Collier Community Foundation

Thank you to Newsmax Media, Inc. for interviewing Eileen Connolly-Keesler and Ashley Maher this morning to help spread the word about our COAD, Disaster Ready Collier County and the importance of philanthropy in hurricane recovery. We are your philanthropic first responder and we will get through this together. Please listen to advice from our county and state leaders about staying safe and we will see you after the storm! #colliercomestogether #hurricanemilton https://lnkd.in/ee4x-xXT https://lnkd.in/eyFarbu8

In the effort to coordinate disaster resources, the Collier Community Foundation formed Disaster Ready Collier County, a new COAD (Community Organizations Active in Disaster) dedicated to disaster response that enhances communication, coordinates resources, and streamlines immediate and long-term recovery efforts following a hurricane or disaster—making it easier for residents to access resources in real-time and navigate the recovery process. If you would like to volunteer for relief efforts after the storm, this is who to contact! Learn more at https://lnkd.in/eB2GfQbu. Stay safe everyone! #colliercomestogether

In anticipation of #HurricaneMilton and its potentially devastating impact on our area, Collier Community Foundation has once again reactivated the #colliercomestogether Hurricane Disaster Fund to assist Hurricane Milton victims. Activating the fund allows CCF to act quickly to ensure immediate aid is provided where needed most. The fund's purpose is to assist those affected and the nonprofits that support the victims in the aftermath of a crisis. The fund also ensures donors' support reaches its intended cause. Following a disaster or emergency, fraudulent sites pop up, misleading donors about where their funds will go. Visit here to donate: https://lnkd.in/er3C2e9w The Collier Community Foundation team will be working remotely starting today at noon due to the possibility of flooding and excessive winds from Hurricane Milton. We will be answering phones so feel free to contact us. We will be back in the office on Friday, weather permitting.

Join us in celebrating STOCK Development who will receive the Outstanding Corporate Philanthropy Award and the other 2024 honorees at the Celebration of Philanthropy on November 1. Purchase tickets and learn more here: https://lnkd.in/dCjWJChe

Join us in celebrating The Everglades Foundation for receiving the Harvey Kapnick Award and the other 2024 honorees on November 1. Purchase tickets and learn more here: https://lnkd.in/dCjWJChe Ellin Goetz

While we wait to hear of the extent of damage in Collier County, the Big Bend area of Florida is dealing with catastrophic flooding and damage from #hurricanehelene, which roared ashore at 140 mph as a category 4 storm. Our friends at the Community Foundation of North Florida (CFNF) have activated their disaster relief fund to provide relief to Perry, Tallahassee, and the surrounding areas. You can give directly to their fund at https://lnkd.in/e9bW5HPe You can also donate to our Collier Comes Together Fund and note you would like your support to benefit North Florida disaster relief. https://lnkd.in/ey6eQzPJ

The Collier Community Foundation team will be working remotely tomorrow due to the possibility of flooding and excessive winds from Hurricane Helene. We will be answering phones so feel free to contact us. We will be back in the office on Friday, weather permitting. Rest assured that we are dedicated to hurricane relief, recovery, and mitigation and are standing by to reactivate the Collier Comes Together Disaster Relief Fund if the storm takes a turn towards Collier County. In the meantime, we will continue our work raising homes and replacing manufactured homes in Collier County in areas such as Everglades City, Chokoloskee (pictured here), Plantation Island, and River Park, and the formation of Disaster Ready Collier County, a COAD (Communities Active in Disaster) dedicated to disaster response that enhances communication, coordinates resources, and streamlines immediate and long-term recovery efforts following a hurricane or disaster—making it easier for residents to access resources in real-time and navigate the recovery process. Stay tuned for these stories and more in our upcoming 2024 Community Report, hitting mailboxes and inboxes in early November. Stay high and dry, and safe, and we will see you after the storm!

Say hi to our next WOI honoree, Barbie Hills! Barbie has been a Naples Botanical Garden’s Sustaining Leadership Council member since 2003 and chaired this year’s record-breaking 20th annual “Hats in the Garden” — a sold-out soiree that brought in nearly $4.5 million. Barbie began visiting Naples four decades ago and has been a vanguard in the local philanthropic community. She and her husband, Paul, are long-time trustees of the Naples Children & Education Foundation (NCEF), funded by the renowned Naples Winter Wine Festival, and have hosted chef-vintner dinners before the main event for decades. Barbie and the 2024 Women of Initiative class will be honored at #womenrockphilanthropy on November 22. Read more about Barbie and purchase tickets at https://lnkd.in/e6b5ErUT Limited seating is available!

Join us in celebrating Excellence in Civic Leadership Award winner - Jingled Elves, Inc. and the other 2024 honorees at the Celebration of Philanthropy on November 1. Purchase tickets and learn more here: https://lnkd.in/dCjWJChe Dusti Beaubien

Join us in celebrating The Everglades Foundation for receiving the Harvey Kapnick Award and the other 2024 honorees on November 1. Purchase tickets and learn more here: https://lnkd.in/dCjWJChe Collier County Public Schools PARKSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL