For 31 years, our family of staff, mentors, educators, donors, and volunteers has transformed over 13,000 lives through our education, career readiness, and professional development programs.

It makes me proud to see parents who were once students of The Immokalee Foundation enroll their own children so that they too can experience the same transformations. This truly creates an impact forever changing the course of family generations, and an entire community.

I want to personally invite you to make an investment through The Immokalee Foundation’s Family Society to help our students - from elementary to postsecondary education, beat the odds by growing up to be financially independent adults with meaningful careers.

This new initiative helps make giving easier than ever. With low monthly amounts starting at just $25, your investment will generate an impact that goes beyond a lifetime. Will you join our family?

Noemi Y. Perez President and CEO, The Immokalee Foundation

To join The Family Society and give with a generational impact, visit immokaleefoundation.org/familysociety

2375 Tamiami Trail N. #308 Naples, FL 34103 (239) 430-9122

www.ImmokaleeFoundation.org

KOVA FOUNDATION

KOVA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) Non-profit organization

The KOVA Foundation was created in 2019 through the philanthropic interests of Anthony and Lisa Emma. The Emma’s desire to give back to the community and assist those in need going through addiction recovery and breast cancer treatments.

KOVA Foundation’s mission is to inspire hope, enhance quality of life, and contribute to health and well-being of our community by providing resources to nonprofit organizations that support individuals and families in need. Our Foundation stands by the 100% model. We give 100% of private and public donations to the local charities we support.

Since its inception, the KOVA Foundation has raised over $375,000 in support of the Hazelton Betty Ford Foundation and Lee Health Regional Cancer Center, in addition to extending its philanthropy efforts to include Parkinson’s Association of SWFL and Multiple Sclerosis Center of Southwest Florida. These funds were the result of KOVA Foundation’s two successful charitable events.

KOVA Foundation in partnership with Lee Health Regional Cancer Center, launched Emma’s Wish in 2022. Emma’s Wish helps grant a variety of wishes for breast cancer patients facing serious, life-threatening, or end-of-life illness. The application for Emma’s Wish can be found on Emma’s Wish page on leehealth.org. This partnership between Lee Health Regional Cancer Center and the KOVA Foundation provides the patient and family a sense of normalcy – bringing joy and comfort while creating cherished memories.

Our next Charity Event will be Saturday March 25, 2023 at the Naples Grande Beach Resort. Patrons will enjoy a cocktail hour, dinner, open bar with music, live auctioneer and silent auction. All monies raised during our 3rd Annual Charity Event will remain local in Southwest Florida with 100% of the funds provided to those in need.

To learn more about the KOVA Foundation, Emma’s Wish, and to purchase tickets to our 3rd Annual Charity Event, visit our website at kovafoundation.org.

9130 Galleria Court, Suite 100, Naples Florida 34109 (239) 261-2627

lemma@KOVAFoundation.org | www.KOVAFoundation.org

LEE HEALTH

Cancer is our reality. Helping more people close to home is our dream.

Everyone will be affected by cancer, whether they are the one diagnosed with cancer or someone close to them. The American Cancer Society estimates there will be more than 1.9 million new cancer cases nationwide in 2022. This will include many people in our growing region.

People like Josh, when he was diagnosed with colon cancer and had to travel from Naples, sometimes several hours each way, to the Lee Health Regional Cancer Center in Fort Myers. He was on the road every other week on Wednesdays for eight hours of infusion, a visit with his oncologist and installation of a pump for more chemotherapy. He returned to the center on Fridays to have the pump removed. In all, he had six courses of chemotherapy, followed by five weeks of daily radiation and surgery.

Children like Mackenzie, who was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, an aggressive cancerous brain tumor at age 8. The next 12 years brought an endless cycle of complications that necessitated 30 radiation treatments, 10 months of chemotherapy, 30 surgeries, and endless days and nights at Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida.

Thankfully, Lee Health provides lifesaving cancer treatment to people of all ages in our community – regardless of their ability to pay – with the help of generous donors who understand the vast need.

Donors helped expand Golisano Children’s Hospital’s Naples Pediatric Specialty Clinic to serve children with cancer. The Clinic’s expansion has resulted in shorter waiting times, less travel for families and reduced costs for treatment. A generous donation from the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation is creating a new cancer center at the Bonita Health Center known as the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation Cancer Clinic. Adults with cancer in south Lee County will have less travel for treatment, individual treatment rooms and increased access to world-class care.

With the help of generous donors like these and you, Lee Health can serve more people close to home by expanding cancer care throughout Southwest Florida.

Learn how you can help make state-of-the-art cancer care more accessible in Southwest Florida. Visit LeeHealthFoundation.org/CancerCare

9800 South HealthPark Drive, Suite 405, Fort Myers, Florida 33908 (239) 343-6950

www.LeeHealthFoundation.org/CancerCare

Patient, Mackenzie (left) and her mother Carrie (right)

Rendering of the Bonita Springs Regional Cancer Center

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA CHILDREN'S CHARITIES, INC.

Putting Kids First

SWFL Children’s Charities, Inc. is a local nonprofit organization that is dedicated to saving children’s lives by supporting the region’s growing pediatric health care system. Under the leadership of its Board of Directors and with the passionate and generous support of its Trustees, SWFL Children’s Charities has donated 100% of funds raised at the Live Auction for local pediatric health care initiatives over the past fourteen years.

These vital funds are raised through one of the most important fundraising events the region, Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest.

From the beginning, SWFL Children’s Charities, Inc. has had a focus on building a children’s hospital to help meet the need in Southwest Florida for sick children and their families to access required medical care locally. Since then, over $27 million has been donated and the new state-of-the-art Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida opened in 2017. Over the years, Trustees have also granted funds to local non-profits serving children in our five-county region in healthcare related programs.

The renowned and prestigious two-day SWFL Wine & Food Fest features Chef Vintner Dinners creatively hosted in private luxury homes and venues across the region and the Grand Tasting and Live Auction the following day to raise much-needed funds for children’s healthcare. Guests will experience artful cuisine created by celebrated chefs and expertly paired with vintners from some of the finest and most exclusive wineries. Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest’s Chef Vintner Dinners will take place on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023 when dinner hosts invite guests to enjoy exclusively themed dinners, prepared by the event’s distinguished vintners and local chefs. The Grand Tasting happens the following day, Sat., Jan. 21, 2023, where celebrated local chefs and distinguished vintners come together to showcase culinary creations and delectable wines followed by a spirited Live Auction featuring an array of exquisite wines, luxurious travel packages, exclusive event access and more. Grand Tasting & Live Auction will take place in the Suncoast Arena at Florida SouthWestern State College. Learn more at swflwinefest.org.

2031 Jackson St., Suite 110, Fort Myers, FL 33901 (239) 433-4260

www.swflwinefest.org | info@swflwinefest.org

BIG SISTERS OF THE SUN COAST

For over 50 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast (BBBSSC) has been matching youth in meaningful, enduring, professionally supported mentoring relationships with adult volunteers who empower their potential and help them achieve their biggest possible futures. The Big Brothers Big Sisters’ evidence-based approach is designed to create positive youth outcomes, leading to higher aspirations, greater confidence, improvement in school and relationships, and avoidance of risky behaviors.

Bigs and Littles are able to get together to engage in their shared interests out in the community through our unique communitybased program. Mentor managers check in regularly to support the match and are a phone call away if needed. Our consistent long-term mentorships often become lifelong relationships.

To become a Big, get involved, or provide support, visit www.bbbssun.org or call 1-855-501-BIGS (2447).

8280 College Parkway, Suite 201, Fort Myers, Florida 33919 (239) 288-4224

1016 Collier Center Way, Suite 100, Naples, Florida 34110 (239) 331-7133

www.bbbssun.org

FUN TIME EARLY CHILDHOOD ACADEMY

Preparing children for kindergarten, ready to read and ready to learn!

Our mission is to provide affordable and quality childcare for low-income, working families in order to prepare their children for kindergarten. We currently serve 96 children ages 2-5 from diverse backgrounds. We are one of a very small number of centers that have a 5-star rating through the Early Learning Coalition and are accredited through the National Accreditation Association.

Our efforts in providing a quality, affordable education benefit the entire family. The child will benefit from a head start with access to a quality education. We assess and monitor all students in academic, social-emotional, and physical

development and screen for vision, hearing, dental, developmental, and behavioral concerns. The family benefits from affordable childcare allowing them to work or continue their education.

Reading to children contributes to growth of verbal skills while giving the opportunity to bond with a caring adult. Our children love interacting with volunteers to read stories, complete academic activities, and even head outside to our garden

Please consider getting involved so we can continue to positively impact families in our community. Contact us to schedule a tour or visit our website to learn more.

To become a volunteer or provide support please visit www.funtimeacademy.org or call 239-261-8284

102 12th Street N, Naples, FL 34102 (239) 261-8284

www.funtimeacademy.org

Big Brother Nick Camusi enjoys spending time with his Little Brother Gabriel. They love the water, enjoy all sports and especially lacrosse, since Gabriel is on the lacrosse team. Gabriel loves hanging out with his Big Brother Nick and he looks forward to many more adventures with him.

GOLISANO CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF NAPLES

The Children’s Museum of Naples encourages children to play, learn, and dream. With more than 30,000 square feet of hands-on exhibits, CMON provides innovative, childcentered educational opportunities that spark a passion for lifelong learning.

Be a part of making CMON’s vision a reality by sponsoring, volunteering for, or attending one of our fundraising events or exhibits this season.

• Golf Scramble, presented by GenesisCare, October 14, 2022

• Halloween Spooktacular, October 21 and October 22

• Backyard Bash, November 12

• Winter Wonderland, November er 19 – January 2

• Namaste India, January 21 through May 14

• Night at the Museum: Saturday Night Fever, January 28

Events like these help CMON create unique educational experiences and expand access to underserved communities. Your support, whether through a sponsorship, a ticket, or a donation at the event supports our mission and helps to make CMON available for all families in our community.

15080 Livingston Rd. Naples, FL 34109 (239) 514-0084 www.CMON.org

GULFSHORE OPERA

Gulfshore Opera presents

at

—Naples, April 2022 (p.c. Ivan Seligman)

Gulfshore Opera (GO) is Southwest Florida’s Regional Opera Company serving Charlotte, Lee, and Collier counties. From grand opera productions at BB Mann and Artis— Naples with the Naples Philharmonic to intimate community concerts, GO performs versatile high-quality vocal concerts to 7 different communities from Port Charlotte to Marco Island. GO engages world class solo artists and directors, regional developing singers, and also partners with community and university choirs, local ballet schools and theater groups. Gulfshore Opera presents community concerts and Taste of Opera dinners in easily accessible non-theatrical settings to introduce opera to new audiences and provide fun and friendly social mixers. Social engagement is central to the GO

mission. The company provides students of all ages the opportunity to experience opera for the first time by attending in school lecture/demonstrations, adult opera lectures and dress rehearsals. Youth engagement programs encourage personal confidence and social skills through the Harmony Choir for introductory music lessons, Talented Teens performance class and summer music camps. These programs focus on families with the fewest resources and the greatest need; and are provided at little or no cost to all participants. Many of these young people move up to participate in grand opera productions as chorus members. These programs demonstrate how imparting our love of this great art form to all ages is a central part of our mission.

Support Our Good Works In The Community!

9911 Corkscrew Rd., Suite 105, Estero, FL 33928 (239) 529-3925 www.GulfshoreOpera.org

Southwest Florida's Regional Opera Company

Excite, Engage, and Inspire at CMON

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF COLLIER COUNTY

In 2023, Habitat for Humanity of Collier County will enter its 45 th year of building affordable homes alongside volunteers, donors, and families in need of a safe and affordable place to call their own. More than four decades of successfully building homes and partnering with families has only been possible through the unmatched support of this community.

It’s no secret that the already challenging housing market has reached new levels over the last two years, pricing out more and more of our local workforce and leaving them with few housing options. Through community support and partnership,

Habitat Collier provides a pathway to affordable homeownership to qualifying families. By investing sweat equity building their homes, taking educational classes to bolster their success, and finally purchasing their home with an affordable mortgage, families build strength, stability and self-reliance.

Your gift to Habitat Collier keeps hope alive for parents and children who are struggling with housing stability - those forced to live in substandard, overcrowded, or unaffordable conditions. A gift today lasts for generations and offers a hand-up to families so that they may break the cycle of poverty for future generations.

11145 Tamiami Trail E., Naples, FL 34113 (239) 775-0036

www.HabitatCollier.org

HOLOCAUST MUSEUM & COHEN EDUCATION CENTER

For more than 20 years, the Holocaust Museum & Janet G. and Harvey D. Cohen Education Center has educated SWFL students on the importance of standing up to bigotry and hatred. We offer a variety of ageappropriate Holocaust Education Programs to middle and high school students and Educators in six SWFL counties. These include Museum Field Trips, PopUp Museums, in-class instruction, and Teacher Workshops. Providing examples of the actions of Holocaust heroes and contemporary “Upstanders” helps students explore their own power to make a positive difference in their schools and communities. Our Museum exists because of middle school students who were so moved by what they

learned about the Holocaust that they wanted to share that knowledge beyond their school. They inspired community leaders to found our Museum.

We also share with students the powerful personal stories of SWFL Holocaust Survivors and Camp Liberators. These eyewitnesses to the Holocaust provide students with an insight to the ultimate dangers posed by bigotry and hatred. Their testimonies leave a deep impact on students.

We thank the SWFL community for their continuing support of our Education mission. We invite you to join us - please visit HMCEC.org to learn more.

975 Imperial Golf Course Blvd., Ste.108, Naples, FL 34110 (239) 263-9200

www.HMCEC.org

Hope and Healing for Those in Need

CLINIC

Over twenty years ago, the concept of a medical home for the working poor of Collier County was the vision of Dr. Bill and Nancy Lascheid. Not long after retirement, they scripted their vision for Neighborhood Health Clinic and gathered like-minded professionals to ensure the mission.

On April 12, 1999, the Clinic opened its doors to the first of many patients to come.

The Clinic has since grown into a full service, education-centered healthcare campus. The campus encompasses over 32,000 square feet, with more than 700 volunteer professionals providing patients with quality health care, more than 20 specialized services, using state-of-the-art medical and dental

equipment, as well as a diagnostic testing lab and medication dispensary. In 2021 patient visits exceeded 11,000, with 28,000 procedures performed, and over 23,000 prescriptions filled.

The Armstrong Medical Building now houses the many specialty services offered, including: dental, radiology, cardiology, ENT, gynecology, ophthalmology, and wound care. In the Van Domelen Education and Wellness Building, patients benefit from classes such as Healthy Lifestyles, Diabetic Management, Movement and Pain Management, and Smoking Cessation. The Clinic offers a comprehensive approach to patient care: diagnosis, education, treatment, medicine and counseling, all under one roof!

88 12th Street North, Suite 100, Naples (239) 261-6600

www.NeighborhoodHealthClinic.org

FRIENDS OF FOSTER CHILDREN FOREVER

Helping Foster Children Succeed

Friends of Foster Children Forever’s mission is to provide foster children with educational and enrichment opportunities to assist them to reach their potential. Of all children, foster children are the most at-risk of failure. At least 80% are removed from their homes due to their parents’ substance abuse and/ or neglect. Sadly, there are 300 children in foster care in Collier County alone. “We are looking to bring some normalcy back into their lives and help them succeed,” states Executive Director, Ann Hughes. Friends of Foster Children Forever strives to fulfill the needs of foster children throughout Collier County.

3050 Horseshoe Drive North Suite 260 Naples, FL, 34104 (239) 262-1808

www.Friendsoffosterchildren.net

PACE CENTER FOR GIRLS

Find the Great in Every Girl!

Pace Center for Girls, Collier at Immokalee, serves at-risk girls between the ages of 12-18 by providing strengths-based, trauma-informed, and genderresponsive academics and social services Monday – Friday, 12 months a year.

Pace Center for Girls’ team of counselors and educators develop individualized approaches based on each girl’s unique strengths and needs, offering full academic services, counseling, life-skills training, and career preparation.

For information on enrollment, career opportunities, volunteering, advocacy, and donations, visit: www.pacecenter.org/collier.

160 N. First Street, Immokalee, FL 34142 (239) 842-5406

www.PaceCenter.org

PHILANTHROPIC CALENDAR

EVENTS THAT GIVE BACK

The top galas, luncheons and festivals to support local nonprofts

Erik Kellar

PHILANTHROPIC AGENDA

The season is packed with glitzy galas, coveted auction lots and star-studded guest lists to support important causes throughout Southwest Florida. Check the organizations’ websites for updates and more information.

COLLIER COUNTY

October

Oct. 3 and 5

Fairways for the Future Charity Golf Tournament at Talis Park Golf Club (Oct. 3, 8:30 a.m.) and Grey Oaks Country Club (Oct. 5, 8:45 a.m.) to benefit Youth Haven. $500

Dress Code: Golf attire Chairs: Mary Molter Cohen and Mary Pat Salomone youthhavenswfl.org

Oct. 7

Seton Golf Benefit Tour nament at The Rookery at Marco at J.W. Marriott Marco Island to benefit St. Elizabeth Seton School. 8:30 a.m. $150 Dress code: Golf attire

Chair: Gina Groch saintelizabethseton.com

Oct. 8

Mission 23 Honor Flight at Southwest Florida Inter national Airport to benefit Collier County Honor Flight. 8:30 p.m. Free Dress Code: Patriotic collierhonorflight.org

Oct. 14

2nd Annual CMON Golf Scramble at Club Pelican Bay to benefit Golisano Chil dren’s Museum of Naples. 11 a.m. $250 Dress Code: Golf attire Chairs: Emely Darby, Sharon Hill and Desiree Silva cmon.org

The Events

Oct. 14-16

2022 RedSnook Tournament: Funding the Fight for Clean Water at Florida Sports Park to benefit Conservancy of Southwest Florida. 5:30 p.m. $275 (individual), $550 (pair), $75 (Kick-Off Party)

Dress Code: Casual Chair: Wayne Meland conservancy.org

Oct. 15

Knight Golf Classic at The Club at the Strand to benefit The Village School of Naples. 7:30 a.m. $150

Dress Code: Golf attire Chairs: Sarah Germain and Kristi English villageschoolnaples.org

Oct. 15

Aqua Ball at Hilton Naples to benefit Florida Drowning Prevention Foundation.

5 p.m. $100

Dress Code: Semi-formal Chairs: Terri and Richard Ballo floridadrowningprevention foundation.com

Oct. 17

Woodstock on Bayshore at Celebration Park to benefit the Cancer Alliance of

Naples. 5 p.m. $350

Dress Code: Casual, bell bottoms and tie-dye encouraged

Chairs: Rebecca and Nancy Maddox cancerallianceofnaples.com

Oct. 21

9th Annual Chip in for DLC Golf Tournament at Quail Creek Country Club to ben efit David Lawrence Centers for Behavioral Health.

