Olympians compete for medals, and actors dream of roles that will merit gold statuettes from the Academy. Philanthropists are a different sort-not only do they tend not to be motivated by the promise of recognition, they often say it's undeserved, that their good works are no more than what others routinely do to little fanfare. We beg to differ, and, in making our case, introduce you to Southwest Florida's 2006 Philanthropists of the Year.

This year's honorees include three whose charitable bequests have advanced critical community causes, a volunteer fundraiser whose energy and generosity never flag, a young man who is following in the footsteps of those who mentored him, a large corporation that stays close to those in need, and a small-business owner whose philanthropy comes straight from her heart.

Those recognized were nominated by their peers and selected by representatives of the Community Foundation of Collier County, Southwest Florida Community Foundation and the Naples chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. We hope you can join us in honoring these exemplary givers at the area's third annual National Philanthropy Day luncheon, to be held Nov. 15 at Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort in Bonita Springs. For more information, call (239) 449-4130.

it's hard to hide hundreds of teddy bears. Although Fort Myers philanthropists John and Ellen Sheppard are known for giving quietly and without fanfare, the stuffed animals that proliferate in their home serve as a tangible reminder of their good works. After the Sheppards learned of research suggesting teddy bears could soothe ill or traumatized children, they began ordering the bears 800 at a time. They are distributed to every child at the Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida as well as through law enforcement and other agencies.

John and Ellen Sheppard-Outstanding Philanthropists

Married for 52 years, the Sheppards, who have occupied a home off McGregor Avenue for more than four decades, have maintained a modest lifestyle while giving away generous sums of money. They have two funds at the Southwest Florida Community Foundation, one focusing on children in crisis and the other targeting nonprofits who work with those in extreme poverty. John, a retired estate-planning attorney, has been with the foundation since its beginning in 1976, handling its incorporation, donating the family's own money and cajoling his clients into contributing.

Both are involved with their church, Covenant Presbyterian, where a mural by Ellen graces the walls. John helps nonprofits struggling with the legal documents that will allow them to receive donations, and he picks up food for the soup kitchen Wake Up America. In what the couple calls their "sunset years," Ellen finds her paintings in demand for auction at charitable benefits, and John writes, with four books and a $5,000 poetry-contest win to his credit. Where did the prize money go? Directly to charity.

Amanda Cross-Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser

When Amanda Cross decides to dig into a fundraising project, she takes a hands-on approach. Whether she's creating a detailed database of sponsors or helping fund a touch-tank exhibit, the programs she works on hit close to home-and close to the heart.

She joined a group of mothers that formed Sanibel-Captiva Cares in 2000 after one of their babies developed a rare form of cancer. The child wouldn't have lived, says Cross, if the Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida hadn't existed.

With hopes of creating awareness for the hospital, the group held an art auction and raised more than $100,000 its first year. Today six-year-old Matthew Marinello is cancer-free, and the group has raised more than $1 million with its annual event, which now includes an auction of artwork, nature excursions, meals, golf and more.

Another of Cross' passions is the Canterbury School in Fort Myers. Now the president of the school's board of trustees, Cross recently donated money for Torpey's Tank, a hands-on aquarium named after her late husband, W.J. Torpey, who began a career as a fishing captain when he moved his family to Florida in the early 1990s.

"When you're [raising funds], it has to be something you really care about," Cross says. "You've got to have a good plan in place and [financially] support it yourself."

A Harvard graduate and co-founder of a software company, Cross doesn't typically seek the spotlight. Her quiet demeanor, however, doesn't overshadow her impact.

"In speaking to Amanda, you get the sense that she doesn't fully realize the significance of what she's done for others," says Sharon MacDonald of the Lee Memorial Health System Foundation.

Toni Stabile-Outstanding Philanthropist

The author of groundbreaking books that exposed the dangers of cosmetics, Toni Stabile continues to have an impact on people through research and public service.

Her family's foundation, the Vincent A. Stabile Foundation, gave $5 million to Naples' Philharmonic Center to buy a building behind the Phil's complex and convert it into the Toni Stabile Education Building for lifelong learning. And while the Stabile name graces entryways and plaques on buildings around the world-from the Toni Stabile Osteoporosis Center in New York to the Toni Stabile Center for Investigative Journalism at Columbia University to the Stabile Building at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa-there are many more organizations that have benefited from the family's generosity anonymously.

