Causes to Celebrate

Kim Long

It was love at first sight when I walked into Fun Time Early Childhood Academy for the first time as a potential board member. I saw the smiling faces of the children and felt the loving, nurturing environment. Since I've been CEO of the academy, that love has only grown.

For 45 years, Fun Time has provided safe, high-quality and affordable early care and education for the children of low-income working parents. Fun Time's children benefit from two hot meals and a heavy snack every day; a research-based, practiced-focused and nationally accredited educational program; and comprehensive social services referral and support for family needs.

The community benefits from their care because the children who leave Fun Time enter our schools ready to read, learn and succeed.

Denise Cobb

I learned about the mission of the Guadalupe Center of Immokalee as a trustee of the Naples Winter Wine Festival.

Immokalee is the largest hub for migrant workers in the Southeast, its population primarily made up of unskilled farm workers from Guatemala, Mexico and Haiti. Nearly 50 percent of Immokalee's residents live below the poverty level, with a per capita income of just $8,576. In 80 percent of the homes, a language other than English is spoken.

A recent assessment contains some troubling predictions for Immokalee's children. Out of 100 children who are kindergarten students today, 14 girls will become teen mothers; four children will be abducted by strangers; 22 will suffer severe health issues; three will die from accidents before age 10; six will die before age 16; 16 will be arrested before age 18. Only 13 will go on to higher education.

This devastating profile indicates an urgent need for the services and programs offered by the Guadalupe Center. Hundreds of children are being served by the center's early childhood education program, the after-school program, summer programs and the tutor corps, but hundreds more are on the waiting list. That is why the center is in the midst of a capital campaign and a new building is in the works.

Frank Haskell

Betty and I lost our daughter, Barbara, to cancer at the age of 36. Ten years ago we founded the Barbara's Friends Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida Cancer Fund. The fund provides care and facilities for more than 300 Southwest Florida children with cancer and 1,500 who are battling hematological disorders.

Today more than 80 percent of these children are surviving, but more than 50 percent are uninsured or are Medicaid patients.

This makes philanthropic support from the entire Southwest Florida community essential. Over the next five years, we're raising $10 million to expand the pediatric oncology center.

Bruce Yamron

Bridget and I found our priority for giving through our two daughters. When Christie and Courtney were in the early grades, we were shocked to learn that reading seemed like an almost impossible challenge to them. It is probably not too strong to say that we were devastated.

When our girls told us that they absolutely wanted to learn, we formed a family plan. Collier County Public Schools joined forces with us. Their efforts helped our daughters graduate with high honors from high school and from the universities of their choice.

For the past several years, the Education Foundation of Collier County has invited Yamron Jewelers to contribute golden apple pins and tie clasps for Golden Apple teachers. In our grateful hearts, we wish we could give a golden apple to every teacher whose efforts have forever improved a child's life.

Garret Richter

Since it formed in 1994, I have had the pleasure and honor of serving on the board of the Quest

For Kids/Quest For Success program.

Recognizing the importance of getting Quest students to and through college, Quest opened the Quest Prep Center in January 2002. Working closely with the staff and using a curriculum designed to narrow career choices, students find the colleges that seem right for them. High-speed Internet access allows them to tour campuses online. Quest's staff then guides them through the admissions and application process.

It's estimated that only one high school counselor serves every 250 high school students, and approximately 50 percent of high school students apply to college. That means a high school junior is getting roughly a day's worth of a counselor's time to help with a decision that will impact this student for life. To counter this trend, Quest has made the prep center, its resources and its staff available to any local high school student who wants to pursue a college education.

I'm proud to be affiliated with a program that is making a difference in the lives of Collier County students.

Elliott Singer

The mission of the Naples Children and Education Foundation is imperative: to support programs that improve the physical, emotional and educational lives of underprivileged or at-risk children locally. Through the Naples Winter Wine Festival, the most successful charity wine auction in the world, the foundation has raised more than $26.6 million in just five years. Like so many charitable events, the Naples Winter Wine Festival began as mere conversation among friends-friends, in this case, who wanted to make a difference in their community and have fun doing it.

As the sixth annual event approaches, Naples has drawn the attention of national media. Everyone is asking how it is being done. The answer is basic: Amazing things happen when good people get together for those in need.

INSPIRED TO GIVE?

A few of the many causes our community advisory board supports:

Barbara's Friends
(239) 985-3550
www.leememorial.org/foundation/barbaras_friends.asp

The Education Foundation
of Collier County
(239) 643-4755
www.educationforcollier.org

Fun Time Early Childhood Academy
(239) 261-8284

Guadalupe Center
(239) 657-4361
www.guadalupecenter.net

Naples Children & Education Foundation
(239) 514-2239
www.napleswinefestival.com

Quest for Kids/Quest for Success
(239) 643-3573
www.questforkids.org