11 a.m. $250

Dress Code: Golf attire dlcenters.org

Oct. 22

The Gene Doyle Fishing Tournament at launch sites around Lee and Collier Counties to benefit the Gene Doyle Memorial Foundation. 7 a.m. $250 Chairs: Matt and Katie Betz genedoyle.org

Oct. 22

2022 3K/5K Run, Walk & Roll at Paradise Coast Sports Complex to benefit STARa bility Foundation. 8 a.m. $35 Chairs: Jeff and Maureen Maconaghy starability.org

Oct. 22

YMCA of Collier County Golf Tournament at Hammock Bay to benefit Greater Naples YMCA. 8 a.m. $200 Dress Code: Golf attire greaternaplesymca.org

Oct. 22

Stand Against Domestic Violence 5K Race/Walk at Sugden Regional Park to benefit Legal Aid Service of Collier County. 8 a.m. $25. Dress Code: Activewear collierlegalaid.org

Oct. 25

Crazy Pants—Fashion Show Fundraiser at The Players Club & Spa to benefit Pace Center for Girls. 6 p.m. Dress Code: Crazy, colorful and casual Chair: Melissa Speach pacecenter.org

Oct. 27-30

14th Annual Naples International Film Festival at Artis—Naples and Silverspot Cinema to benefit Artis— Naples. From $39 Dress Code: Semi-formal (opening night only), business-casual artisnaples.org

Oct. 28

Pan-Florida Challenge Golf Tournament at TPC Treviso Bay to benefit Pan-Florida Challenge. 1 p.m. Dress Code: Golf attire Chairs: Bob Lacroix, Laraine Bergmann, Bill and Lisa Kirkpatrick, Brian and Anne Reilly panfloridachallenge.org

Oct. 28

Taste of Immokalee & Taste the Impact Masquerade Gala at The Strand Golf & Country Club to benefit Taste the Impact. 6 p.m. $150 Dress Code: Semiformal, masked Chair: Debra Bailey tastetheimpact.org

Oct. 29

Taste of Immokalee & Taste the Impact Charity Golf Tournament at The Strand Golf & Country Club to benefit Taste the Impact. 8:30 a.m. $195 (individual), $750 (foursome)

Dress Code: Casual Chair: Debra Bailey tastetheimpact.org

Social

Naples Botanical Garden’s popular Hats in the Garden event brings top designers to the runway.

Social

— The Events

November

Nov. 3 and Apr. 1

Author Spotlight Series at Sugden Community Theatre to benefit Friends of the Library of Collier County.

2 p.m. $58, $48 (members)

Dress Code: Business-casual Chair: Connie Kindsvater collierfriends.org

Nov. 3

Poker On the Princess on the Naples Princess to benefit Think Pineapple Foundation.

5 p.m. $500

Dress Code: Cocktail Chair: Amanda Curbelo thinkpineapplefoundation.org

Nov. 3

Charity for Change Gala at Hilton Naples to benefit Charity for Change.

5:30 p.m. $200

Dress Code: Semi-formal Chair: Debra Haley charityforchange.org

Nov. 4

Baby Basics’ 15th Annual Fashion Show at Royal Poinciana Golf Club to benefit Baby Basics of Collier County. 11 a.m. $135

Dress Code: Cocktail casual Chair: Natalia Armstrong babybasicscollier.org

Nov. 4

Neighborhood Bash—Party at the Clinic onsite to benefit Neighborhood Health Clinic.

5 p.m. $100.

Dress Code: Casual neighborhoodhealthclinic.org

Nov. 4-5

Artisan Marketplace and Party onsite to benefit Na ples Woman’s Club. 10 a.m. Free (market), $60 (party)

Dress Code: Resort casual Chair: Barbara Weiss napleswomansclub.org

Nov. 5

Fore-the-Kids Golf Tournament at Fiddler’s Creek to benefit Boys & Girls Club of Collier County. 10 a.m. $500

Dress Code: Golf attire Chairs: Mary Osborn & Lea Smith bgccc.com

Nov. 5

Music Festival at Rod & Gun Club to benefit Everglades Society for Historic Preservation.

12 p.m. $20

Dress Code: Casual Chair: Marya Repko eshp.org

Nov. 5

Annual Benefit Dinner at The Players Club & Spa to benefit Sunlight Home. 5 p.m. $150. Dress Code: Semi-formal Chair: Diane Zingali sunlighthome.org

Nov. 5

64th NCH Hospital Ball at The Ritz-Carlton, Naples, to benefit NCH Healthcare System. 6 p.m. $600 Dress Code: Black tie Honorary Chairs: Reinhold and Erika Schmieding nchmd.org

Nov. 5

Be a Believer-Cocoa Ball at True Fashionistas to benefit Project HELP. 6 p.m. $175 Dress Code: Cocktail Chairs: Thelma Hodges, April May and Vaneza Gonzales projecthelpnaples.org

Nov. 9

7th Annual Veterans Memo rial Event at Cancro Family Wellness Center to benefit Ave Maria School of Law. 12:30 p.m.. Free Dress Code: Business-casual, uniform encouraged Chair: Jackie Burke avemarialaw.edu

Nov. 9 A Cause Before the Cure Awareness Dinner at 2900

Gordon Drive to benefit Help a Diabetic Child. 5:30 p.m. Dress Code: Business-casual helpadiabeticchild.org

Nov. 9

Annual Gala at Hilton Naples to benefit Lighthouse of Collier. 5:30 p.m. $200 Dress Code: Semi-formal Chair: Allister Gibbons, MD lighthouseofcollier.org

Nov. 9

Be the Light Gala at Bonita Bay to benefit New Horizons of Southwest Flori da. 6 p.m. $325 Dress Code: Cocktail Chair: Judy Dove newhorizonsofswfl.org

Nov. 10

The Patriot Fund Veterans Honor Invitational Stars and Stripes Dinner at Tiburón Golf Club to benefit the Patriot Fund. 5 p.m. $300 Dress Code: Club-casual Chair: Pam Davis patriotfund.org

Nov. 10 My Rescue Rescued Me 2023 at Baker Park to benefit the Humane Society Naples. 6 p.m. Dress Code: Business-casual hsnaples.org

Nov. 10

Signature Chefs: Feeding Motherhood at Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa to benefit March of Dimes.

6:30 p.m. $200

Dress Code: Cocktail Chair: Dr. William Liu marchofdimes.org

Nov. 11

The Patriot Fund Veterans Honor Golf Invitational at Tiburón Golf Club to benefit the Patriot Fund. 12 p.m. $1,500

Dress Code: Golf attire Chair: Pam Davis patriotfund.org

Nov. 11

Charity Classic Gala at The Ritz Carlton, Naples to benefit The Immokalee Foundation. 6 p.m. $800

Dress Code: Formal

Chairs: Janet and Jerry Belle, Carol and Tom Joseph immokaleefoundation.org

Nov. 12

Seventeenth Annual Luncheon at Saint Ann Jubilee Center to benefit Providence House. 11 a.m. $75

Dress Code: Smart casual Chair: Mary Zoe Bowden providencehousenaples.org

Nov. 12

4th Annual WolfStock Brew Fest and Concert at Paradise Coast Sports Complex to benefit Shy Wolf Sanctuary Education & Experience Center. 4 p.m. From $20, $150 (VIP)

Dress Code: Casual Chair: Andrea Dekoff shywolfsanctuary.org

Nov. 12

Bootstrap Boogie Barn Dance onsite to benefit Naples Therapeutic Riding Center. 5 p.m. $500 (individ ual), $7,500 (table for 10)

Dress Code: Western attire Chair: Connie Sharpe naplestherapeuticriding center.org

Nov. 12

7th Annual Red Gala at Elite Jets Hanger to benefit Path 2Freedom. 5:30 p.m. $275

Dress Code: Black tie, optional Chair: Jennifer Parisi path2Freedom.org

Nov. 12

Backyard Bash onsite to benefit Golisano Chil dren’s Museum of Naples. 5:30 p.m. $125

Dress Code: Casual Chair: Jason Philips cmon.org

Nov. 13

YogaCAN at Baker Park to benefit Cancer Alliance of Naples. 8:30 a.m. $65

Dress Code: Yoga attire Chair: Joel Waltzer cancerallianceofnaples.com

Nov. 13

Jazz on the Lawn at Collier County Museum at Government Center to benefit Friends of the Collier County Museums. 3 p.m. Chairs: Harold Weeks and Yvonne Hill foccm.com

Nov. 16

Santa PAWS onsite to benefit Golden PAWS Assistance Dogs. 5:30 p.m. Price upon request

Dress Code: Business-casual goldenpaws.org

Nov. 17

2nd Annual Christmas Gala at Vineyards Country Club to benefit Sampson’s Interna tional Nursing Society. 5 p.m. $100

Dress Code: Business-casual Chair: Linda Hill sampsonsnurses.org

Nov. 17

Zoo Gala onsite to benefit Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens. 6 p.m. $10,000 Dress code: Jacket and tie,

Malaysian-inspired Chairs: Sheliah Wall, Jennifer McCurry, Anita Lovse and Nina Van Arsdale napleszoo.org

Nov. 18

Empowering Women’s Luncheon at Bear’s Paw Country Club to benefit the Naples Woman’s Club. 11 a.m. $75

Dress Code: Luncheon attire Chairs: Lee Kraus and Jalna MacLaren napleswomansclub.org

Nov. 18

9th Annual Lilly Pulitzer Fashion Show and Luncheon to benefit Royal Palm Acade my. 11 a.m. $175

Dress Code: Resort chic, Lilly Pulitzer encouraged Chairs: Sherri Waller, Afshan Hussain and Kerry Nulf 2022fashionshow.give smart.com

Nov. 19

Jack Palmer Memorial Golf Classic at The Club at Olde Cypress to benefit Special Olympics Florida—Collier County. 8 a.m. $600 (foursome)

Dress Code: Golf attire, no denim

Chair: Sue Palmer specialolympicsflorida.org

Nov. 19

Brew Ha Ha Craft Beer Festival at Mercato Event Lawn to benefit Pace Center for Girls. 5 p.m. Dress Code: Casual Chairs: Jackie Nelson and Amber Philips pacecenter.org

Nov. 20

20th Annual Sing Along Messiah at Naples United Church of Christ to benefit Voices of Naples. 3 p.m. $15 (advance), $20 (door)

Dress Code: Casual Chair: Mariellen Lemasters

Nov. 22

Liberty Mutual Invitational Golf Tournament at The Club at Olde Cypress to benefit Children’s Advocacy Center of Collier County. 11 a.m. $350 Dress Code: Golf attire caccollier.org

Nov. 25

Holiday Shell Art Sale at New Life Community Church on Marco Island to benefit Marco Island Shell Club. 9 a.m. Free marcoshellclub.com

Nov. 28

Trees and Teas VIP Opening onsite to benefit The Naples Players. 7 p.m. $100

Dress Code: Festive attire naplesplayers.org

Also in November:

Ave Maria School of Law Signature Event onsite to benefit Ave Maria School of Law. Date TBA. 6 p.m. Dress Code: Semi-formal avemarialaw.edu

First Tee Invitational at Calusa Pines Golf Club to benefit First Tee Naples/ Collier. Date TBA. 1 p.m. $5,000 Dress Code: Golf attire firstteenaplescollier.org

December

Dec. 1

Glass Slipper Luncheon at The Club at Olde Cypress to benefit Champions for Learning. 11:30 a.m. $75 Chairs: Gina Lostracco and Dottie Whipple championsforlearning.org

Dec. 2

Celebration of Hope at Arthrex One to benefit St. Matthew’s House. 6 p.m. Tickets TBA Dress Code: Semi-formal stmatthewshouse.org

Dec. 2

Christmas Gala at Historic

Palm Cottage to benefit Naples Historical Society. 6:30 p.m. From $550 Dress Code: Black tie Chairs: Sharon von Arx and Elaine Reed napleshistoricalsociety.org

Dec. 2 Opéra de Monte Carlo Casino Night at Wang Opera Center to benefit Opera Naples. 7 p.m. $150 Dress Code: Elegant casual, jackets requested operanaples.org Dec. 4 20th Annual Major Donor-Keepers Recognition Event at Olde Cypress Country Club to benefit Hadassah, Collier—Lee Chapter. 10:30 a.m. From $1,000 Dress Code: Casual Chair: Nancy Wiadro hadassah.org

Dec. 6

Women Rock Philanthropy at Naples Grande Beach Resort to benefit Women’s Foundation of Collier County. 11 a.m. $275 Chairs: Brenda O’Connor and Vicki Tracy wfcollier.org

Dec. 7 The Luncheon at Royal

Poinciana Golf Club to benefit the Holocaust Museum & Cohen Education Center. 11:30 a.m. $150 Dress Code: Business-casual Chairs: Maureen Lerner, Estelle Price, Nancy White, Diane McGinty and Sandy Roth hmec.org

Dec. 8

LVCC Annual Gala at Artis— Naples to benefit Literacy Volunteers of Collier County. 5:30 p.m. Tickets TBA collierliteracyvolunteers.org

Dec. 22 Unleashing Opportunity Luncheon at Summit Church to benefit Better Together. 11:30 a.m. Tickets TBA bettertogetherus.org

January

Jan. 12, 2023

Gentlemen Against Domestic Violence Men’s Event at Grey Oaks Country Club to benefit The Shelter for Abused Women & Children. 4:30 p.m. $350

Dress Code: Country club attire

Chairs: Tom Butz and Bill Cal fee, Paul Kuveke (vice chair) naplesshelter.org

Jan. 12

Frida and Her Garden Premiere onsite to benefit Naples Botanical Garden. 7 p.m. $175 (21+) naplesgarden.org

Jan. 13

Fourth Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Prayer Breakfast at Vineyards Country Club to benefit Trinity Life Foundation Naples. 7:30 a.m. $50

Dress Code: Business trinitylifefoundation.org

Jan. 14

11th Annual “An Evening for Better Tomorrows” at Royal Poinciana Golf Club to benefit Naples Senior Center. 5:30 p.m. Starts at $450 Dress Code: Business naplesseniorcenter.org

Jan 14

Sixth Annual Scene to be Seen Live Runway Art Show and Gala at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples, to benefit Naples Art. 6 p.m. $5,000 (VIP); 7:30 p.m. $125 (general admission)

Dress Code: Creative cocktail

Chairs: Valerie and Nizar Ghoussaini naplesart.org

Jan. 15 Hoof & Hike Poker Run at Picayune Strand State Forest’s Belle Meade Tract to benefit Naples Therapeutic Riding Center. 10 a.m. $50

Dress Code: Hiking or riding attire

Chair: Lea Haven ntrc.org

Jan. 18 Cherish the Children

Luncheon at The RitzCarlton Golf Resort, Naples, to benefit Youth Haven.

11 a.m. $300

Dress Code: Luncheon chic Chairs: Trin Mostyn and Jennifer Porter youthhavenswfl.org

Jan. 16, Feb. 20, Mar. 13 and 27

Nick Linn Lecture Series at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples, to benefit Friends of the Library of Collier County.

12 p.m. From $300

Dress Code: Business-casual

Food and wine anchor some of the region’s top-earning events, like Naples Winter Wine Festival, in February.

Dress Code: Business-casual Chair: Lew Paper collierfriends.org

Jan. 25, Feb. 23 and Mar. 22

Culinary Adventure at various participating restaurants to benefit Naples Woman’s Club. 11 a.m. From $160 Dress Code: Luncheon attire Chair: Susan Schiraldi napleswomansclub.org

Jan. 27 - Feb. 7

Naples Winter Wine Festival Online Auction to benefit Naples Children & Education Foundation. 8 a.m. napleswinefestival.com

Raynelle Perkins naplesgardenclub.org

Jan. 28

Run for the Paws 2023 to benefit Humane Society Na ples. Virtual option; physical venue TBA. 8 a.m. $30 Dress Code: Activewear hsnaples.org

Jan. 28

Catsino Night at Marco Island Yacht Club to benefit For the Love of Cats.

5:30 p.m. $85 Dress Code: Business-casual Chair: Linda Wynns fortheloveofcatsfl.com

Chair: Trish Benisch collierfriends.org

Jan. 19

Guadalupe Center Gala at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples, to benefit Guadalupe Center. 5:30 p.m. Chairs: Debbie and Bill Toler guadalupecenter.org

Jan. 21

Wildlife and Wildlands Art Show onsite to benefit the Friends of Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park. 9 a.m. Dress Code: Casual delnorwiggins.org

Jan. 21

17th Annual Empty Bowls

Naples Fundraiser at Cambier Park to benefit

Empty Bowls Naples. 11 a.m.

Dress Code: Casual emptybowlsnaples.com

Jan. 21

ANI Art Contest at Naples Botanical Garden to benefit Additional Needs.

4 p.m. Free

Dress Code: Casual additionalneeds.info

Jan. 23, Feb. 6, Mar. 20

Nonfiction Author Series at Kensington Golf and Country Club to benefit Friends of the Library of Collier County. 8:30 a.m. $325, $285 (members)

Jan. 27

5th Annual Monsignor Higgins March for Life Event at Ave Maria School of Law, Room Commons #110, to benefit Ave Maria School of Law. 12:30 p.m. Dress Code: Casual Chair: Jackie Burke avemarialaw.edu

Jan. 28

House & Garden Tour beginning at Naples Botani cal Garden to benefit Naples Garden Club. 8 a.m. $150 Dress Code: Casual, comfort able footwear encouraged Chairs: Sondra Quinn and

Jan. 28

Night at the Museum: Saturday Night Fever onsite to benefit Golisano Chil dren’s Museum of Naples. 5:30 p.m. $1,000 Dress Code: Disco fab Chairs: Dena Rae Hancock and P. Robert Caito cmon.org

Jan. 28

Star Light, Star Bright at a private country club to benefit Pathways Early Edu cation Center of Immokalee. 5:30 p.m. $350 Dress Code: Cocktail Chair: Sue Sherwin pathwaysearlyeducation.org

Jan. 28

Celtic Ball onsite to benefit St. John Neumann Catholic High School. 6 p.m. $250 Dress Code: Casual cocktail sjnceltics.org

Jan. 28

YMCA of Collier County Gala at Hideaway Beach Club to benefit YMCA of Collier County. 6 p.m. Tickets TBA greaternaplesymca.org

February

Feb. 1-6

Give to the Max Matching

Virtual Challenge to benefit Habitat for Humanity of Collier County. habitatcollier.org

Feb. 2

Jetport Reception at Naples Airport to benefit St. Matthew’s House. 6 p.m. $500

Dress Code: Business-casual Chairs: Tom O’Riordan and Dennis Flint stmatthewshouse.org

Feb. 3-5

2023 Naples Winter Wine Festival at The Ritz-Carlton

Golf Resort, Naples, to benefit Naples Children & Education Foundation.

11 a.m. From $15,000 Dress Code: Resort casual Chairs: Nena and Bill Beynon, Libby and Rick Germain, Julia and Robert Heidt, Jr. napleswinefestival.com

Feb. 4

Cars on 5th Concours on Fifth Avenue South to benefit St. Matthew’s House.

10 a.m. $30

Dress Code: Casual Chair: Tom O’Riordan stmatthewshouse.org

Feb. 4

Marco Island Center for the Arts Annual Gala at the Island Country Club. Time and tickets TBA.

Chairs: Mary Pat and Aldo Palombo marcoislandart.org

Feb. 7

Front & Center Gala at Sugden Plaza and Baker Stage to benefit The Naples Players. 6 p.m. $750 Dress Code: Cocktail naplesplayers.org

Feb. 10

Zoobilee onsite to benefit Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens. 6 p.m. From $125 Dress Code: Outdoor chic Chairs: Nikkie Dvorchak and David Ruben napleszoo.org

Feb. 11

24th Annual Step-Up for Parkinson’s Walk at Baker Park, Naples to benefit Parkinson’s Association of Southwest Florida. 9 a.m. From $25, $10 (children under 12), $5 (pets) Dress Code: Casual parkinsonassociationswfl.org

Feb. 11

19th Annual AsiaFest “Year of the Rabbit” Celebration at Mercato to benefit Asian Professionals Association of SWFL. 11 a.m. Free Dress Code: Outdoor-casual, Asian attire encouraged Chair: Pearl Cruz apaswfl.org

Feb. 11

5th Annual STAR Gala: A Night on the Red Carpet at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples, to benefit STARability Foundation. 5:30 p.m. $750 Dress Code: Black tie Chairs: Allison Rainey and

Jana Seaman starability.org

Feb. 11

Heart for Education— Fabulous Fifties Gala onsite to benefit Saint Ann School Foundation. 6 p.m. $250 Dress Code: 1950s attire Chairs: Saint Ann School Foundation Trustees foundationstann.org

Feb. 13

Swing Fore the Future Gala at Arthrex to benefit First Tee — Naples/Collier. 6 p.m. Dress Code: Semi-formal Chair: Ann Bain firstteenaplescollier.org

Feb. 16

Mélodie & Motown at Trinity by the Cove to benefit Archangel Fund for Collier County Charities.