Stabile meticulously researches causes before she gives and is cautious about how her donations will be used. When she sets out to help a cause, she offers a simple plan: She will donate what they need, but the group has to match that in commitment. "It's not enough just to give your money and hope for the best," she says.

This approach worked when Stabile seeded Hospice of Naples' Compassionate Care endowment fund with $100,000. "It started a domino effect," says Stephanie Foster, director of development for the hospice. The gift was matched. And when Stabile gave nearly $1 million toward the land for the Naples Botanical Garden, her gift prompted another local philanthropist to give as well.

Pierre "Alec" Jeanty-Outstanding Youth

Pierre "Alec" Jeanty is like many teenagers in America-he runs track, loves video games, gets good grades and looks forward to college. He's a bright, creative and confident 17-year-old. His journey to this point, however, is unlike what most American kids experience.

He came to Florida from Haiti six years ago. He didn't know English, and he went several years without seeing his mother while he attended school in Immokalee. His father died during a political conflict in Haiti, and his mother now works in an Immokalee packing house. Learning to communicate was one of the biggest challenges, Alec says, and he now spends his free time volunteering at the Guadalupe Center of Immokalee teaching adults to speak English.

"I love helping people," he says. "I knew how I felt when I first came here, and I would get picked on. They just want a better life."

With a 3.7 GPA, Alec tutors at the Guadalupe Center a few days a week and also works with fellow high school students. When he's not in class or at the center, he's running track or cross county-his relay teams won in both district and regional races, and Alec placed second in the state in the 800-meter event. "I knew I had to work to be one of the best," he says. "And all the practice paid off."

Although he doesn't know what the future holds (he's considering going into business or physical therapy), he says his hard-working mother is his inspiration.

"I look at my mom's living conditions," he says. "And I'm trying to become something to help her."

Publix-Outstanding Large Business

As development director for Harry Chapin Food Bank, John Morrill finds that his presentations sometimes fall on deaf ears. But when he recently made his pitch at a local Publix, he got an unexpected response: genuine enthusiasm.

"The employees got some great dialogue going about poor, working families and the hungry," he says, adding that Publix's latest Holiday Food Drive for the food bank resulted in half a million pounds of donated food, and an army of associates volunteered to deliver the food personally. "They are literally the superheroes of the United Ways," Morrill says.

Publix's Southwest Florida regional director, Chuck Roskovich, attributes this mindset of giving to the culture of the company. "Our associates support our community efforts by rolling up their sleeves and getting involved," he says.

And the proof is in the numbers: Publix associates in Southwest Florida are walking for the March of Dimes, building Habitat for Humanity homes and helping with Special Olympics. And since 1998, Publix has given more than $4 million to Collier County's United Way alone, providing the agency 25 percent of its annual budget.

Collier County even proclaimed April 26 Publix Supermarkets Charities and Publix Supermarkets Employees Day. "As large as our efforts become," says Roskovich, "We realize that just one associate can make the big difference in our community."

DuFrane Jewelers-Outstanding Small Business

A high-end jewelry store isn't your typical neighborhood hangout, but Bonita Springs wasn't your typical community when Barbara DuFrane opened DuFrane Jewelers near Bonita Bay in 1993.

"Everyone was from somewhere else," she says, and all were eager to make friends. Her store became the central stop for coffee, conversation and visits with what was then her staff-two dogs named Spike and Bam Bam. "It was the most fun time of my life," she says.

As community members became involved in cooking up benefits for organizations like Immokalee's Guadalupe Center, DuFrane always donated pieces from her store, but she also served on event committees and auctioned off dinner parties at her Bonita Bay home. Now anchoring The Promenade, DuFrane Jewelers, like Bonita Springs, has grown considerably, but Barbara DuFrane's giving still has a personal touch.

One of her favorite contributions is a benefit dinner for FGCU president Bill Merwin and a guest who's bid for the privilege. She's involved with numerous charities, including Bonita's Art League and YMCA, and she donates the crystal Love of Bonita awards to the Bonita Springs Community Foundation each year. She served on the steering committee for Joanne's House, a Bonita Springs hospice home that Hope of Southwest Florida opened last year.

Her staff now includes several humans-although an elderly Shih Tzu whose business card says Monty DuFrane is in residence during season-and DuFrane says their efforts make the store's philanthropy possible. And although she takes her responsibilities seriously, she approaches life with the same sense of fun that brought once-new-now dear-friends into her store all those years ago.