Collier Foundation awards $650K to local nonprofits

Collier Community Foundation turned its 40th anniversary into a day of giving, awarding $650,000 in surprise grants to five local nonprofits during its Celebration of Philanthropy luncheon Oct. 17. 

Four nonprofits — Audubon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, Healthcare Network, the YMCA of Collier County and Meals of Hope — each received $100,000 grants. Meanwhile, The Naples Players earned the inaugural $250,000 Provol Award Grant, created in honor of the late Naples philanthropist Jeffrey Provol, whose $18 million legacy gift to the foundation in 2023 inspired the award. 

CCF President and CEO Eileen Connolly-Keesler called the event “an extraordinary afternoon of celebration” recognizing the organization’s 40th anniversary. “These awards are a joyful reflection of 40 years of generosity in action,” she said. “We’re deeply grateful for the donors, nonprofits and partners who have made this community stronger, more resilient and full of possibility.” 

Applications for the grants were open to area nonprofits that had previously been part of CCF’s Give Where You Live campaign and 36 organizations applied, each submitting a video explaining what the grant would support as part of the application process.  

The winning organizations were not informed before the event, so the audience of about 400 nonprofit and community leaders was in suspense before the announcements during the annual event. 

The first $100,000 recipient, Audubon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, is comprised of 13,000 acres of critical wetlands and welcomes more than 80,000 visitors a year. Executive Director Keith Laakkonen said in the organization’s application video that the CCF grant would go toward the creation of an outdoor classroom and Western Everglades Research Center. 

“Our outdoor classroom will offer a powerful setting for high-impact, nature-led learning, designed to spark curiosity, encourage exploration and strengthen personal connections to the environment,” Laakkonen said. 

Healthcare Network President and CEO Jamie Ulmer said in the organization’s grant application video that it would be used to support the Van Domelen Community Health Center, scheduled to open in December 2025 and supporting more than 50,000 people in the Orangetree community who currently travel many miles for health care. 

“This health center will sit in the middle of this community to provide pediatric services, OB/GYN and prenatal care, along with primary care, behavioral health counselors and dental care,” Ulmer said. 

Cindy Love, president and CEO of the YMCA of Collier County, said that the facility is “simply out of space,” and the planned Healthy Living Center opening in 2026 on the organization’s south campus would provide more room for older adults to congregate. 

“They can have communal meals, participate in arts and crafts, technology, support groups, educational seminars and find a community where they can engage socially and find the resources they need for a higher quality of life at every age,” Love said. 

For Meals of Hope, President and CEO Stephen Popper said the $100,000 grant would support the Wheels of Hope Choice Pantry, a state-of-the-art mobile food market operating three times a week in underserved Collier County communities. 

“Each week, 240 Collier County families will step inside to shop privately and choose only the food items they really want and need,” Popper said. “They’ll be offered fresh produce, frozen vegetables and meat, dairy items, dry food products, baby food and formula, along with other basic necessities.”  

In presenting the inaugural Jeffrey Provol Award of $250,000, CCF Immediate Past Chair Rob Funderburg said The Naples Players build community through the power of theatre while serving more than 70,000 patrons a year. 

“The newly renovated state-of-the-art theater not only brings world-class performances to our region, but also leads the way nationally in accessibility, offering inclusive education, sensory-friendly performances and programs that use theatre arts to train nurses, law enforcement officials and human services professionals,” Funderburg said. “With more than 700 volunteers contributing over 77,000 hours and 10,000 students engaged in transformative educational programs, The Naples Players are proving every day that theatre is far more than just entertainment. It’s a force for connection, empathy and social change.” 

In accepting the grant, which will support the expansion of the Theatre for Human Services Professionals Program, Naples Players CEO & Executive Artistic Director Bryce Alexander thanked CCF for its commitment to the community. 

“We really believe that our community deserves a place where so many different kinds of people can come together in a cultural hub to build connections and friendships to better our community,” Alexander said. “And having the support of the Community Foundation here today is fundamental to our ability to continue to grow as a community.”