5:30 p.m. $150 artofgivingnaples.org

Feb. 16

Annual Gala at a private golf club to benefit Fun Time Early Childhood Academy. 6 p.m. $400 Dress Code: Broadwayinspired attire Chairs: Robin Larkin and Pam Heffernan, Faye and Jim Derham (honorary chairs) funtimeacademy.org

Feb. 17

Friends of Artis—Naples Gala onsite to benefit Artis— Naples. 6:30 p.m. From $1,000 Dress Code: Black tie artisnaples.org

Feb. 18

Naples Lions Club 85th Anniversary Celebration at the Quarry Golf Club to benefit Naples Lions Club. Time and tickets TBA Chair: Jim Lafontaine napleslionsclub.com

Feb. 18

Bucket List Bash at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples, to benefit American Cancer Society. 6 p.m. From $750

Dress Code: Black tie, optional Chairs: Beverly Fanning, Darlene and Don DeMichele cancer.org

Feb. 18

Hope for Haiti Annual Gala at The Ritz-Carlton, Naples, to benefit Hope for Haiti. 6 p.m. Tickets TBA. hopeforhaiti.com

Feb. 20-21

Mending Broken Hearts Designer Boutique at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples, to benefit The

Shelter for Abused Women & Children. 9 a.m. Free. Dress Code: Business-casual Chair: Cindy Halle naplesshelter.org

Feb. 21

Mending Broken Hearts with Hope Luncheon at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples, to benefit The Shelter for Abused Women & Children. 11 a.m. $400 Dress Code: Business Chairs: Shari Kapelina and Patti Erwood naplesshelter.org

Feb. 21

Youth of the Year Celebration at Pelican Bay Club to benefit Boys & Girls Club of Collier County. 5 p.m. $750 Dress Code: Cocktail bgccc.com

Feb. 23

Kind Mariners Ball at Naples Sailing and Yacht Club to benefit Freedom Waters Foundation. 5:30 p.m. $450 Dress Code: Nautical chic Chairs: Elizabeth Huizinga, Brodie Hall and Dan Lane freedomwatersfoundation.org

Feb. 24

Imagination Ball at JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort to benefit American Cancer Society.

6 p.m. $250

Dress Code: Black tie, optional

Chair: Debra Shanahan cancer.org

Feb. 25

Your Community for Life Event, feat. Kayleigh McEnany at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples, to ben efit Community Pregnancy Clinics. 5:30 p.m. Dress Code: Cocktail Chair: David Joyce supportcpci.com

Feb. 25

Night of Champions at Naples Grande Beach Resort to benefit Champions for Learning. 6 p.m. $400 championsforlearning.org

Feb. 28

Seville Soiree Amor de la Música Gala at Arthrex One to benefit Opera Naples. 5:30 p.m. $500

Dress Code: Cocktail, jackets required Chairs: Louise Ost, Cindy Stegemann and Teresa Heitmann operanaples.org

Feb. 28

Wines and Wildlife at Naples Sailing & Yacht Club to ben efit The Alliance for Florida

National Parks. 6 p.m. Tickets TBA Dress Code: Casual floridanationalparks.org

Also in February:

Beers & Books to benefit Grace Place for Children and Families. 6 p.m. Date, venue and tickets TBA. Dress Code: Casual graceplacenaples.org

CCSN Red Wagon 25th Anniversary Celebration vir tual auction to benefit Christ Child Society of Naples. Chair: Barbara Franks christchildnaples.org

MARCH Mar. 2

Magic Under the Mangroves onsite to benefit Conservan

Nonprofits often hire groups like Malike Adigun’s Cape Coral-based Curate Entertainment to bring high-energy, interactive fun to their galas.

cy of Southwest Florida. 5:30 p.m. $750

Dress Code: Semi-formal Chairs: Charlie and Toni Mueller conservancy.org

Mar. 3

Boogie Bash at The RitzCarlton Golf Resort, Naples, to benefit Friends of Foster Children Forever. 6 p.m. $500 Dress Code: Cocktail friendsoffosterchildren.net

Mar. 4

Naples Craft Beer Fest at Bayfront of Naples to benefit Naples North Rotary Club Foundation. 12 p.m. $80

Dress Code: Casual Chairs: Heather Henning and Rob Stoneburner naplescraftbeerfest.com

Mar. 4 2023 JDRF Hope Gala at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples, to benefit JDRF. 5 p.m. $500

Dress Code: Black tie, optional Chair: Jessica Shwedel jdrf.org

Mar. 4

Annual Fashion Show Luncheon & Silent Auction at Naples Grande Beach Resort to benefit Sunlight Home. 11 a.m. $140

Dress Code: Garden party Chair: Diane Zingali sunlighthome.org

Mar. 6 Masquerade—The Gulfshore Playhouse Gala at The Ritz-Carlton, Naples, to

Brian Tietz

Social

benefit Gulfshore Playhouse.

5 p.m. From $600

Dress Code: Formal Chairs: Sandi and Tom Moran gulfshoreplayhouse.org

Mar. 7

Charity Classic Celebration

Pro AM to benefit The Im mokalee Foundation. Venue

TBA. 7:30 a.m. $5,000 Chair: John Tobe immokaleefoundation.org

Mar. 7

An Evening at Naples Tables 2023 at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples, to benefit The League Club.

5 p.m. $375

Dress Code: Cocktail Chair: Andrea Stewart leagueclub.org

Mar. 8

Cruise for a Cause on Naples Princess to benefit

PANIRA Healthcare Clinic.

5:30 p.m. $100

Dress Code: Business-casual panirahealthcareclinic.org

Mar. 8

Naples Tables 2023: Fun. Fabulous. Festive! at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Na ples, to benefit The League Club. 10 a.m. $450

Dress Code: Business-casual Chair: Andrea Stewart leagueclub.org

Mar. 8

MS Gal Adventures Luncheon at Collier’s Reserve Country Club to benefit Heil Luthringer Foundation.

11:30 a.m. $100

Dress Code: Club casual Chairs: Dr. Debbie Heil and Lisa Luthringer RN, MSN empowermenteducation.org

Mar. 9

Bash for the Bay at The Players Club at Lely Resort to benefit Friends of Rookery Bay. 6 p.m. $250 Dress Code: Casual rookerybay.org Mar. 10-11

Spring Shell Art Sale at New Life Community Church— Marco Island to benefit Marco Island Shell Club.

9 a.m. Tickets TBA marcoshellclub.com

Mar. 10

Celebration of Hope and Healing onsite to benefit Neighborhood Health Clinic.

6 p.m. $200

Dress Code: Cocktail Chair: Susan Jones, RN neighborhoodhealthclinic.org

Mar. 11

Historic Homes Tour at Rod & Gun Club to benefit Everglades Society for Historic Preservation.

11 a.m. $75

Dress Code: Casual Chair: Patty Huff eshp.org

Mar. 11

The Witches and Warlocks Ball at Island Country Club to benefit Marco Island Historical Society. 5:30 p.m. $250 Dress Code: Casual, cos tumes encouraged Chairs: Jim and Allyson Richards themihs.org

Mar. 12

Afternoon Tea at a private Port Royal home to benefit Providence House. 2 p.m. $125

Dress Code: Smart casual Chair: Susan Eckert providencehousenaples.org

Mar. 12

Gulfshore Opera Gala at Vanderbilt Presbyterian Church and The Club at The Strand to benefit Gulfshore Opera. 4 p.m. $300 Dress Code: Semi-formal Chairs: Stephanie Schwetz and Becky Wilder gulfshoreopera.org Mar. 12

Dinner on Stage—The Sound of Music onsite to benefit The Naples Players. 4:30 p.m. $300

Dress Code: Business naplesplayers.org

Mar. 14

Annual Churchill Dinner to benefit English-Speaking Union, Naples Branch. Venue TBA. 6 p.m. Dress Code: Black tie Chairs: Pamela Voss and Karen Lannan esuus.org Mar. 14

An Evening in Casino Royale: Bet on a Bright Future at Naples Sailing & Yacht Club to benefit Child’s Path. 5:30 p.m. $350 Dress Code: Semi-formal, black and gold encouraged childspath.org

Mar. 15

“Triumph 2023” at Arthrex One to benefit the Holocaust Museum & Cohen Education Center. 5:30 p.m. $300

Dress Code: Cocktail Chairs: Maureen Lerner, Estelle Price, Nancy White, Diane McGinty and Sandy Roth hmcec.org Mar. 17-18

Flower Show at Naples Botanical Garden to benefit Naples Garden Club. $25

Dress Code: Casual Chair: Melinda Earle naplesgardenclub.org

Mar. 18

The Seacrest 2023 Cheers to Forty Years Gala at Vineyards Country Club to benefit Seacrest Country Day School. 6 p.m. $300

Dress Code: Formal seacrest.org

Mar. 20-Apr. 6

III Festival Under the Stars at Cambier Park to benefit Op era Naples. 7 p.m. From $28

Dress Code: Casual operanaples.org

Mar. 22

100 Club Annual Dinner

at Hilton Naples to benefit Collier County 100 Club. 6 p.m. $75

Dress Code: Cocktail collier100club.org

Mar. 23

Sound Minds: Celebrating 55 Years! at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples, to benefit David Lawrence Centers for Behavioral Health. 5 p.m. $350 Dress Code: Cocktail dlcenters.org

Mar. 25

Emma’s Wish Gala at Naples Grande Beach Resort to benefit KOVA Foundation. 5:30 p.m. $500 Dress Code: Semi-formal

Chairs: Lisa Emma, Kim Gaglia, Matt Flores and Ben Buemi kovafoundation.org

Mar. 25

Starry Nights Gala at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples, to benefit Youth Haven. 6 p.m. $500

Dress Code: Evening attire Chairs: Beverly Fanning and Ingrid Aielli youthhavenswfl.org

Mar. 29

Hats in the Garden onsite to benefit Naples Botanical Garden. 11 a.m. $850 Dress Code: Cocktail Chair: Shelly Stayer naplesgarden.org

Mar. 25

Angel Ball at The RitzCarlton, Naples, to benefit Community School of Naples. Time and tickets TBA Dress Code: Black tie Chairs: Charles and Kristie Hale communityschoolnaples.org

Mar. 30

Foreverglades Naples at Arthrex One to benefit The Everglades Foundation. 5:30 p.m. $750 (individual), from $2,500 (packages) Dress Code: Cocktail Chairs: Ellin Goetz and Valerie Boyd forevergladesnaples.org

A Naples go-to for fundraisers, Margaret Events transforms venues with elegant, immersive decor.

Social Register — The Events

Mar. 31

A Step Forward, Overcoming Obstacles Luncheon at The Ritz-Carlton, Naples, to benefit Parkinson’s Associ ation of Southwest Florida. 11:30 a.m. From $300 Dress Code: Business-casual Chairs: Beth Poorman and Merrill Fox parkinsonassociationswfl.org

Mar. 31

Knights on Broadway at a private country club to benefit The Village School of Naples. 6 p.m. $350 Dress Code: Eveningwear Chairs: Sarah Germain, Samantha Moran and Maggie Talford villageschoolnaples.org

Also in March:

So, You Think You Can Dance? to benefit Pathways Early Education Center of Immokalee. Date and venue TBA. 5:30 p.m. From $150 Dress Code: Cocktail pathwaysearlyeducation.org

The BIG Event at Porsche Naples to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast—Collier. Date TBA. 6 p.m. $125 Dress Code: Business-casual Chairs: Miranda Sharkey and Lee-Anne Bosch bbbssun.org

April

Apr. 1

Annual Luncheon at The Ritz-Carlton, Naples, to benefit New Horizons of Southwest Florida. $200 Dress Code: Business-casual Chair: Becky Willis newhorizonsofswfl.org

Apr. 1

Seton Gala & Auction at The Players Club & Spa to benefit Saint Elizabeth Seton School.

6 p.m. $150 Dress Code: Cocktail Chair: Gina Groch SaintElizabethSeton.com

Apr. 1

Sneaker Ball onsite to benefit YMCA of Collier County.

6 p.m. $150

Dress Code: Cocktail, sneakers encouraged greaternaplesymca.org

Apr. 1

Annual Butterfly Release at Cambier Park to benefit Avow. 9 a.m. $50 (memorial) Dress Code: Casual avowcares.org

Apr. 7

Pinwheels At the Pier at Naples Pier to benefit Children’s Advocacy Center of Collier County. 8:30 a.m. Free caccollier.org

Apr. 9

Run to Home Base Florida at JetBlue Park to benefit Home Base Florida Veteran and Family Care. 7 a.m. From $35

Dress Code: Athletic attire Chair: Jason Cooper homebase.org Apr. 11

Living Well with PD—an Education Symposium at Naples Hilton to benefit Parkinson’s Association of Southwest Florida. 9 a.m. From $75

Dress Code: Casual parkinsonassociationswfl.org

Apr. 17

CEO Summit at Grey Oaks Country Club to benefit The Immokalee Foundation.

4 p.m. $100 Dress code: Business attire immokaleefoundation.org

Apr. 22

Earth Day Festival onsite to benefit Conservancy of Southwest Florida. 10 a.m. Dress Code: Casual conservancy.org

Apr. 22

Museum 25th Birthday at Museum of the Everglades to benefit Friends of the Museum of the Everglades. 10 a.m. Free. Dress Code: Casual

Chair: Vicky Wells evergladesmuseum.org

Also in April:

Rally for Littles at Ultimate Garages Naples to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast. 10 a.m. Date and tickets TBA

Dress Code: Casual Chairs: James Buonavolonta and Gianluca Corso bbbssun.org

Wines Around the World “Taste and Discover” at Shula’s Steak House to benefit Ricky King Children’s Fund. Date TBA. 6 p.m. $250 Dress Code: Cocktail Chair: Heather Tice rickykingfund.org

May May 6

2nd Annual Mind Your Mind

Community Mental Health Day at Cambier Park to bene fit David Lawrence Centers for Behavioral Health. 9 a.m. $5

Dress Code: Casual dlcenters.org

May 6

Swing for New Horizons Golf Tournament at West Bay Club to benefit New Hori zons of Southwest Florida. 8 a.m. $200

Dress Code: Golf attire Chairs: Wendy Kephart and Barry Dunleavy newhorizonsofswfl.org

May 6

Kentucky Derby Party onsite to benefit Naples Therapeutic Riding Center. 4 p.m. $250

Dress Code: Derby chic Chair: Cathy Chickerell naplestherapeuticriding center.org

May 6

Hole in One for Health at Cypress Woods Golf & Country Club to benefit PANIRA Healthcare Clinic.

7:30 a.m. $125

Dress Code: Golf attire panirahealthcareclinic.org

May 6

Annual Golf Tournament at Island Country Club to benefit Marco Island Center for the Arts. Time and tickets TBA

Dress Code: Golf attire marcoislandart.org

May 14 and 28

Hand & Harvest at Mercato to benefit Empty Bowls Naples. 12 p.m. Free Dress Code: Casual emptybowlsnaples.com

May 20

23rd Annual Lipman Family Farms Golf Classic at Naples Heritage Golf & Country Club to benefit RCMA. Time and tickets TBA rcma.org

Also in May:

A Swing of Grace to benefit Grace Place for Children and Families. Date, venue, time and tickets TBA

Dress Code: Activewear graceplacenaples.org

June

Jun. 10

Champions for Learning Bike Giveaway at 3606 Enterprise Ave. to benefit Bikes for Tykes. 10 a.m.

Dress Code: Casual bikesfortykes.org

Jun. 15

Bike Rodeo at Anchor Chris tian Church to benefit Bikes for Tykes. 10 a.m.

Dress Code: Casual bikesfortykes.org

Jun. 25

A Cause Before the Cure Golf Tournament at DeBary

Social

— The Events

The tried-and-true casino night still reigns popular for fundraisers, such as Family Initiative’s All In for Autism Casino Night in November.

Golf & Country Club to benefit Help a Diabetic Child. 8:30 a.m. $100

Dress Code: Golf attire helpadiabeticchild.org

LEE COUNTY

October

Oct. 1

NAMIWalks at Centennial Park to benefit NAMI Lee, Charlotte and Hendry Counties. 4 p.m. Free Dress Code: Casual Chair: Corey Lazar namilee.org

Oct. 8

Habitat for Humanity’s 40th Anniversary Prayer Service at

Heritage Heights Pavilion to benefit Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties. 8 a.m. Free Dress Code: Casual habitat4humanity.org

Oct. 8

Lee County Cattle Baron’s Ball at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa to benefit American Cancer Society. 6 p.m. $275

Dress Code: Boots and bling Chairs: Jaime Walsh and Taylor Woods cancer.org

Oct. 13

16th Annual Becoming Cosmopolitan: ‘Gone Country’ at The Ranch

Concert Hall & Saloon to benefit Community Cooper ative. 6 p.m. $250 (VIP), $150 (general admission), $500 (foursome)

Dress Code: Cocktail communitycooperative.com

Oct. 14

First Annual River Nights at Burroughs Home and Gardens to benefit Fort Myers YMCA. 6 p.m. $150 (individual), $1,500 (table)

Dress code: Cocktail ymcaswfl.org

Oct. 14

2022 BGCLC Golf Tournament at Babcock National Golf Club to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee

County. 7:30 p.m. $600 Dress Code: Casual bgclee.org

Oct. 15

2022 International Culture Fest at Fishermen’s Village to benefit Asian Professionals Association of SWFL.

12 p.m. Free Dress Code: Outdoor-casual Chair: Jaha Cummings apaswfl.org

Oct. 22

17th Annual Walk to Prevent Child Abuse at Pelican Preserve to benefit Children’s Network of Southwest Florida.

7 a.m. $25

Dress Code: Casual Chair: Nadereh Salim childnetswfl.org

Oct. 21

GO GREEN Golf Tournament at Plantation Golf & Country Club to benefit Keep Lee County Beautiful. 7 a.m. $500 (foursome)

Dress Code: Casual Chair: Trish Fancher klcb.org

Oct. 22

10K Race 4 F.I.S.H. at Sanibel Community House to benefit F.I.S.H. of Sanibel-Captiva.

7 a.m. From $40

Dress Code: Athletic attire Chairs: Diane Cortese and Nicole McHale fishofsancap.org

Oct. 22

The Gene Doyle Fishing Tournament at launch sites around Lee and Collier Counties to benefit the Gene Doyle Memorial Foundation.

7 a.m. $250 Chairs: Matt and Katie Betz genedoyle.org

Oct. 22

Get Into Gardening Festival onsite to benefit ECHO Global Farm. 9 a.m. Free Dress Code: Casual Chair: Danielle Flood echonet.org

Oct. 22

Champion of the Year Gala at The Club at Pelican Preserve

to benefit Best Buddies Southwest Florida.

6 p.m. $200

Dress Code: Semi-formal Chair: Alina Gonzalez-Dockery bestbuddies.org

Oct. 23

Faces of Hope at Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre to benefit Hope Clubhouse of Southwest Florida.

11 a.m. $75

Dress Code: Business-casual hopeclubhouse.org

Oct. 24

CEO/Elected Officials Build at Heritage Heights to benefit Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties.

7:45 a.m. Free Dress Code: Construction attire encouraged habitat4humanity.org

Oct. 25-28

Beethoven Fest at St. Leo Catholic Church to benefit Grand Piano Series.

7:30 p.m. $45 Dress Code: Business-casual grandpianoseries.org

Oct. 29

Arts for ACT Gala and Auction at Caloosa Sound Convention Center & Amphitheater to benefit Abuse Counseling and Treat

ment. 5:30 p.m. $150 Dress Code: A night in TV Land

Chairs: Marc Collins and Marilyn Santiago actabuse.com November Nov. 1-30

Taste of the Islands at participating restaurants throughout Sanibel and Captiva Islands to benefit the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife. $10 Dress Code: Casual crowclinic.org Nov. 3 Brushstrokes From the Soul at Sidney & Berne Davis Arts Center to benefit The Dubin Center. 5 p.m. $150 Dress Code: Business-casual Chairs: Jan and Dr. Michael Martin dubincenter.com Nov. 4

The 6th Annual Restore Gala at Edison & Ford Winter Estates to benefit Captains For Clean Water.

6:30 p.m. $300 Dress Code: Florida formal captainsforcleanwater.org

Nov. 4

Greater Fort Myers Chamber

of Commerce Annual Golf Classic to benefit Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce Foundation. Venue, time and tickets TBA Dress Code: Golf attire fortmyers.org

Nov. 5

Monofilament Madness at The Mound House to benefit Keep Lee County Beautiful. 8 a.m. Free Dress Code: Casual Chair: Trish Fancher klcb.org Nov. 5

Type One to Type None Picnic at Estero Community Park to benefit JDRF. 10:30 a.m. Free Dress Code: Casual Chair: Robin Marcus jdrf.org Nov. 5

Enchanted Forest Extravaganza 2022 at The Forest Country Club to benefit The Canterbury School. 5:30 p.m. Tickets TBA Dress Code: Semi-formal Chairs: Lauren Casey and Claudia Potter canterburyfortmyers.org

Nov. 5

All In for Autism Casino Night

With a picturesque lawn, elegant ballrooms and a massive tent, The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples, is a popular venue for large galas and benefit golf tournaments.

at Cape Coral Yacht Club to benefit Family Initiative. 6:30 p.m. From $100

Dress Code: Cocktail-casual fi-florida.org

Nov. 7

The Nest’s Salute to SWFL

Veterans and Military Families Golf Tournament at The Nest Golf Club at Pelican Landing to benefit Home Base Florida Veteran and Family Care. 10 a.m. From $250

Dress Code: Golf attire Chair: Mary Jo Morgan homebase.org

Nov. 9

United Way Kickoff at Barbara B. Mann Performing

Arts Hall to benefit United Way Lee, Hendry, and Glades. Time and tickets TBA

Dress Code: Business-casual Chairs: Sally Jackson and Matt Humphreys unitedwaylee.org

Nov. 11

Vegas Night in Black & White at Hyatt Coconut Point Resort & Spa to benefit Dress for Success SW Florida

6 p.m. $150 Dress Code: Black-andwhite cocktail dressforsuccess.org

Nov. 11

Wines in the Wild at Bailey Homestead Preserve to benefit Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation.

6:30 p.m. Tickets TBA sccf.org

Nov. 12

Everywhere the Glint of Gold Gala onsite to benefit IMAG History & Science Center. 6:30 p.m. $150 Dress Code: Black tie, optional

Chairs: Britt Gravley and Stefanie Ink-Edwards theimag.org

Nov. 17

40th Anniversary Celebration at Caloosa Sound Event Center to benefit Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties. 6:30 p.m. $40 Dress Code: Dressy-casual habitat4humanity.org

Nov. 18

Cooking for the Arts - An Evening in Havana onsite to benefit Sidney & Berne Davis Arts Center. 6 p.m. $250 (couple) Dress Code: Business-casual or Havana-inspired sbdac.com

Nov. 19 – 20 Fall Garden Festival onsite to benefit Edison and Ford Winter Estates. 9 a.m. Free Dress Code: Casual edisonford.org

Nov. 21

11th Annual Golisano Children’s Hospital Fashion Show at Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa to benefit Lee Health Foundation. 11 a.m. $125 Dress Code: Casual Chair: Pat Smart leehealthfoundation.org

Nov. 25 – Dec. 31

Holiday Nights onsite to ben efit Edison and Ford Winter Estates. 5:30 p.m. $30 (guided tour), $20 (self-guided tour)

Dress Code: Casual edisonford.org

Nov. 26

Starlight Auction at Sanibel Harbour Marriott Resort & Spa to benefit Animal Refuge Center. 6 p.m. $100 Dress Code: Cocktail Chair: Betty Hughes animalrefugecenter.com

December

Dec. 2

Charity Clay Shoot at Bermont Shooting Club to benefit Lee BIA Builders Care. 8 a.m. Tickets TBA Dress Code: Outdoor Chairs: Crystal Stouten and Tasha Birk leebuilderscare.com

Courtesy The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples

Dec. 2

Off The Walls at Center for Performing Arts to benefit Centers for the Arts Bonita Springs. 6 p.m. $175

Dress Code: Business-casual Chairs: Susan Bridges and Loretta Menuez artcenterbonita.org

Dec. 3

Orange Blossom Evening at Talis Park to benefit National MS Society. 6:10 p.m. $350

Dress Code: Business-casual Chairs: Ian Russell and Robin Nunley nationalmssociety.org

Dec. 6-9

Annual Festival of Trees & Wreaths at Historic McSwain House to benefit Bonita Springs Historical Society. 4 p.m. $5

Dress Code: Casual Chairs: Bonnie Whittemore and Derrick Botana bonitaspringshistorical society.org

Dec. 9

5th Annual Grampy’s Pro-Am Golf Tournament at Fiddlesticks Golf & Country Club to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southwest Florida. 7 a.m.

From $3,500 (foursome) Dress Code: Country club, golf attire rmhcswfl.org

Dec. 15

Art Divine Holiday Sale Reception and Chamber of Commerce After Hours onsite to benefit Fort Myers Beach Art Association and Gallery. 5:30 p.m. Free Dress Code: Business-casual Chair: Pam Flaherty fortmyersbeachart.com

Dec. 22

Holiday in the Park at Rober to Clemente Park to benefit

Lee County Black History Society. Time TBA. Free leecountyblackhistory society.org January

Jan. 7

Wild About CROW at Burroughs Home and Gardens to benefit Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife.

5:45 p.m. $175 (early bird), $200

Dress Code: Animal print encouraged crowclinic.org

Social Register

The Events

Jan. 12

Open House onsite to benefit Fort Myers Beach Art Association and Gallery. 10 a.m. Free

Dress Code: Casual Chair: Helma Gansen fortmyersbeachart.com

Jan. 13

MarineMax 7th Annual Yacht Gala at Marine Max Fort Myers to benefit Lee Health Foundation. 6 p.m. $250

Dress Code: Cocktail Chair: Trudi Kemmis leehealthfoundation.org

Jan. 13-22

SWFL Wine & Food Fest Online Auction to benefit

SWFL Children’s Charities. 5 p.m. Free swflwinefest.org

Jan. 14

Choral Artistry Soiree Fundraiser at The Forest Country Club to benefit Symphonic Chorale of SWFL and DBA Choral Artistry.

6 p.m. Tickets TBA

Dress Code: Business-casual choralartistry.org

Jan. 17

SCA Gala at Sanibel Commu nity House to benefit Sanibel Community Association.

6 p.m. $175

Dress Code: Island Festive sanibelcommunityhouse.net

Jan. 20

SWFL Wine & Food Fest

Chef Vintner Dinners at Florida to benefit SWFL Children’s Charities. 6 p.m. $1,500 (must purchase tickets to Live Auction)

Dress Code: Semi-formal swflwinefest.org

Jan. 21

17th Annual Empty Bowls Naples Fundraiser at Centen nial Park to benefit Commu nity Cooperative. 1 p.m. $10 Dress Code: Casual communitycooperative.com

Jan. 21 SWFL Wine & Food Fest Grand Tasting & Live Auction

Local fundraisers often include live music.

at Suncoast Arena at Florida SouthWestern State College to benefit SWFL Children’s Charities. 12 p.m. $1,500

Dress Code: Resort casual swflwinefest.org

Jan. 26

A Light to Remember at Bell Tower Shops to benefit The Dubin Center. 5 p.m. Free Chair: Ellie Fox dubincenter.com

Jan. 28

Faces of Pace 15th Anniver sary Gala at Caloosa Sound Convention Center to benefit Pace Center for Girls of Lee County. 6 p.m. $150 Dress Code: Black tie, formal

Chairs: Noelle Casagrande and Lt. Angelo Vaughn pacecenter.org

Jan. 29

Busey Bank Run for Preven tion at Jaycee Park to benefit Drug Free Lee. 8 a.m. $25

Dress Code: Athletic Chairs: Jon Engh and Lisa Barnes drugfreeswfl.org

February

Feb. 2-3

Shop for Success at Bell Tower Crowne Plaza to bene fit Dress for Success SW Florida. 4 p.m. From $50 Dress Code: Casual dressforsuccess.org

Feb. 8

Drug House Odyssey Family Night at Lee County Civic Center to benefit Drug Free Lee. 5 p.m. Free Dress Code: Casual Chairs: Jon Engh and Lisa Barnes drugfreeswfl.org

Feb. 11

Ride-A-Thon at Babcock Ranch to benefit Special Equestrians. 7:30 a.m. $50

Dress Code: Casual Chair: Jan Fifer specialequestrians.net

Feb. 11-12

Winter Garden Festival onsite to benefit Edison & Ford Winter Estates. 9 a.m. Free Dress Code: Casual edisonford.org

Feb. 16

Enchanted Gala 2023 onsite to benefit Bonita Wonder Gardens. Time and tickets TBA wondergardens.org

Feb. 18

17th Annual Nichols Cup Tennis Tournament at Fiddlesticks Country Club to benefit Bobby NicholsFiddlesticks Charity Founda tion. 9 a.m. Tickets TBA Dress Code: Tennis attire Chair: Holly McKenna nicholscup.org

Feb. 18

Asian Food Fest at Millennial Brewing Company to benefit Asian Professionals Associa tion of SWFL. 12 p.m. Free Dress Code: Outdoor casual Chairs: Pearl Cruz and Kyle Cebull apaswfl.org

Feb. 18

21st Annual Gala Dinner & Auction at Fiddlesticks Country Club to benefit Bobby Nichols - Fiddlesticks

Charity Foundation. 6 p.m. Tickets TBA

Dress Code: Cocktail Attire Chair: Elliot Katzman nicholscup.org

Feb. 18

27th Annual ‘Moana’ Storybook Ball at Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southwest Florida. 6 p.m. $325 Dress Code: Island-themed attire, black tie optional Chairs: Suzanne Costa and Carly Schwartzel rmhcswfl.org

Feb. 19-20

21st Annual Nichols Cup Pro-Am Golf Tournament at Fiddlesticks Country Club to benefit Bobby NicholsFiddlesticks Charity Founda tion. Time and tickets TBA Dress Code: Golf attire Chair: Tony Ciampaglio nicholscup.org

Feb. 23

American Virtuoso Dinner and Concert at Luminary & Co.’s Silver King Ocean Brasserie to benefit Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center. 5:30 p.m. Tickets TBA Dress Code: Business-casual sbdac.com

Feb. 25

The Cape Coral Charity Car Show at Tarpon Point Marina to benefit Cape Coral Caring Center. 9 a.m. $5

Dress Code: Casual Chair: Phil Deems capecoralcaringcenter.org

Feb. 25

Burrowing Owl Festival at Rotary Park, Cape Coral to benefit Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife. 10 a.m. $5 ccfriendsofwildlife.org

Feb. 25

Paint! Plein Air Competition Reception onsite to benefit Fort Myers Beach Art Associ ation and Gallery. 3 p.m. Free Dress Code: Casual Chair: Michele Buelow fortmyersbeachart.com

Also in February:

Run to Home Base Florida at JetBlue Park to benefit Home Base Florida Veteran and Family Care. Date TBA. 7 a.m. From $35

Dress Code: Athletic Attire Chair: Jason Cooper homebase.org

Sweethearts & Scholarships at HeadPinz to benefit Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce Foundation. Date TBA. 4 p.m. From $10

Social

Dress Code: Business Chairs: Women in Business Committee fortmyers.org

Twinz & Pinz for Education at HeadPinz to benefit Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce Foundation.

4 p.m. Date and tickets TBA fortmyers.org

Black History Month Celebration at Roberto Clemente Park to benefit Lee County Black History Society. Free. Date and time TBA leecountyblackhistory society.org

March

Mar. 1

Why Cook! at Bonita Springs YMCA to benefit Bonita Springs YMCA. 6 p.m. $250

Dress Code: Business ymcaswfl.org

Mar. 4

Cause on the Causeway at Sanibel Island Causeway Island A to benefit Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation.

6 p.m. Tickets TBA sccf.org

Mar. 7-11

ECHO’s Global Food and Farm Festival onsite to benefit ECHO Global Farm. 9 a.m. $8

Dress Code: Casual Chair: John R. Smith echonet.org Mar. 9

Sam Galloway, Jr. & Friends Soup Kitchen Benefit at Sam Galloway Ford to benefit Community Cooperative.

5:30 p.m. $200

Dress Code: Business-casual communitycooperative.com

Mar. 10

Tropical Tasting Lunch onsite to benefit ECHO Global

Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples’ event is known for its elaborate themes and encouraging guests to don full costumes.

Farm. 12 p.m. $25

Dress Code: Casual Chair: Sally Smith echonet.org

Mar. 19

Taste of Love 2023 at The Ranch Concert Hall & Saloon to benefit Special Equestrians.

5 p.m. Tickets TBA

Dress Code: Western attire Chairs: Adele Smith, Freda Jones and Jan Fifer specialequestrians.net

Mar. 25 Pan-Florida Challenge Cancer Ride organized by Pan-Florida Challenge. 8 a.m. Venue TBA. From $35

Dress Code: Activewear

Chairs: Robert Vigorito, Ed and Sue Mullen, Craig Manchen, Jim and Tina Gula panfloridachallenge.org

Mar. 25

2023 SWFL Heart Ball at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa to benefit American Heart Association.

6 p.m. $500 Dress Code: Black tie Chair: Tyler Kitson

benefit Interfaith Charities of South Lee. 6 p.m. $150 Dress Code: Business-casual Chair: Loran Eberle-Brodniak icslee.org

Mar. 31

Playmakers Tailgate Party at The Ranch Concert Hall & Saloon to benefit Tommy Bohanon Foundation.

6 p.m. $125

Dress Code: Business-casual

Davis Art Center. 7 p.m. Tickets TBA Dress Code: Dress to impress sbdac.com

Also in March:

Grande Dames Tea at Broad way Palm Dinner Theatre to benefit Pace Center for Girls. Date TBA. 1 p.m. $60 Dress Code: Business-casual, tea party hats encouraged

go! FISH to benefit F.I.S.H. of Sanibel-Captiva. 5:30 p.m. Date, venue and tickets TBA Dress Code: Business-casual Chairs: Maggi Feiner and Ann-Marie Wildman fishofsancap.org

Lori Carroll-Collins Scholarship Wine Dinner to benefit LARC. Date and venue TBA. 6 p.m. $500 Chairs: Jim Wells, Pamela Cronin, Tim and Sandy Stilwell Youngquist

Social Register — The Events

Toast to Potential at Caloosa Sound Convention Center to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun CoastLee County. Date TBA. 6 p.m. $125

Dress Code: Cocktail, semi-formal bbbssun.org

Love Your Neighbor onsite to benefit The Heights Foundation/The Heights Center. Date, time and tickets TBA heightsfoundation.org

The Craig Scott Memorial Golf Tournament at The Club at Shell Point to benefit The Heights Foundation/The Heights Center. Date, time and tickets TBA

Chair: Pat Ostrom heightsfoundation.org

April

Apr. 1

12th Annual BBQ Bands & Brew at Centennial Park to benefit Lee BIA Builders Care. 11 a.m. $12

Dress Code: Outdoor Chairs: Crystal Stouten and Tasha Birk leebuilderscare.com

Apr. 1

Kensington and Home Base Veteran & Family Golf Tournament at Kensington Golf and Country Club to benefit Home Base Florida Veteran and Family Care. 11 a.m. From $300

Dress Code: Golf attire

Chairs: General Fred Franks and Bob O’Brien homebase.org

Apr. 1

Entertainment Extravaganza & Fundraising Gala at Caloosa Sound Convention Center to benefit Florida Repertory Theatre.

5:30 p.m. $300

Dress Code: Cocktail Chairs: Renee Pesci, Emily Yorgey, Dinah Bloomhall and David Fritz floridarep.org

Apr. 1

A Vintage Affair: April Fools & Folly at Vineyards Country Club to benefit Multiple Sclerosis Center of Southwest Florida.

6 p.m. $400

Dress Code: Formal Chairs: Rachel Keller, Saman tha Brown, Cindy Lightner and Linda Rezek mscenterswfl.org

Apr. 8

Beer in the Bushes onsite to benefit Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation.

6 p.m. Tickets TBA sccf.org

Apr. 8

Arts Worldwide | Free Family Day at Center for Performing Arts to benefit Centers for the Arts Bonita Springs.

10 a.m. Free Dress Code: Casual Chair: Susan Bridges artcenterbonita.org

Apr. 22

Friendship Walk 2023 at Miromar Outlets to benefit Best Buddies Southwest Florida. 7:30 a.m. Free Dress Code: Casual bestbuddies.org

Apr. 29

Autism Acceptance Awards

Gala at Luminary Hotel to benefit Family Initiative.

6:30 p.m. From $350 Dress Code: Semi-formal fi-florida.org

Also in April:

Business Hall of Fame and JA Inspire to benefit Junior Achievement of Southwest

Florida. Date, venue, time and tickets TBA

Dress Code: Business jaswfl.org

May

May 5

Aiming for Ability at Sarasota Trap Skeet & Sporting Clays to benefit LARC.

8:30 a.m. $175

Dress Code: Casual larcleecounty.org

May 5

2023 SWFL Go Red for Women Luncheon at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point to benefit American Heart Association. 11 a.m. $150

Dress Code: Red cocktail Chairs: Dr. Deborah Antoine and Rebeckah Barney heart.org August Aug. 30

Love That Dress! at Embassy Suites – Estero to benefit Pace Center for Girls.

6 p.m. $30 Dress Code: Business-casual pacecenter.org

gulfshorelife.com

Visit gulfshorelife.com/socialregister for an up-to-date calendar of local fundraising events and the register of Southwest Florida nonprofits

HOME / Spaces, concepts and characters for inspired design

198 Stylish Living: From historic to modern in Captiva 210 Favorite Things: Leili Fatemi shares artful objects

214 Talking Shop: Off-White Palette’s minimalist world 220 Realty Check: Dream homes

Courtesy Jason Mizrahi

Home — Stylish Living —

By Ayn-Monique Klahre

Gathering Place

Joyce Owens melds historic charm and modern amenities in a Captiva cottage.

“When we first saw the cottage, we didn’t like it at all,” the homeowner admits. The modest two-bedroom, which was built in 1912 on Useppa Island, was moved to Captiva in 1948. The floors were uneven from the home being disassembled and reas sembled in the move. Decades later, additions and modifications eventually yielded a quirky layout, which included a primary bedroom that could only be accessed through a bathroom and small, chopped-up rooms that didn’t flow into each other. “Its potential was wasted, based on its incredible location,” the homeowner says.

But, there was a whisper of possibility. “I’m the son of a builder, and as I meditated over this home, I started to envision what it would become,” he shares. The cottage was grandfathered into a location right on the dunes and the beadboard on the walls and ceilings had a retro-coastal vibe. Plus, in a location so beautiful, square footage didn’t really matter. “You can instantly have sand in your toes on your own Gulf-front beach—it could be

ARCHITECT: Joyce Owens

BUILDER: Benchmark General Contractors, Inc.

PHOTOGRAPHER: Michael Stavaridis

This two-bedroom home, originally built in the 1900s on Useppa Island, was moved to Captiva in 1948.

the setting of a Nicholas Sparks novel,” the homeowner says. He and his wife felt with the right touch, they could unearth the cottage’s historical character while bringing it up to date for their family.

Consequently, they enlisted architect Joyce Owens. “They could tell this home was well-built; it had this beautiful charm about it,” Joyce says. The architect, a recent recipient of the AIA Florida Gold Medal—the organization’s highest award—is known for her modern aesthetic. But she likes the challenge of bringing an older home into the current era.

The first steps were structural: Joyce removed the sagging, uneven floors, got them all on one plane, and installed whitewashed oak floors throughout to brighten the space from the ground up. “They’re just beautiful,” she says. Then, she addressed the awkward floor plan. “We had to fix the circula tion,” she explains. She removed some walls and moved others to improve the flow, for easy access to bedrooms and bathrooms.

To maintain the character of the house, Joyce replaced the roof, windows and shutters with new versions in the same style, but kept the paneling throughout and a fireplace with interesting stonework. “We didn’t want to come in too heavy-handed and lose the historical charm,” she explains.

The dining room saw the biggest transformation. Here, Joyce removed a wall between the kitchen and dining room to create one large space for cooking and dining. “We used traditional principles in the kitchen with modern detailing, but we added cabinets and appliances for the 21st century,” Joyce says. The couple loves the huge island. “This is a place for endless gather ing and entertaining,” the homeowner says.

The homeowner saw potential and enlisted the help of architect Joyce Owens—known for her modernist sensibility—to update the home and reconfigure the disjointed layout for form and function.

The dining area saw the biggest transformation, with walls removed to create one large space with the kitchen. Concealed outlets and white cabinetry create a canvas for the landscape.

Concealed outlets and hardware along the all-white cabinets, walls and countertops create a sort of canvas for the view of the Gulf of Mexico out the bay windows. “Before, you couldn’t see the ocean from the kitchen,” Joyce says. Now, the homeowner says: “It’s seamless: the water hits you from everywhere you stand inside.”

The dining area opens to a living room that spans the south side of the house. Here, soft lighting and plush, oversize furni ture invite family and friends to lounge. The house has a “MISC” aesthetic, a term coined by the homeowner: Modern Industrial Shabby Chic. “All of the lighting in the home is so well thoughtout; it includes modern elements in one space and rustic indus trial ones in the others,” he explains. “All of it is soft and gentle on the eyes to make you just drift away for a midday nap listening to the Gulf waves crash in the distance.”

Joyce removed the sagging floors and installed white-washed oak to brighten the space. Careful to respect the original design, she replaced the roof, windows and shutters with new versions in the same style, and kept the paneling throughout. Details like oil-rubbed bronze nod to the historic character.

Off the living room is a media room, and the two bedrooms are located along the northern end of the home. “The primary bedroom is tiny, but it has an amazing view,” Joyce says. The second bedroom is roomy enough to sleep two or more. The architect was smart to eke out storage from the small floor plan so it would not feel cluttered. “It helps that the kids’ bedroom has unbelievable closet space,” the wife says. “It doesn’t feel like a dorm room.”

Joyce renovated the bathrooms throughout. The primary bath received a makeover in soft gray and blue tones and was recon figured to make space for a luxurious shower, an enclosed toilet and double sinks. In the second bath, Joyce reconfigured the floor plan to include steel-frame enclosures around the shower and toilet for the shared space. The powder room is the most modern, with a floating vanity sink, a toilet and integral shelving that closes the gap between the cabinet and the wall with black, sculptural tile and glowing lights.

Throughout the home, they added lighting and hardware with traditional details, like an oil-rubbed bronze finish, to lend a historic feel that ties in with the original architecture. Joyce says she added more modern touches to really make the cottage unique. With these touches, “this cottage is and always will be timeless,” the homeowner says.

Beyond what can be seen, Joyce worked with the homeowners to seamlessly incorporate the latest technology throughout. “It’s a fully integrated home packed with an amazing full indoor and outdoor sound system, alarms and remote temperature control,” the homeowner says. “Every single space, even the closets and hallways, was meticulously designed to maximize the cottage.”

The star, of course, is the ocean. “It’s really all about the beach and opening up the views,” Joyce says. Situated on the dunes, with Captiva’s lush greenery around them and coquina shells at their feet, the family spends their time playing games on the back deck and appreciating all their home has to offer. “Joyce brought our magical cottage back to life,” the homeowner says; his wife adds, “Now we never miss a sunset.”

Joyce renovated all bathrooms to maximize space. In the second bath, she added modernist steel-frame enclosures around the shower.

Center of Attention

We’re tapping local design pros to share the global finds inspiring them now. This month, Bonita Springs-based Leili Design Studio’s Leili Fatemi, who has an eye for sculptural furnishings, selects anchoring pieces that are artistic and functional.

Home — Favorite Things — By Michael Korb

Magna I Floor Lamp by Luxxu

With a good mix of glamour, modernity and an otherworldly edge, this lamp easily becomes the focal point in a room. It’s a weighty piece, stretching 55 inches tall with 88 pounds of brass and semiprecious crystal. “The stone framed in gold-plated brass is just a smart design,” Leili says. “It’s unique in that it’s both retro and modern.”

luxxu.net

Symphony Pedestal Sink by Maison Valentina

Leili loves the Portuguese brand Maison Valentina for its over-the-top designs. Inspired by pipe organs, their Symphony Pedestal Sink has a high-gloss, brasslacquered wood pedestal that supports a Nero Marquina marble sink. “Moments like this are what make powder rooms shine,” Leili says. “In this case, literally.”

maisonvalentina.net

Why Knot Bench by Kino Guérin

Using bent laminated plywood wrapped in oiled walnut veneer, Québec artist Kino Guérin applies the visual magnetism of knots and curves to furniture. His Why Knot Bench (available in 44-, 55- and 67-inch-long iterations) reimagines wood as a ribbon, with an airy design without legs, crossbars or supports. “His use of wood is imaginative and adds warmth to any space,” Leili says. “It’s a piece you can’t help but touch as soon as you see it.”

shopkinoguerin.com

Clean Slate

Off-White Palette debuts in Fort Myers as a destination for luxury minimalism.

When Nioby Trivett and her sister, Niza Westphalen, hatched a plan to launch a home brand, they wanted to create a destination for the luxe homewares they adored. “We wanted to cultivate clarity in design,” Nioby says about their minimalist aesthetic.

While neither had experience in home retail, the sisters suspected there was an audience for high-end materials, simple silhouettes and a monochromatic palette. Nioby had spent her career in real estate and was the longtime author of an eponymous lifestyle blog. They knew there was a hunger for marble-clad, cream-toned interiors. Both women also had extensive personal experience renovating and decorating their residences (Nioby has remodeled three homes and Niza has tackled four). The homes serve as the backdrops for Off-White Palette’s photography.

The sisters debuted Off-White Palette in the fall of 2020 as an online retailer with six products, including their signature Stone Candle. The initial collection, with its clean and organic vibe, hit a note: Three months’ worth of inventory sold out immediately. The sisters began to source more products in their signature muted color scheme, including marble side and whitewashed oak coffee tables. They expanded their offerings to include upholstered furniture, like gracefully curved sofas and side chairs, with the occasional contrasting dark woods or stone. Beyond its lack of bright color, a hallmark of the Off-White Palette look is the handhewn quality and natural materials, par ticularly marble and stone.

As Off-White Palette matured, the sisters craved a deeper connection to their customers. When a downtown retail space

Off-White Palette launched as an online retailer in 2020, and inventory sold out immediately. The home retail brand is known for its muted palette, organic materials and handhewn quality.

Courtesy Off-White Palette (3)

became available in Fort Myers, they jumped on the chance to open an experiential showroom, similar to the ones run by brands like RH and Kathy Kuo Home, which blur the line between retail and hospitality. The space, which opened in September, doesn’t have assertive salespeople. “We don’t want it to feel stuffy,” Nioby says. “We want you to walk in and feel inspired.” You can peruse at leisure, grab a coffee and even schedule a blowout (Niza and Nioby share the space with their

brother, Tariq Castillo, who runs a salon there). Purchases are made through the brand’s website via iPads, though some small accessories are available to buy on the spot.

New pieces debut quarterly, and customers are likely to find furnishings and objects they won’t find anywhere else, as OffWhite Palette has forged direct relationships with artisans outside of the usual wholesale markets. “We love finding a little hidden gem,” Nioby says.

Courtesy Off-White Palette

The owners recently debuted a showroom for their minimalist decor and furnishings in Fort Myers.

Home — Realty Check —

By Kelly Gray

Dream Homes

The Ritz-Carlton brand comes to Estero Bay, and Stofft Cooney Architects optimizes under-the-stair storage.

Market Watch: The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Estero Bay

The London Bay Development Group has already been making waves for its Saltleaf on Estero Bay project, which fronts the state’s first aquatic preserve. Now, they’re breaking ground on The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Estero Bay, within the 500-acre community. “The Ritz-Carlton is the quintessential brand for prestigious living,” London Bay’s CEO and president Mark Wilson says. The developers recruited two award-winning firms, Miami’s Arquitectonica (who are

also behind Gulfshore Playhouse’s new campus) and New York design studio Meyer Davis, to bring the vision to life. The two towers, with 224 condos, are slated to welcome residents in 2025. Inside, unobstructed views of Estero Bay and the Gulf abound from walls of win dows and oversized balconies on each unit. Within the dual, 22-floor, high-rise towers, apartments range from 2,628to-3,885 square feet with two-, threeor four-bedroom options—plus a den area. A private elevator entry is another perk, along with private storage on each resident’s floor. The innovative team at Arquitectonica designed the spaces to work as an architectural vortex of natu ral light: sunrise and sunset illuminate every home.

Outside, residents have access to an 18-hole championship course, a 72-slip marina, wellness center, spa and salon (including pet grooming), and scheduled gatherings at the Sunset Lounge. There are also private floating pavilions and cabanas, which can be purchased for per sonal use. The condominium homes were listed at around $2 million as of August.

Must-Have: Wine-in Spandrel

We have a clear winner in inventive wine storage goals. When the dream team of Stofft Cooney Architects, builder

Home — Realty Check

The backdrop of this Naples wine room may look like a blue agate panel, but it’s glass with LED backlighting.

Courtesy Stofft Cooney Architects

by

Knauf-Koenig Group and Calusa Bay Design set out to create a cellar beneath their client’s stairs, they put a cork in the ordinary and got creative.

After completing this new-build home, the team decided to maximize the unused space under the stairs, turning it into a wine cellar. Architect John Cooney says planning a wine room begins with how many bottles a homeowner anticipates owning; he’s seen requests range from 100 bottles to 8,000. The homeowners opted for an artful space for up to 200 bottles, with a focus on display rather than quan tity (a tall Sub-Zero wine cooler in the kitchen holds their everyday bottles).

Builder Knauf-Koenig Group—the Naples-area contractor known for jaw-dropping Port Royal, Aqualane Shores and Pelican Bay homes—says the staircase creates the perfect cellar space, with its sturdy structural support to pro tect the vintages. Once the layout was locked in, the team addressed the logisti

cal challenges. “It’s very important to get the cooling equipment to work properly under the stairs to chill these rooms to 58 degrees,” John says. To account for this, the wine room has a separate HVAC sys tem with its own thermostat.

The design team worked wonders on the colors and lighting. “Looking at rack ing, capacity and bottle sizes, plus the cre ation of a floating cabinet for decanting, our challenge was how to get it all to fit inside a space with such a severe angle,” Calusa Bay’s designer Randi Scott says, “We found these awesome glass panels at Ceramic Matrix, which people think are stone or onyx, but they are actually thin pieces of glass, backlit with custom, large LED panels.” Randi was drawn to the pat terns and colors in the glass, which looks like a blue agate panel.

And, when the homeowners want less of a spotlight on their showpiece wine room, they can simply turn off the back lighting. Brilliant.

Creating a Sense of Place

Creating a Sense of Place

SAVE THE DATE

GULFSHORE LIFE’S MEN & WOMEN OF THE YEAR

NOVEMBER 3

Join us as we celebrate our 2022 Men & Women of the Year, local luminaries who are having the biggest impact in Southwest Florida. With environmental activists, celebrity architects, visionary artists and powerhouse philanthropists, these individuals reflect the future of our region. We’ll recognize our 2022 winners with a dinner and awards ceremony at Na ples Grande Beach Resort, where you can meet the honorees and hear them talk about their passion and vision for our community.

THE IMMOKALEE FOUNDATION’S CHARITY CLASSIC GALA

NOVEMBER 11

Join us for the 2022 Charity Classic Sueños Dream Gala where we will take guests on a journey of The Immokalee Foundation’s 31 plus years of making dreams come true for the children of Immokalee. The event provides opportunities to support students in achieving a professional career through Fund A Dream, a live bidding experience that enables donors to contribute directly to support Immokalee’s chil dren. immokaleefoundation.org/gala

YOUTH HAVEN’S UNCORKED – SUNSET AT THE BEACH

NOVEMBER 18

Uncorked - Sunset at the Beach features wine, food, music, silent auction and sunset views at the Mediter ra Beach Club. Purchase your tickets and help provide Home, Hope and Healing to abused and neglected children and teens in Southwest Florida. youthha venswfl.org/events/event-uncorked

NCH HEALTHCARE SYSTEM’S HOSPITAL BALL

NOVEMBER 5

Body In Motion will strike a futuristic tone to illumi nate and amplify the revolutionary advancements in orthopedic medicine at NCH to serve all Southwest Florida residents. An evening to be long remembered will create a dynamic, exciting, and entertaining en vironment that will showcase beautiful and power ful bodies in motion to inspire support for the NCH Healthcare System Orthopedics. Honorary Chairs: Er ika and Reinhold Schmieding. nchmd.org/hospitalball

GOLISANO CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF NAPLES’ BACKYARD BASH

NOVEMBER 12

Back by popular demand, Backyard Bash is returning to the Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples! Adults are invited to feel like kids again at CMON as they compete in extreme versions of your favorite backyard games. Enjoy dinner from local food trucks, a curated beverage selection, live music, and chances to win ex citing prizes! cmon.org/events/backyard

HUMANE SOCIETY NAPLES’ MY RESCUE RESCUED ME

NOVEMBER 10

Join us for the return of My Rescue Rescued Me — an evening in celebration of the pets who rescued us. The night starts with a plated dinner for VIP guests at Baker Park’s Eva Sugden-Gomez Center. Additional guests will gather under the tent for a dance party featuring music by POWERHOUSE: Next Generation. The dance party includes food stations plus a full bar featuring creative craft cocktails. hsnaples.org/party

NAPLES ZOO AT CARIBBEAN GARDENS’ ZOO GALA

NOVEMBER 17

The exclusive, sold-out event will be held at Na ples Zoo, where guests will experience an evening inspired by Moonlight in Malaysia. The theme will resonate through the evening with animal en counters, elaborate table designs, exclusive enter tainment, a seated dinner and dancing. Proceeds from the event will support Naples Zoo’s capital campaign and the Zoo’s efforts to inspire people of all ages to respect, value and help conserve wildlife and our natural world. napleszoogala.org

PACE CENTER FOR GIRLS, COLLIER AT IMMOKALEE’S BREW-HA-HA

NOVEMBER 19

Mercato’s 11th Annual Brew-Ha-Ha Craft Beer Fes tival will showcase 60+ craft beers and feature the live music of West Wave! Guests will be able to relax on the lawn or join in the steinholding and mustache competitions. VIP tickets will include early event entry, exclusive beer sampling and delicious food pairings. Proceeds raised will benefit Pace Center for Girls, Collier at Immokalee. brewhaha22.givesmart.com

THE NAPLES PLAYERS' TREES & TEAS FESTIVAL NOVEMBER 29

Kick-off the holiday season with the Trees & Teas Festival, featuring decorated trees and teas provided by The Naples Spice and Tea Exchange. The theatre lobby will be filled with trees designed by local artists. Guests of A Christmas Carol, The Musical can attend the event for free. Contact the box office to reserve your tickets for this holiday spectacular. naplesplay ers.org/trees-and-teas-festival

228 All Stars: Michael Egan’s athletic

237 Editors’ Pick: Local athleisure Brian Tietz

Going the Distance

Naples triathlete Michael Egan has battled cancer, tackled Ironman World Championships and now competes against some of the world’s best athletes as he dives into the growing world of e-sports.

Michael Egan knows the clock is ticking. He has a wife, two young daughters and a full-time job, so time is scarce on a day-to-day basis, but he’s also acutely aware that time, in general, is finite. And Michael wants to use his time to the fullest. That ticking clock gets him out of bed between 3 and 4 every morning to ride his bike while, in his words, “playing a video game.” Michael is one of the top cyclists on Zwift, a multiperson video game and cycling training platform, riding for the pro team Saris/NoPinz and competing against some of the strongest cyclists in the world from the comfort of his Naples home.

“They say a man has two lives. The second one begins when he realizes he only has one,” Michael says. Battling cancer since childhood will give a person that sort of perspective. The 45-year-old was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in

Healthy Life — All Stars — By Graham Averill — Photography by Brian Tietz

Despite ongoing battles with cancer (he has had nine tumors surgically removed since he was 12), Michael has kept fitness at the forefront. He has qualified for the grueling Ironman World Championship twice.

The triathlete has swapped outdoor racing for indoor rides on his stationary bike, competing against top cyclists from his Naples home via e-sports platform Zwift.

2005, and he’s had health concerns since childhood, having nine tumors surgically removed since the age of 12. It’s a med ical history that has kept him in and out of the hospital since he was a kid, but it hasn’t kept him from living an active life. Michael swam competitively since he was 4 years old, eventually swimming collegiately for Lafayette College in Pennsylvania. Later, he discovered triathlons and became one of the strongest competitors in the country, qualifying for the grueling Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii, in 2007 and 2008. He continued to train for those triathlons after he was diag nosed with cancer and as he underwent radiation treatment. He couldn’t run or swim at the time, but he found the strength to ride his stationary bike. “I probably shouldn’t have, but I wasn’t going to let any diagnosis prevent me from doing what I wanted

to do,” Michael says. “My body was pushing me around. Doing triathlons was my way of pushing back.”

Michael trained up to 14 hours a week as he moved from Philadelphia to Naples to run a swim program (he later left that position and is now in real estate). He kept racing after he and his wife had their first daughter, filling their weekends with back-to-back competitions. The couple fell into an easy rhythm in Naples, where they found themselves enveloped by a healthy community. “Southwest Florida is different than the other places we lived,” Michael says. “Everyone here is into fitness and well ness. People in Naples prioritize staying active, getting outside

and eating well. I could join a group ride any day of the week and then spend time in the pool and running.”

But when the couple had their second daughter, Michael knew something had to give. The more time he spent training and racing, the less time he could spend with his daughters. “If I’m training for two hours a day, that’s two hours of my daughters’ lives that I’m missing. And it stacks up, one day after the other. I’d miss so much, and I know I’d regret it,” he says.

Zwift presented Michael with the perfect solution. The platform, which has more than half a million users worldwide, offers regular workouts and group rides and has live races.

An avid racer and busy parent, Michael starts every morning between 3 and 4, jumping on his stationary bike to race online before making breakfast for his two daughters.

Competitors use smart trainers to propel on-screen avatars that are riding and racing digital courses set in various global locations. At the highest level, teams like Saris/NoPinz compete for prize money on live-streamed races on YouTube. Michael took to the platform immediately and hasn’t looked back; his last outdoor ride was in April 2019, a month before his second daughter was born. “I can get on my bike at 5 a.m., and by 5:15, I’m racing some of the best athletes in the world,” Michael says. “By 7:15 a.m., I’m making my daughters breakfast. In no other scenario is that possible. I can pursue high-performance cycling and high-performance parenting at the same time.”

He admits that he misses being in triathlon shape sometimes. The multidiscipline sport requires total-body fitness that isn’t nec essary when racing bikes. “If you asked me to carry a heavy box up the stairs, I’m in trouble,” Michael says, adding that he always has a mindful eye on his overall health, even as the worst of his battle with cancer is hopefully behind him. “It’s in the rearview mirror, but I can always see it. My health issues push me to continue to appreciate as much I can, every moment.”

Daily Look

We’re loving Naples’ Taylor Smith’s “athlounge” brand, perfect for the active Southwest Florida lifestyle.

Naples-based Taylor Smith trademarked the term “athlounge” for her brand, KOUII (pronounced ‘koi,’ like the fish). “Athlei sure you only wear to the gym and loungewear you only wear at home. KOUII is a combination of both; you can wear it anywhere and everywhere you want to go,” she says. She’s earned a large following (more than 15,000 followers on Instagram) for her versatile sets and accessories since launching her online shop in late 2019.

Each collection reflects a mindset. “It is meant to represent growth—hence the plant emoji we always use—tranquility and power,” Taylor says. The acid wash Adaptation collection is inspired by the idea of finding beauty in flaws. The spring collec tion, Mālie, touches on energy flow and balance with opposing shades, such as dusty mauve and golden mustard. Taylor plays with swatches to find the perfect shades for mixing and match ing, gravitating toward “neutral offset colors that are soft with powerful tones to create depth.”

The sets are made from nylon, cotton, spandex or a blend of the three and hug in all the right places, with thick fabric to conceal unwanted lines and folds. Modern silhouettes—like the one-shoulder sports bra from the recently launched Quyéa collection—add interest without losing functionality. On social media, Taylor, and her brand ambassadors, show ways to dress the sets up with button-ups, kimonos or heeled sandals. Con sider this brand your new daywear staple.

Healthy Life — Editors’ Pick — By Alyssa Morlacci

Taylor recently added cross-body bags to the lineup, with 13 colors to pair with KOUII’s coordinating sets.

GUIDING YOU TO YOUR LUXURY HOME

WITH EUROPEAN CONCIERGE LEVEL SERVICE

www.NaplesClaudia.com

Visit my website to see all the available listings but also exclusive content including community information, sales data and videos. 239.329.7959

Claudia@NaplesClaudia.com

Affiliated real estate agents

contractor sales associates,

Banker.

Reserved.

Banker and

Coldwell Banker logos

of Coldwell Banker Real Estate

Coldwell Banker® System is comprised of company owned offices which are owned by a subsidiary of Realogy Brokerage Group LLC and franchised offices which are independently owned and operated. The Coldwell Banker System fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act.

TASTE

Aged to Perfection

The recently expanded Harold’s Restaurant navigates you through fine brown waters, with his signature fine dining steering the way.

Before farm-to-table was de rigueur in Southwest Florida, chef Harold Balink was serving Fort Myers diners soulful plates of the region’s bounty at his name sake restaurant. His menus have always been defined by Pine Island shrimp on beet linguine, salads resplendent with hunks of blue crab and meats carefully sourced from local ranches. But one of Harold’s core passions— whiskey—was missing from the menu. So when he closed the restaurant last year to expand and revamp the space, he decided to focus the bar program on the

golden elixir. Harold calls the decision “a completely selfish endeavor.”

“It’s my favorite drink, and the restau rant is called Harold’s,” he says with a shrug. Of course, he’s also tapping into a nationwide trend where many modern bars now practically glow in shades of amber. “You see 75 different whiskeys on the shelves where there used to be vodka,” he says.

His love for whiskey began with his grandfather, a restaurant worker, in his hometown outside of Boulder, Colorado.

“As a kid, I was getting sips of scotch,” he

says. His family would also pour him a splash of wine with dinner, so he grew up appreciating the taste of alcohol. “I never had that shock, that rapid learn ing curve, the hangovers from getting to know liquor,” Harold says.

As his tastes developed, scotch and rye whiskey became his tipples of choice. “Macallan 12 is my go-to. I love the sherry oak aging, and 12-year scotch is a per sonal preference,” he says, adding that older scotches make better after-dinner companions. “Whistle-Pig 15-year Barrel Select Rye is probably the most perfect

Taste of the Gulf — Raise a Glass — By Chelle Koster Walton — Photography by Dan Cutrona

whiskey I’ve ever tasted. It’s totally sub jective, but it offers everything I want in whiskey—oak and vanilla and caramel and butterscotch character, but it’s not cloying. It has that warm alcohol feel, but not a burn.”

Naturally, scotch and rye figure sig nificantly on Harold’s changing list of roughly 25 single barrels, blends, bour bons, Irish and Japanese whiskeys. He’s especially proud of the rare bottles from Orphan Barrel Whiskey Distilling Co. in Tennessee, which sells hard-to-find, small-batch casks at premium prices. “I don’t get many,” he says. “Honestly, I don’t even charge for it. I just pour a splash for customers who I know will appreciate it.”

Harold prefers to drink his whiskey neat, maybe with just a teaspoon of water to open the nose and round out the flavor. But the bar also slings perfectly balanced cocktails, made under the direction of Harold and well-loved Fort Myers bar tender Jay McAuley. The Old Nut com bines Four Roses Single Barrel Bourbon with black walnut bitters and a splash of Frangelico—just enough nutty sweetness to complement but not overwhelm the fine bourbon. The Smoked Old Fashioned muddles Willett Family Estate rye, Ama rena cherry and blood orange bitters.

Of course, the wine list hasn’t gone away. Harold, a certified advanced-level sommelier, offers a red-heavy selection that runs from high-end staples to fresh discoveries. But for him, the new bar program is a major enhancement. We’ll cheers to that.

Taste of the Gulf — Raise a Glass

The expanded focus on whiskey speaks to chef Harold Balink’s love for the spirit and matches the sophistication of his namesake restaurant’s farm-to-table cuisine.

Harold and bartender Jay McAuley (above) stock a few extra-special whiskeys, like the Orphan Barrel Whiskey Distilling Co.’s rare, small-batch casks, which they pour on the house for fellow enthusiasts.

DINING GUIDE

The Dining Guide is crafted each month based on editorial discretion and may include restaurants that advertise regularly (denoted by an asterisk). All phone numbers are area code 239 unless specified. Please email diningout@gulfshorelife.com to report changes in a restaurant’s location, prices or menu.

Guide

Brunch

Outside Dining

Pet-Friendly

MARCO ISLAND

Ario

400 S. Collier Blvd., 3942511. jwmarriottmarcoisland. com. At the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort, Ario has striking Gulf views, elevated culinary offerings and an impressive bar program. $$$$ STEAK

o v

The Oyster Society

599 S. Collier Blvd., 3943474. theoystersociety.com. At this chic locale, the raw bar has more than eight oys ter selections daily, as well as sushi and fresh catches.

$$$$ SEAFOOD

o

Sale e Pepe

480 S. Collier Blvd., 3931600. sale-e-pepe.com. A gem with Italian dishes, a formidable wine cellar and a waterfront patio in the Marco Beach Ocean Resort.

$$$$ ITALIAN

b o v w

NAPLES

THIRD STREET SOUTH

Barbatella 1290 Third St. S., 263-1955. barbatellanaples.com. Casual Italian cuisine from the people behind Sea Salt.

Meet up at the trendy wine bar or on the relaxed patio.

$$$ ITALIAN

o p

The Bevy

360 12th Ave. S., 228-4220. naplesbevy.com. Enjoy craft cocktails and varied influ ences at this locale off Third Street. The open-air setup with a retractable roof is nothing short of grand.

$$$ MODERN AMERICAN

o p

Campiello/The Club Room

1177 Third St. S., 435-1166. campiellonaples.com. A favorite for its contemporary Italian cuisine and courtyard. During season, The Club Room, a restaurant within, has its own menu and live music most nights. $$$$ ITALIAN o p v

D’Amico’s

The Continental

1205 Third St. S., 659-0007. damicoscontinental.com. Ex perience top-quality cuts of steak from around the globe, enhanced by the surrounding stylish modern decor, private cabanas and a cocktail lab.

$$$$ STEAK

o p v

Jane’s Cafe on 3rd 1209 Third St. S., 261-2253. janesgardencafe.com. Come for the lobster Benedict and stuffed French toast; stay to sit around the lovely koi fountain on the sunny patio.

$$ CAFE

b o p v

Ridgway Bar & Grill

1300 Third St. S., 262-5500. ridgwaybarandgrill.com. A quintessential Old Naples restaurant with creative American fare.

$$$ MODERN AMERICAN o p

Sea Salt 1186 Third St. S., 434-7258. seasaltnaples.com. A local favorite for sophisticated seafood and its accompani ments. Monthly wine dinners and other events are not to be missed. $$$$ MODERN AMERICAN o p v

FIFTH AVENUE SOUTH

Bha! Bha! Persian Bistro* 865 Fifth Ave. S., 594-5557. bhabhabistro.com. Iranianborn chef Michael Mir serves the flavors of his homeland in this jewel box of a dining room known for its indulgent fare. $$$$ MIDDLE EASTERN o

Bistro 821 821 Fifth Ave. S., 261-5821. bistro821.com. You’ll love the open kitchen and menu filled with originality.

$$$ MODERN AMERICAN o p

Chops City Grill

837 Fifth Ave. S., 262-4677. chopscitygrill.com. An elegant, baroque-inspired steakhouse.

$$$$ STEAK

o p v

Del Mar 494 Fifth Ave. S., 350-0134. delmarnaplesrestaurant.com. The latest from restaurateur Cameron Mitchell is this two-story, finedining eatery with a menu drawing from various Mediterranean countries.

$$$$ MEDITERRANEAN

b o

The French Brasserie Rustique

365 Fifth Ave. S., 315-4019. thefrenchnaples.com. From chef

Vincenzo Betulia, expect exquisite escargot and steak tartare in a buz zworthy atmosphere. $$$ FRENCH

o p v

Hobnob Kitchen & Bar

720 Fifth Ave. S., Unit 101, 580-0070. hobnobnaples.com. Updated takes on American cuisine in a cool, contemporary dining room. $$$$ MODERN AMERICAN

Lima Restaurant and Pisco Bar in Naples specializes in Peruvian food and the country’s brandy-like spirit, pisco.

Erik Kellar

Ichi Togarashi

800 Fifth Ave. S., Unit 102, 228-5945. togarashinaples. com. This stamp-sized restaurant has quickly become a favorite for its authentic takes on dim sum, seafood and 20 types of ramen. $$$$ ASIAN

Ocean Prime 699 Fifth Ave. S., 430-0404. ocean-prime.com. National restaurateur Cameron Mitchell presents surf and turf, an elegant dining room and highly attentive service. $$$$ MODERN AMERICAN v

Osteria Tulia/Bar Tulia 466 Fifth Ave. S., 213-2073. osteriatulia.com. Go for Sicilian-inspired fare in a rustic-chic setting or craft

cocktails at the Bar Tulia gastropub. $$$ ITALIAN o p v

Pazzo! Cucina Italiana 853 Fifth Ave. S., 434-8494. pazzoitaliancafe.com. Beautiful presentations and twists on Italian favorites. $$$$ ITALIAN o p v

Pizzata Pizza + Aperitivo 1201 Piper Blvd., 631-1021. pizzatanaples.com. The lauded Philly pizzeria lands in Naples with its famed sourdough pizza and Italian bites. $$$ ITALIAN o p

Sails Restaurant 301 Fifth Ave. S., 360-2000. sailsrestaurants.com. This refined establishment with

a raw bar has a weekend Champagne brunch that’s a destination in itself. $$$$ SEAFOOD b o p v

Sushi Thai Downtown 898 Fifth Ave., 430-7575. Multiple locations through out Collier and Lee Counties. sushithaidowntown.com

Large selection of sushi and Thai dishes. $$$ ASIAN o p v

Truluck’s 698 Fourth Ave. S., 530-3131. trulucks.com. The fine-dining locale touts seafood from the Gulf and beyond. $$$$ SEAFOOD

o v

Veranda E 290 Fifth Ave. S., 659-3466.

hotelescalante.com. A court yard setting and menu with Asian and French influences in the Hotel Escalante.

$$$$ MODERN AMERICAN

o p

The Vine Room 465 Fifth Ave. S., 316.1202. vineroom.com. Hidden be hind an ivy-shrouded door, this cocktail lounge with an onyx bar and green velvet banquettes crafts drinks with dramatic flair to pair with elevated small plates.

$$$$ COCKTAIL LOUNGE

Yabba Island Grill 711 Fifth Ave. S., 262-5787. yabbaislandgrill.com. Surf and turf, including seasonal stone crab, is the focus at this restaurant with prime patio seating. $$$ SEAFOOD

DOWNTOWN NAPLES

The Claw Bar 221 Ninth St. S., 231-3912. theclawbar.com. Southern charm, the best oysters and exquisite seafood are served inside the Bellasera Resort.

$$$$ SEAFOOD

o v

Grappino 90 Ninth St. N., 331-4325. grappinonaples.com. This Aielli Group eatery offers a fine selection of charcuterie, as well as build-your-own pasta dishes. $$$ ITALIAN

o p

La Colmar Bakery & Bistro 80 Tamiami Trail N., 3154303. lacolmar.com. Here,

Taste of the Gulf — Dining

Bonita Springs’ The Bohemian charms with its lush interiors and uniquely Floridian dishes.

you’ll find some of Naples’ top bread and pastries, plus sandwich es and salads.

$$$$ BAKERY

o

The Lake Park Diner 944 Seventh Ave. N., 228-6351. thelakeparkdiner.com. This casual spot serves healthy, organic fare with many vegan options, plus modernized diner classics.

$$ MODERN AMERICAN

o p

Nosh on Naples Bay 1490 Fifth Ave. S., 384-9208. noshonnaplesbay.com. Chef Todd Johnson crafts a menu of haute small plates at his first solo venture.

$$$$ ECLECTIC

o p v w

The Rooster Food + Drink 600 Goodlette-Frank Road N., #101, 228-5973. theroosternaples.com. A breakfast and lunch spot for comfort fare, with dinner Wednes day through Friday in season.

$$ AMERICAN

o p

Seventh South Craft Food + Drink

849 Seventh Ave. S., 231-4553. seventhsouth.com. One of Naples’ best restaurants, where food and drink earn equal acclaim.

$$$ MODERN AMERICAN

b o

BAYFRONT

Industry Beer & BBQ

449 Bayfront Place, 331-4160. industrybeerandbbq.com. The team behind LowBrow Pizza & Beer takes on slow-smoked ‘cue

and craft beers.

$$ BARBECUE

o p

CRAYTON COVE

Bleu Provence

1234 Eighth St. S., 261-8239. bleuprovencenaples.com. Channel the south of France with the food and Naples’ only Grand Award-winning wine list. $$$$ FRENCH

o p v

Chez Boët 755 12th Ave. S., 643-6177. chezboetnaples.com. French staples, plus an impressive Scotch list. $$$$ FRENCH

o p w

The Dock at Crayton Cove 845 12th Ave. S., 263-9940. dockcraytoncove.com. This laid-back spot serves Florida seafood on Naples Bay.

$$$ SEAFOOD

o p w

EAST NAPLES

21 Spices by Chef Asif

4270 Tamiami Trail E., #21, 919-8830. 21spicesdining. com. Authentic cuisine from an award-winning chef.

$$$ INDIAN

o p

Celebration Park

2880 Becca Ave., 316-7253. celebrationparknaples.com From the owner of Three60 Market, this waterfront foodtruck park has a lively bar scene and boat-up slips.

$$ ECLECTIC o p w

Kareem’s Lebanese Kitchen

4270 Tamiami Trail E., 315-4167. kareemskitchen. com Here, you’ll find seven types of hummus, salads and chicken with za’atar potatoes.

$$$ MIDDLE EASTERN o

Lima Restaurant 5047 Tamiami Trail E., 280-0167. lima-restaurant. com. Authentic Peruvian cuisine and a wide selection of pisco are the calling cards.

$$ PERUVIAN o

LowBrow Pizza & Beer 3148 Tamiami Trail E., 529-6919. lowbrowpizzaand beer.com. Wood-fired pies are served with craft brews in a fun, art-filled space.

$$ ITALIAN o p

Rumba Cuban Café 1265 Airport-Pulling Road S., 659-2996. rumbacubancafe. com. Classic Cuban cuisine with fun twists and attentive service.

$$$ LATIN AMERICAN o Tacos & Tequila Cantina 4834 Davis Blvd., 732-8226. tacosandtequilanaples.com. Tacos with lots of clever spins, plus margaritas aplenty. $$ MEXICAN o p

Three60 Market 2891 Bayview Drive, Naples, 732-7331. three60market. com. A breakfast and lunch

cafe with gourmet flair, a specialty market and an impressive wine shop.

$$ MODERN AMERICAN

o p w

MIDTOWN

Alexander’s Restaurant

4077 Tamiami Trail N., 262-4999. alexandersnaples. com. The menus are filled with seafood and flavors from around the world, presented in a modern cafe and lush garden atmosphere.

$$$ MODERN AMERICAN o p

Andre’s Steakhouse 2800 Tamiami Trail N., 263-5851. andressteakhouse. com. If you’re a fan of New York’s iconic Peter Luger chophouse, opt for this tiny joint founded by one of its former chefs. $$$$ STEAK o p

Café Nutrients

3080 Tamiami Trail N., 9198732. cafenutrients.com. At this organic, plant-based eat ery, owner Ming Yee sources ingredients from local farms and producers. $$$ VEGAN o p

Cibao Grille

814 Neapolitan Way, 434-6653. cibaogrille.com. Dishes from the owners’ native Dominican Republic mix with American classics.

$$$ MODERN AMERICAN o p

Taste

the Gulf

Dorona

2110 Tamiami Trail N., 529-2819. doronanaples.com. The Aeilli Group’s upscale steakhouse has a diverse menu, featuring seafood, pasta and custom cuts of beef. $$$$ STEAK

o p b

Escargot 41

4351 Tamiami Trail N., 793-5000. escargot41.com. This traditional spot features a page of escargot specials alone. $$$ FRENCH

o p

Fernández the Bull

3375 Pine Ridge Road, #101, 653-9097. fernandezthebull. com. Expect authentic Cuban dishes, like picadillo a la criolla and ropa vieja.

$$ LATIN AMERICAN

o p

Food & Thought

2132 Tamiami Trail N., 213-2222. foodandthought. com. An organic grocer and counter-service cafe with raw and vegan options.

$ VEGETARIAN

o p

Fujiyama

2555 Tamiami Trail N., 2614332. naplesfujiyama.com. Japanese master chefs pre pare dinners with flair at your hibachi table. $$$ ASIAN

o

FUSE Global Cuisine/ FUSE BBQ

2500 Tamiami Trail N. #115, 455-4585. fuseglobalcuisine. com. Find cuisines from around the world at fine-

dining FUSE and top barbe cue next door.

$$$ ECLECTIC o p

Harold’s Place 2555 Tamiami Trail N., 263-7254. naplesharolds place.com. This chickee bar serves a winning charbroiled burger. $ AMERICAN

o p

Hogfish Harry’s 600 Neapolitan Way, 776-7623. hogfishharrys. com. The menu follows a commitment to sourcing 90 percent of its seafood from local fishers. $$$ SEAFOOD o

Hyde N Chic 923 Creech Road, 404-3065. hydenchicrestaurant.com

In his artfully appointed dining room, chef Andy Hyde guides you through inspired tasting menus.

$$$ MODERN AMERICAN

Jimmy P’s Charred 1833 Tamiami Trail N., 643-2427. jimmypscharred.com. A casual steakhouse special izing in Wagyu beef from Naples’ longtime trusted butcher. $$$$ STEAK

o

Komoon Thai Sushi & Ceviche 1575 Pine Ridge Road, #9, 234-2442. komoonthai.com. A fun mix of Thai, Japanese and Peruvian fare in a con temporary locale that often hosts live music.

$$ ASIAN

The elegant dining area is matched by the exceptional French food at Chez Boet in Naples.

Lamoraga Restaurant 3936 Tamiami Trail N., 331-3669. lamoragarestaurant.com

Contemporary upscale twists on Spanish dishes, plus inventive vegan fare.

$$$$ SPANISH

o p v

Le Indya 975 Pine Ridge Road, 591-5156. leindya.com. The authentic cuisine includes plenty of vegetarian and vegan dishes. $$ INDIAN

The Local* 5323 Airport-Pulling Road, 596-3276. thelocalnaples. com. A farm-to-table restaurant with locally sourced, healthy cuisine.

$$$ MODERN AMERICAN

o

Martin Fierro

13040 Livingston Road, 300-4777. martinfierrorestaurant.com. At this Argentinian and Uruguayan parrillada, you’ll find grass-fed beef and tango music.

$$$ LATIN AMERICAN

o

Moura Bistro

3369 Pine Ridge Road, 7388883. mourabistro.com. A tiny spot with flavorful Lebanese fare, like falafel, tabbouleh and shawarma. $$$ MIDDLE EASTERN

o

Shula’s Steak House

5111 Tamiami Trail N., 430-4999. shulasnaples.com. Late NFL Hall of Fame coach Don Shula’s classic steakhouse. $$$$ STEAK

T-Michaels Steak & Lobster House 4050 Gulf Shore Blvd. N., 261-0622. t-michaels.com. Steak house dining on the waterfront, featuring USDA Prime meats and Maine lobster. $$$$ STEAK

v w

WATERSIDE SHOPS

True Food Kitchen 5375 Tamiami Trail N., Suite 15, 431-4580. truefoodkitchen.com. The menu caters to flexitarians but has plenty of options for vegetarians and vegans.

$$$ CAFE

o

NORTH NAPLES

BALEEN 9891 Gulf Shore Drive, 598-5707 laplayaresort.com. A wraparound terrace sets the stage for creative cuisine at LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort.

$$$$ MODERN AMERICAN

Swan River Seafood & Fish Market

3741 Tamiami Trail N., 403-7000. swanriversea food.com. Find Cape Codstyle seafood and a market with fresh catches, wine and more. $$$ SEAFOOD o

USS Nemo

3745 Tamiami Trail N., 261-6366. ussnemorestau rant.com. Masterful crea tions using fresh seafood from a classically trained chef. $$$ SEAFOOD o

Ziggy D’Amico’s Whiskey Bar & Diner 4691 Ninth St. N., 430-0955. ziggydamicos.com. This D’Amico & Partners spot has an emphasis on whiskey.

$$ AMERICAN b o p

THE VILLAGE SHOPS ON VENETIAN BAY

Bayside Seafood Grill & Bar

4270 Gulf Shore Blvd. N., 649-5552. baysideseafood grillandbar.com. Here, you’ll find more than 200 feet of waterfront dining. $$$$ SEAFOOD

o p v

MiraMare Ristorante 4236 Gulf Shore Blvd. N., 430-6273. miramarenaples. com. Enjoy classic Italian fare on the waterfront patio overlooking Venetian Bay. $$$ ITALIAN o v w

M Waterfront Grille 4300 Gulf Shore Blvd. N., 263-4421. mwaterfrontgrille.com. Expect organic meals served in the main dining room (with bay views) and on the waterfront terrace.

$$$$ MODERN AMERICAN b o v w

o v w

The Bay House* 799 Walkerbilt Road, 591-3837. bayhousenaples.com. South ern-inspired menus and a raw bar with panoramic mangrove and water views. $$$$ SEAFOOD

b o v w

Black Forest Restaurant 2366 Immokalee Road, 5924784. blackforestnaples.com. Here, you’ll find classic German and Austrian fare like traditional sauerbraten. $$$ EUROPEAN

Bone Hook Brewing Co. 1514 Immokalee Road, 631-8522. bonehookbrewing. com. This microbrewery

On Naples Third Street South, The Bevy puts an artful spin on fresh fare and cocktails.

Erik Kellar

Taste of the Gulf — Dining Guide

has a taproom with a full kitchen and table service.

$$ BAR BITES

o p

Café Gourmand

9853 Tamiami Trail N., 260-7109. cafegourmand.net. Here, find crepes by day and formal dinner service by night. $$ FRENCH

o

Côte d’Azur

11224 Tamiami Trail N., 5978867. cotedazurrestaurant. com. Old World French cuisine, from filet mignon to quail, in a cozy Provençal setting. $$$$ FRENCH

The Crust

8004 Trail Blvd., 244-8488. thecrustpizza.net. This sports bar is one of the area’s most popular pizza joints. $$ ITALIAN

Deep Lagoon Seafood & Fish Market*

8777 Tamiami Trail N., 6316266. deeplagoon.com. The family behind Pinchers owns this popular eatery. $$$ SEAFOOD

o Dusk

280 Vanderbilt Beach Road, 598-6644. ritzcarlton.com. This stylish sushi lounge in The Ritz-Carlton, Naples,

has a patio overlooking the Gulf. $$$$ ASIAN

o v w

Fernández the Bull 1201 Piper Blvd., #10, 2549855. fernandezthebull.com. Authentic Cuban dishes and daily happy hour. $$

LATIN AMERICAN

o p

Grain De Café 8803 Tamiami Trail N., 594-8081. frenchcafenaples. com. The wait is worth it for the pain au chocolat, quich es and crepes. $$ FRENCH b o

The Grill

280 Vanderbilt Beach Road, 598-6644. ritzcarlton.com. This steakhouse in The Ritz-Carlton, Naples, evokes the ambiance of an elegant private club.

$$$$ STEAK

v

Jimmy P’s Burgers & More

1833 Tamiami Trail N., 1201 Piper Blvd., #11, 514-1800. jimmypsburgers.com. The same superior meats from the longtime trusted butcher, with an emphasis on juicy burgers. $$$$ STEAK o

A TRANQUIL TROPICAL HIDEAWAY

Tarpon Lodge and Restaurant is known for its historic “Old Florida” atmosphere, acclaimed dining, stunning sunsets and unparalleled inshore and coastal fishing. We’re proud to have won BEST SUNSET VIEW & BEST KEPT SECRET in Gulfshore Life’s “Best of the Gulfshore” 2022.

Yelp / TripAdvisor

Komoon Thai Sushi & Ceviche

1514 Immokalee Road, 2342442. komoonthai.com. A fun mix of Thai, Japanese and Peruvian fare in a contempo rary locale that often hosts live music. $$ ASIAN

o

Namba

8847 Tamiami Trail N., 5924992. nambanaples.com. The Japanese menu is limit ed to a remarkable selection of ramen, sushi and small plates. $$$ ASIAN

New York Pizza & Pasta*

11140 Tamiami Trail N., 594-3500; 8855 Immokalee Road, 597-3800. nypp.com. Go here for hand-tossed pies and classic Italian fare. $$ ITALIAN

o

Parmesan Pete’s 7935 Airport-Pulling Road, 992-3663. parmesanpetes. com. Order huge portions of Parmesans, meatballs and lasagna. $$$ ITALIAN

o

The Turtle Club 9225 Gulf Shore Drive, 5926557. turtleclubnaples.com. This beachfront restaurant offers toes-in-the-sand service and coastal cuisine. $$$$ SEAFOOD

o v w

Two Fillets*

10395 Tamiami Trail N., 7880222. twofillets.com. The lat est surf-and-turf restaurant and market from the folks

behind Pinchers and Deep Lagoon. $$$ AMERICAN

o p

Zen Asian BBQ 10823 Tamiami Trail N., 2607037. eatatzen.com. A panAsian joint with fresh sushi, ramen, bar bites and Korean barbecue. $$$ ASIAN

o

MERCATO

Bar Tulia

9118 Strada Place, #8150, 438-1031. bartulia.com. The second location of this Italian gastropub features expertly crafted cocktails. $$$ ITALIAN

o p v

The Hampton Social 9114 Strada Place, 202-2038. thehamptonsocial.com. A lofty Chicago export with a chic, rosé-all-day bar scene complemented by great seafood. $$$ SEAFOOD

o v

Rocco’s Tacos 9123 Strada Place, 500-8226. roccostacos.com. Go for the roughly 500 selections of tequila and mezcal.

$$$ MEXICAN

o

THE PAVILION

KC American Bistro 885 Vanderbilt Beach Road, 566-2371. kcamericanbistro. com. Seasonal, American cui sine from chef Keith Casey. $$$$ MODERN AMERICAN

o

Ziggy D’Amico’s Whiskey Bar & Diner in Naples perfects the art of the cocktail.

Tacos & Tequila Cantina 8971 Tamiami Trail N., 254-8226. tacosandtequila naples.com. Inventive tacos and margaritas. $$ MEXICAN

o p

GALLERIA SHOPPES AT VANDERBILT

Alpine Restaurant 2355 Vanderbilt Beach Road, 325-9499. alpineofnaples. com. Expect the best of Ger man, Slovak, Czech, Polish and Hungarian cuisines. $$$ EASTERN EUROPEAN

o

The Cave Bistro & Wine Bar 2343 Vanderbilt Beach Road, 513-0095. thecavenaples.

com. An ode to Burgundy’s cellars, complete with small plates. $$$ WINE BAR ob Mister O1

Extraordinary Pizza 2355 Vanderbilt Beach Road, 631-6844. mistero1.com. Extraordinary isn’t hyperbole; try the star-shaped pizza with ricotta-stuffed crust for proof. $$ ITALIAN o

Poke Mahi 2349 Vanderbilt Beach Road, #520, 260-5722. pokema hi.com. Here, you’ll find Hawai ian-style poke bowls custom ized with your choice of fish and toppings. $ CAFE

BONITA SPRINGS

Angelina’s Ristorante

24041 S. Tamiami Trail, 390-3187. angelinasofbon itasprings.com. This fine Italian restaurant has plush banquettes, live piano music and an award-winning wine list. $$$$ ITALIAN v

The Bohemian 27975 Old 41 Road, 4519619. thebohemianbonita. com. The team behind Downtown Coffee and Wine also operates this restaurant, with a globally inspired menu and low-ABV cocktails. $$$$ ECLECTIC o

Chops City Grill

8200 Health Center Blvd, 992-4677. chopsbonita. com. The sister restaurant to Naples’ elegant steakhouse has been recently renovated, including a new menu and cocktail list.

$$$$ STEAK

o p v

C Level Bistro & Wine Bar 4450 Bonita Beach Road, 221-7046. c-levelbar.com. This intimate locale is dependable for continental fare like steak au poivre. $$$$ MODERN AMERICAN o

Coconut Jack’s Waterfront Grille 5370 Bonita Beach Road, 676-7777. coconutjacks. com. A perfect stop for quick bites with water

views. $$$ SEAFOOD

o p v w

DeRomo’s Gourmet Market & Restaurant 26811 S. Bay Drive, #140 and #148, 325-3583. deromos. com. This restaurant with a big-city vibe is part and parcel of an Italian market.

$$$$ ITALIAN

o p

Downtown Coffee & Wine Company 27546 Old 41, 272-6068. downtowncoffeeandwine company.com. Light bites accompany specialty coffee and more than a dozen wines by the glass. Don’t miss Champagne and oyster popup nights. $ CAFE p

El Basque Vin & Pintxo Bar

25245 Chamber of Com merce Drive, 301-4973. elbasque.com. Spanish and French influences merge at this tapas-style Basque wine bar. $$$ BASQUE

o p

Figs Grille 25987 S. Tamiami Trail #109, 390-1700. figsgrille.com. Find a refreshing fusion of Spanish, Turkish, Moroccan, Lebanese and French cui sines. $$$ MEDITERRANEAN o

Jimmy P’s Bistro 25301 Tamiami Trail S., 390-0301. jimmypssteaks. com. The trusted butcher serves superior meats and shareable plates. $$$$ STEAK o

Komoon Thai Sushi & Ceviche 3300 Bonita Beach Road, 234-2442. komoonthai. com. Thai, Japanese and Peruvian fare in a con temporary spot that often hosts live music.

$$ ASIAN o Lapa’s Costa Rican Bistro 26251 S. Tamiami Trail, 2217016. lapascr.com. Expect authentic plates of arroz con pollo, gallos and tosta das. $$ LATIN AMERICAN

Olde Florida Chop House

3401 Bay Commons Drive, 948-4400. oldefloridachophouse.com. Waterfront dining serving Florida-style dishes. $$$$ MODERN AMERICAN w

The Other Side Bistro 24630 S. Tamiami Trail, 992-7433. bonitasprings bistro.com. Chef Brian McCarley serves comfort dishes with a modern flair. $$$$ MODERN AMERICAN o p

Petar’s Restaurant

3300 Bonita Beach Road, #120, 249-4064. petarsre staurant.com. Chef Petar Al Kurdi has developed a strong following for his deftly prepared cuisine.

$$$ MODERN AMERICAN o

Roy’s Restaurant 26831 S. Bay Drive, 4987697. roysrestaurant.com.

Enjoy celebrity chef Roy Yama guchi’s Hawaiian and Pacific fusion fine dining. $$$$ ASIAN

o

A Table Apart 4295 Bonita Beach Road, 221-8540. atableapart.com. This restaurant fuses influences from the Pacific Rim and beyond.

$$$ ECLECTIC

Wylds Café

4271 Bonita Beach Road, 9470408. wyldscafe.com. Three chefs join forces for a fine-din ing experience.

$$$$ MODERN AMERICAN

o p v

ESTERO Divieto Ristorante 23161 Village Shops Way, #101, 390-2977. divietoris torante. com. Its famous fettuccine Alfredo is prepared in a hollowed-out Parmesan wheel. $$$ ITALIAN

o p v

The Saloon 23151 Village Shops Way, 9492583. thesaloon.net. A taste of Old West Americana, with grilled steaks, barbecue, classic sides and original cocktails.

$$$ AMERICAN

o p

Tacos & Tequila Cantina 10952 Eagle Village Drive, 330-8226. tacosandtequi lanaples.com. Tacos with clever spins, plus margaritas. $$ MEXICAN o p

FORT MYERS BEACH

Fresh Catch Bistro

3040 Estero Blvd., 4632600. freshcatchbistro.com. A notch above the more casual fare on the beach without feeling stuffy.

$$$ SEAFOOD o w

FORT MYERS

SOUTH FORT MYERS

Artisan Eatery

8951 Daniels Parkway, 887-4844. artisaneatery. com. Look for outstanding specials at this stamp-size local favorite.

$$ MODERN AMERICAN

Coldwater Oyster Market

5611 Six Mile Commercial Court, 220-5918. coldwater oystermarket.com. Chef Adam Nardis celebrates coldwater seafood from the North Atlantic and Pacific Northwest. $$$ SEAFOOD b o p

Ember

7091 College Parkway, #9, 771-8818. emberfortmyers. com. A gem with tabletop barbecue, fusion dishes and a separate sushi menu.

$$$ ASIAN

Fancy’s Southern Café 8890 Salrose Lane, #101, 561-2988. fancyssouth ern cafe.com. Southern favorites in a casual atmosphere. $$ MODERN AMERICAN o

Harold’s 15250 S. Tamiami Trail, 8490622. haroldscuisine.com. Chef Harold Balink recently expanded his cozy, farm-totable bistro, known for its inventive cuisine.

$$$ MODERN AMERICAN

La Trattoria Café Napoli 12377 S. Cleveland Ave., 9310050. latrattoriacafe napoli.com. Known for paella, this Spanish restaurant also features a variety of tapas and seafood on its menu.

$$$ MEDITERRANEAN

Liberty 12995 S. Cleveland Ave., #112, 689-5528. eatliberty.us. Chef Bob Boye’s dinner-only gem features artfully presented progressive menus.

$$$ MODERN AMERICAN

Osteria Celli 15880 Summerlin Road, #308, 267-1310. osteriacelli.com. Fresh pasta is a highlight.

$$$ ITALIAN

The Saucy Meatball

12401 Commerce Lakes Drive, 800-7172. saucymeat ball. com. An industrial-chic pizze ria with crave-worthy entrees.

$$ ITALIAN

Viet Village 16571 S. Tamiami Trail, 208-8368. vietvillagefl.com. This eatery is famous for its rare-beef pho and rice specials cooked in a clay pot. $$ ASIAN

BELL TOWER SHOPS

DaRuMa Japanese Steakhouse

& Sushi Lounge* 13499 S. Cleveland Ave., 344-0037. darumarestau rant.com. Here, the focus is on Teppan-style tableside cooking, tempura and sushi. $$$$ ASIAN o p

CENTRAL FORT MYERS

Chef Brooke’s Natural Café 1850 Boy Scout Drive, #A106, 332-2433. chef brookeonline.com. Here, you’ll find options for organic, gluten-free and vegan cuisine.

$$ VEGETARIAN b o

El Gaucho Inca 4383 Colonial Blvd., 275-7504; 22909 Lyden Drive, Estero, 494-1564. elgauchoinca.com. Try a mix of authentic Argentinian and Peruvian dishes. $$ LATIN AMERICAN o p

Ginger Bistro 4650 Cleveland Ave., #8, 689-3113. gingerbistrousa. com. The traditional dim sum and Cantonese barbecue are highlights. $$ ASIAN

KJ’s Steakhouse 10950 S. Cleveland Ave., 275-4745. kjsfreshgrill. com. The creators pride themselves on aging and searing.

$$$ MODERN AMERICAN

Sasse’s Restaurant 3651 Evans Ave., 278-5544. sassesrestaurant.com. North ern Italian and European cuisines are cooked in a wood-burning oven to critical acclaim. $$$$ ITALIAN

MCGREGOR CORRIDOR

Azure 15301 McGregor Blvd., 288-4296. azurefortmyers. com. Chef Joe Pittman excels at modernized French classics with a Southern flair.

$$$ FRENCH o

Blanc 13451 McGregor Blvd., 8873139. blancentertainment.com. Chef Jean Claude Rogé’s con temporary restaurant mixes global flavors. $$ FRENCH

Cibo 12901 McGregor Blvd., #5, 454-3700. cibofortmyers.com. This Italian spot serves stellar food and wines. $$$ ITALIAN p

Crave Restaurant 12901 McGregor Blvd., 466-4663. cravemenu.com. Comfort food is made from scratch here.

$$$ MODERN AMERICAN

Deep Lagoon Seafood & Oyster House*

14040 McGregor Blvd., 6895474. deeplagoon.com. A waterfront spot with a raw bar and scenic marina views.

$$$ SEAFOOD o v w

Taste of the Gulf

Roadhouse Café

15660 San Carlos Blvd., 415-4375. roadhousecafefl. com. There’s something for everyone with a wide range of dishes (including steak).

$$$$ MODERN AMERICAN

o DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS

Bullig Coffee & Bites

1815 Fowler St., 703-2629. Pair espresso drinks with savory or sweet waffles.

$ CAFE

op

Izzy’s Fish & Oyster

2282 First St., 337-4999. izzys ftmyers.com. A raw bar with New England-style seafood.

$$$ SEAFOOD

ov

King’s Kitchen*

2150 W. First St., 208-8518. kingskitchenandbar.com. Go for the warehouse vibe, beer garden and global comforts.

$$ ECLECTIC

o

The Silver King Ocean Brasserie*

2200 Edwards Drive, (833) 918-1512. luminaryhotel.com.

Inside the Luminary Hotel & Co., it serves sophisticated coastal cuisine. The hotel also houses riverfront Oxbow Bar & Grill and the rooftop Beacon Social Drinkery. $$$$ SEAFOOD

o w v p

The Standard 1520 Broadway, 219-6463. thestandardftmyers.com.

Sourced Locally Inspired by the Season Impassioned by Sustainability

Naples’ first Farm & Sea-to-Table Restaurant Keto, Plant-Based, Organic, Vegan, Vegetarian, and Dairy-Free Options created by Chef Jeff Mitchell

Open for Lunch, Happy Hour, Dinner + Weekend Brunch • Online Ordering Available 5323 Airport-Pulling Rd, Naples • (239) 596-FARM • www.thelocalnaples.com

Refreshed and Enlivened!!!

Innovative Culinary

Dine on from-scratch eats and craft cocktails, served in a convivial atmosphere.

$$$ MODERN AMERICAN o v

Twisted Vine Bistro 2214 Bay St., 226-1687. twistedvinebistro.com. Expect eclectic twists and an extensive wine list. The Barrel Room next door stocks rare whiskeys and plays live blues.

$$$$ MODERN AMERICAN

o

The Veranda 2122 Second St., 332-2065. verandarestaurant.com. At Fort Myers’ grande dame, you’ll find filet mignon, veal and top-notch service.

$$$$ MODERN AMERICAN

o v

NORTH FORT MYERS

Rosy Tomorrows Heritage Farm* 8250 Nalle Grade Road, 567-6000. rosy-tomorrows. com. Here, you’ll get a true farm-to-table experience.

$$ MODERN AMERICAN o p

SANIBEL ISLAND

Bleu Rendez-Vous French Bistro 2430 Periwinkle Way, 5651608. bleurendezvous.com.

This spot is lauded for its authentic French fare, like coq au vin and cassoulet.

$$$$ FRENCH o

Cielo 1244 Periwinkle Way, 472-5555. cielo-sanibel.com.

Enjoy modern American fare made in-house.

$$$$ MODERN AMERICAN

o v

Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille

Multiple locations throughout Lee County. docfords.com. Go for the seafood, mojitos and its namesake rum bar.

$$$ SEAFOOD

o

The Mad Hatter 6467 Sanibel Captiva Road, 472-0033. madhatterrestau rant.com. This is the place for whimsical beachfront fine dining on the island.

$$$$ MODERN AMERICAN w

MudBugs Cajun Kitchen

1473 Periwinkle Way, 4722221. mudbugssanibel. com. A menu of Crescent City classics (beignets, po’boys).

$$ MODERN AMERICAN

o

Expect elegant dishes and creative cocktails, made from scratch, at Seventh South Craft Food + Drink.

Sweet Melissa’s Café 2340 Periwinkle Way, 558-8919. t2traders.com. The retro-chic restaurant serves short rib flatbreads, curried snapper and housemade bread pudding.

$$$ MODERN AMERICAN

o

CAPTIVA ISLAND

Keylime Bistro at Captiva Island Inn*

11509 Andy Rosse Lane, 395-4000. keylimebistrocap tiva.com. Colorful island spot with a full bar.

$$$ MODERN AMERICAN

o p w

The Mucky Duck 11546 Andy Rosse Lane, 4723434. muckyduck.com. A British pub vibe with seafood platters, beer and live music on the beach.

$$$ AMERICAN

o p w

RC Otter’s Island Eats*

11506 Andy Rosse Lane, 395-1142. captivaislandinn.com. RC’s serves breakfast, lunch and dinner to the tune of daily live music.

$$ AMERICAN

o p

Sunshine Seafood Cafe and Wine Bar*

11508 Andy Rosse Lane, 472-6200. captivaislandinn. com. A step above the rest of the island’s beachy cafes with sophisticated entrees.

$$$$ SEAFOOD

Taste of the Gulf — Dining

Brian Tietz

CAPE CORAL & PINE ISLAND

Cork Soakers Deck & Wine Bar

837 SE 47th Terrace, 542-6622. corksoakers.net. An irreverent tone shows in the decor and on the menu.

$$ MODERN AMERICAN

o p

Fathoms Restaurant & Bar

5785 Cape Harbour Drive, 542-0123. fathomsrestarant. com. Expect modern cuisine with international influences.

$$$ MODERN AMERICAN

o p w

Fish Tale Grill By Merrick Seafood

1229 S.E. 47th Terrace, 257-3167. fishtalegrill.com. With an adjacent fish mar ket, many items here earn descriptions like “the best I ever ate.” $$$$ SEAFOOD

o

Gather

5971 Silver King Blvd., 673-9939. gathercape.com. Two celebrated chefs team up at this buzzy Tarpon Point Marina locale.

$$$ MODERN AMERICAN

o p w

Ginger Bistro

2366 Surfside Blvd., #101, 558-8865. gingerbistrousa. com. Authentic Chinese fare, including dim sum and traditional Cantonese barbecue. $$ ASIAN

Jungle Bird

Authentic Tiki

1520 Lafayette St., 471-4111. junglebirdtiki.com. A sophisticated homage to all things tiki, with cocktails and nuanced Pacific Rim dishes.

$$$ ASIAN

o p b

Marker 92 Waterfront Bar & Bistro/ Nauti Mermaid

5961 Silver King Blvd., 541-5600. marriott.com. Sit outside for views of the bay while enjoying entrees and shareable plates like oysters Rockefeller.

$$$ SEAFOOD

o w

Nevermind Awesome Bar & Eatery

927 E. Cape Coral Parkway, 994-3062. nevermindcapecoral.com. A hip spot with comfort food, strong cocktails and a fun, musical atmosphere.

$$ MODERN AMERICAN

o p

Point 57 Kitchen & Cocktails

3522 Del Prado Blvd. S., 471-7785. point-57.com. A critically acclaimed menu is the bedrock of one of Lee County’s best restaurants.

$$$ MODERN AMERICAN

o

Slate’s 4820 Candia St., 5406800. slatescapecoral.com New Orleans is evoked in all dishes, from the tradi tional to the inventive, and in the lively jazz lounge.

$$$ MODERN AMERICAN

o b

Tarpon Lodge

Restaurant*

13771 Waterfront Drive, Bokeel ia, 283-3999. tarponlodge.

com. Expect imaginatively crafted lunch and dinner in a 1920s fishing lodge over looking Pine Island Sound.

$$$$ MODERN AMERICAN

o w

SHOPPING DESTINATIONS

CELEBRATE THIS YEAR'S HONOREES

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3 | 6:00 P.M. NAPLES GRANDE BEACH RESORT GULFSHORELIFE.COM/MWOTY

FOR TICKETS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION VISIT

Sorry won't cut it, anymore.

CULTURE

and experiences to spark imagination

268 Curator’s Corner: Erin Wolfe Bell’s botanical view 276 Agenda: Top events for October

Helen Frankenthaler (American, 1928-2011). Stella Polaris, 1990. Acrylic on canvas, 96 x 108 in. Collection of the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation, New York. © 2022 Helen Frankenthaler Foundation, Inc. / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

Petal Pusher

Rooted in the art world, Erin Wolfe Bell grows Naples Botanical Garden’s cultural offerings, one budding idea at a time.

Erin Wolfe Bell is in pursuit of the impossible: finding a relatively quiet corner during her layover in Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

Erin didn’t think she’d rack up such hefty frequent flier miles when she began working as Naples Botanical Garden’s director of exhibitions and special programs. She’s currently en route to the American Public Gardens Association conference in Portland, Oregon; then, she’s off to research botanical gardens in Seattle— an exciting perk of the job and part of her ever-expanding work load. Erin manages the Garden’s cultural programming, which encompasses planning every detail of its exhibits, festivals and events three to five years in advance. Her tasks include every thing from curating and installing art shows to organizing the Garden’s festivals and events, like local painter Christy Noonan’s recent Meditations on Waterlilies. The show dovetailed into Erin launching the Garden’s first annual Waterlily Weekend, which celebrated their nearly 500 varieties of the flower in September. She also develops content for educational materials, helping the horticulture team include themes from her programs in litera ture about their vegetation. And she organizes the blockbuster

Johnsonville Night Lights in the Garden during the holiday season so visitors can admire the thousands of colorful lights illuminating the Garden’s pathways and plantings. On any given day, she could be scouting a band to perform, drawing up bud gets or cataloging the Garden’s permanent art collection. Or, she could be navigating a busy airport.

Erin’s path into the horticultural world started through art museums. She grew up on Florida’s east coast in Sebastian, vis iting the Vero Beach Museum of Art, where her grandmother worked. “I always felt like it was a place where I belonged, and it’s still one of my favorite places,” she says. Her early familiar ity with art museums led her to study art history and museum studies, later landing her first gig at the grassroots History of Diving Museum in the Florida Keys, which offered her the sort of outsized responsibilities usually reserved for older colleagues. In 2012, she moved to the Wolfsonian, a renowned Art Deco museum in Miami Beach, where she supported the museum’s board of trustees and its fundraising efforts. “I learned a lot in a short amount of time about how museums function from within,” she says. This prepared her for her role at the Garden.

Arts + Culture — Curator’s Corner — By Lauren Amalia Redding — Photography by Anna Nguyen

For Erin, the Garden’s primary goal is connecting people to plants and creating awareness of the importance they play in our daily lives. “Without plants, there is no life on Earth,” she says. And art plays a crucial role in fostering that awareness. She works closely with the horticulture team to convey that message through visual art and interactive tours. “Our mission is not to exist as a place of beauty, it’s a much bigger goal,” she adds.

Her museum background has proven powerful in igniting and shaping the Garden’s programming. Last year, she brought

Since starting two years ago, Erin has elevated the arts programming at the Garden with stellar exhibits and thoughtful collaborations.

in renowned Everglades photographer Clyde Butcher. He has exhibited in many museums, but the immersive setting at the Garden was unparalleled. “With his show, you’d walk out of Kap nick Hall straight into the gardens, which felt like an extension of his work,” Erin says. She strives to create shows that could only exist at the Garden, such as Patrick Dougherty’s site-specific STICKWORK, which showcases willow branches bent, fastened and interwoven to create art that’s inseparable from the natural surroundings. “It speaks to our landscape, our plant collection, our environment,” she says.

Lately, many of her duties involve gearing up for the upcom ing Mexico: A Celebration of Plants and Culture season, which introduces and highlights Mexican flora and fauna among the Garden’s holdings, and uses well-known Mexican culture as a bridge to connect visitors with its lesser-known foliage. The Garden, which focuses on the tropics and subtropics, already has around 2,000 of the country’s native plants in their collection.

She likes to curate shows that could only exist locally and dovetail with environmental education.

Arts + Culture — Curator’s Corner

Jin

WOMEN

PHILANTHROPY

STOFFT COONEY

BOTANICALS

NAPLES

NAPLES

PATRICK O’CONNOR

RICHARD WEISBERG

Erin leads the Garden’s Mexico-themed season, which spurred the ¡ARTE VIVA! countywide celebration of Hispanic culture.

Spearheading the programming, Erin selected and organized the three exhibits and related activities. She flew to Texas to tour the recreation of Frida Kahlo’s iconic Mexico City home at the San Antonio Botanical Garden before it is installed in Naples this January for Frida and Her Garden. The show explores the mar riage of Frida’s gardens, her artwork and how they both anchored her life. “She was very rooted in her home country, and though she traveled, she always came back to Casa Azul, especially for difficult moments in her life,” Erin says.

Erin also traveled to Colorado to arrange logistics with the Denver Botanic Gardens to bring their exhibit of towering Día de los Muertos-inspired skeletons by Ricardo Soltero, the stage-set designer of the largest celebration of its kind in the U.S., to Naples this month. In anticipation of their own commemoration, she’s working with the horticultural team to

Janet & Jerry Belle Carol & Thomas Joseph

explain how motifs from Soltero’s skeletons tie into the sur rounding vegetation.

But most of Erin’s collaborations happen closer to home. For the third exhibit, Viva la Vida: Plants, Stories, and Cultural Heritage , showing in April, Erin invited Immokalee-based photographer and activist Lisette Morales McCabe to show her portraits—which capture Hispanic women surrounded by plants of cultural significance, like chaya, a superfood akin to spinach and used by the Mayans for medicinal purposes. In addition to displaying 21 portraits depicting local Hispanic women posed with plants that are special to them, she’s recording audio so visi tors can hear each subject in their native languages talking about the importance of the respect plants in their lives and heritage.

Language is important. Erin believes the Garden should serve all of its community. To that end, this season, the Garden pres

ents all its exhibits in three languages that reflect Southwest Florida’s diversity: English, Spanish and Haitian Creole. And the team launched initiatives with groups such as United Way to offer discounted entry for lower-income families. “Our visitors are a reflection of our community,” she says.

And Erin is proud to be part of that community. Though she’s camped out in Atlanta’s airport and en route to Portland, where she’s excited to see her fellow “plant people,” she’s eager to get back home. For her, home isn’t just the Marco Island house she shares with her husband, Austin, the curator at Marco Island Historical Society, and their daughter, Chloe. Home is also the Garden, where she strolls during lunch breaks and spends week ends with her family, her trademark colorful earrings swaying as she chases her toddler under the trees. “The Garden is a work of art in itself,” Erin says.

OCTOBER AGENDA

Fill your calendar with local art shows, live performances and other community events this month. Check the organizations’ websites for updates and more information.

Now - Oct. 30

Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill at Florida

Repertory Theatre, Fort Myers

The musical recalls the turbu lent life of legendary scat and improvisational jazz singer Billie Holiday through career hits like “Strange Fruit” and

“What A Little Moonlight Can Do.” floridarep.com

Now - Oct. 30

Oktoberfest celebrations across Southwest Florida Grab a stein of ‘bier’ and toast to German culture, food and music. The monthlong festivities kick off with

Millennial Oktoberfest

2022, Sept. 30 until Oct. 2. The popular downtown Fort Myers brewery hosts axe-throwing, bounce houses and authentic German beers, like Berliner Weisse, only served during the festival (millennialbrewing.com).

On Oct. 13, set sail during Naples Area Board of REAL

TORS’ Oktoberfest Sunset Cruise, departing from Naples’ Tin City. Passengers are encouraged to dress in lederhosen and enjoy an open bar, appetizers and networking opportunities (nabor.com). Cape Coral Ok toberfest is one of the city’s biggest. During the Oct. 21-23 and 28-30 event at the

German-American Social Club, guests can indulge with potato pancakes, bratwurst, German beer and live music across two stages ( gasc-cape coral.com). Or, throughout weekends in October, catch the Oktoberfest at Sandra’s Restaurant in Punta Gorda for authentic German fare (sandras-restaurant.com).

Now - Oct. 30

The Artist’s Hand: Selec tions from The William Louis-Dreyfus Foundation at Naples Art

Actor Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ father, William, is revered as a fervent and savvy collector, with thousands of artworks spanning decades and gen res. This exhibit showcases his refined eye for estab lished artists with a strong point of view like Raymond Mason, underrepresented talent like painter Catherine Murphy and nonrepresenta tional artists such as Willard Boepple. naplesart.org

Now - Nov. 27

Helen Frankenthaler: Late Works, 1990-2003 at Artis—Naples, The Baker Museum

The museum is one of the first to get this collection of late works by the abstract expressionist artist, known as one of the most influential postwar painters. artisnaples.org

Oct. 1 - Jan. 29

La Calavera Catrina at Naples Botanical Garden

Find colorful, 8-foot-tall sugar skull figures, emblematic of Día de los Muertos, by Mexican-born artist Ricardo Soltero, who has designed sets for some of the most elaborate Day of the Dead celebrations in the country. naplesgarden.org

Oct. 1-2

Orchid Sale & Symposium at Edison and Ford Winter Estates, Fort Myers The Southwest Florida Orchid Society shares how to care for the epiphytes while

horticulturists sell native and rare orchid species. edisonford.org

Oct. 4-29

Opening Group Exhibition Featuring Darrel Austin at Harmon-Meek Gallery, Naples For the gallery’s 60th season, the 20th-century artist, who has had 10 exhibits in New York City’s MoMA, displays his surrealist oil paintings. harmonmeek.com

Oct. 10 - Nov. 22

Abstraction: Moods-Inter active Exhibition at Marco Island Center for the Arts Biomedical illustrator Cam Kowalski and painter Maggie DeMarco answer the gallery’s theme of ‘abstraction.’ marcoislandart.org

Oct. 14

Trevor Noah: Back to Abnormal World Tour at Hertz Arena, Estero The 13-time Emmy Award-nominated stand-up comedian and The Daily Show host performs. hertzarena.com Oct. 14

Trace Adkins: The Way I Wanna Go Tour at Seminole Casino Hotel, Immokalee Catch the multi-Academy of Country Music Award winner behind “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk” and “You’re Going to Miss This.” paradisecoast.com

Oct. 14-16

Jekyll & Hyde: The Musical at Center for Performing Arts, Bonita Springs Based on the classic thriller, this production shows the brilliant scientist Dr. Jekyll failing to cure his mentally ill father, instead giving him an evil alter ego. artcenterbonita.org

Marco Island Center for the Arts’ show Abstraction asks artists to reflect on the conceptual, with works like Flamingo Ballet by Shawn Kelley.

Courtesy Marco Island Center for the Arts/Shawn Kelley

Oct. 15

Paradise Coast Wine & Food Experience at Cambier Park, Naples

The festival showcases the best wine and local food from regional chefs like Asif Syed from 21 Spices and celebrated restaurants like Barbatella and The Claw Bar. VIP ticketholders access the event an hour early and enjoy unlimited tastings. wineandfood.usatoday.com

Oct. 17

Woodstock on Bayshore at Celebration Park, Naples Cancer Alliance of Naples celebrates 20 years with live music and top-notch foodtruck fare at Celebration Park; groovy attire encour aged. cancerallianceofnaples.com

Oct. 19 - Nov. 6

By the Way, Meet Vera Stark at Sugden Community Theatre

In this play, Vera Stark, a fictional character based on ambitious Black actresses of the ‘30s, gets her big break in an antebellum feature dur ing Hollywood’s Golden Age. The story spans her 70-year journey through life and the impact race and playing an enslaved person had on her career. naplesplayers.org

Oct. 20-29

August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson at Alliance for the Arts, Fort Myers

This Pulitzer Prize-winning play follows two siblings and their mediating uncle in a custody struggle over an heirloom piano that holds the engraved history of their enslaved ancestors. artinlee.org

The

Arts

Culture

Oct. 21-23

29th RedSnook Catch & Release Charity Fishing Tournament in Collier County

Support the Conservancy of Southwest Florida during this weekend tournament, with launch sites in Naples, Goodland and Chokoloskee. conservancy.org

Oct. 22-23

Annual Swamp Celebration at Clyde Butcher’s Big Cypress Gallery, Ochopee

Take a guided eco-tour or private photo jaunt through the swamplands surround ing the renowned nature photographer’s gallery. All proceeds go toward the Alliance for Florida’s National Parks’ educational program, which benefits sixth-graders in Collier County. explorebigcypress.com

Oct. 25

Latin Infusion! at Marco Island Center for the Arts As part of Collier County’s ¡Arte Viva! festival, Venezue lan singer Erika Ramirez, of Gulfshore Opera’s GO Divas, performs with Cuban guitar ist Jose A Fernandez-Acosta. marcoislandart.org

Oct. 27-30

14th Annual Naples International Film Festival at Artis—Naples

This stylish film festival consistently brings some of the buzziest indie flicks and shorts in the circuit to Naples. artisnaples.org

Oct. 28-30

Stone Crab Festival at Tin City, Naples

Overlook Naples Bay and enjoy live music as you taste fresh, locally caught seafood to mark the start of stone crab season. stonecrabfestival.com

Recurring Events We Love

With live music on the streets, nibbles at local galleries and shops and other fun diversions, these monthly events keep us coming back.

Oct. 7

Fort Myers Art Walk at Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center

Downtown Fort Myers’ growing arts scene is on full display the first Friday of the month. Don’t miss the accompanying rooftop party at SBDAC, which hosts the monthly event. sbdac.com

Oct. 8

Music in the Garden at Naples Botanical Garden

On second Saturdays, the Naples Botanical Garden fills with music and artists performing on the Water Garden stage. This month, Naples-based Havy Rod riguez & the Miami Splash Band plays their blend of Latin, pop and jazz. naplesgarden.org

Oct. 13

Evening on Fifth in Old Naples

The shops stay open late, restaurants offer dining specials and live music fills historic Fifth Avenue South on second Thursdays. fifthavenuesouth.com

Oct. 21

Fort Myers Music Walk in the River District

Enjoy live music in the streets of Fort Myers’ downtown by local and regional musicians on the third Friday of the month. myriverdistrict.com

Queens of the Jungle

We’ve said it once and we’ll say it again: Our philanthropic community is fueled by women who rule the roost, from do nors to chairs to nonprofit leaders. And female leadership spans back decades. At least that’s the case for the Humane Society, whose 1974 president, Lois Kerckhoff (second from left), with event chair Jan Fisher, organized the elaborate Zoofari Dinner Dance to support local animals. The two are pictured with Jan’s husband, Earl, and conservationist John Slater. The scene has us feeling frisky for next month’s Naples Zoo at Caribbean Garden’s Zoo Gala (chaired by dynamo team Sheliah Wall, Jennifer McCurry, Anita Lovse and Nina Van Arsdale). Get ready for a wild night of giving.

Parting Shot — January 1974 — Publisher Harry R. Denmead — “Along the Gulfshore”