Books for Collier Kids receives League Club grant
League Club awards $327,970 to 30 community agencies
Members of The League Club’s Community Involvement Committee make the final decision on grants that are awarded every year. COURTESY PHOTO
The League Club awarded 30 community agencies a total of $327,970 at its annual Briefcase Breakfast held earlier this month. With this year’s gifts, the club surpassed the $4.2 million mark of funds raised and contributed to 157 local agencies in Collier and Lee counties since it was founded.
“As the League Club celebrates our 31st year of service, our commitment to the community is stronger than ever,” club President Liz Winebrenner said. “We thank our over 600 members, Circle of Friends supporters, community members who support our event and our business sponsors for their generosity. Working together we are able to make a difference in Collier and Lee counties.”
The League Club has an in-depth vetting process for all grant requests. Member teams do on-site visits to all agencies requesting monies for specific programs that meet the club’s funding priorities. The list is prioritized and the final candidates meet with the entire Community Involvement Committee for the last round of agency presentations.
2018 was a challenging year with the direct hit of Hurricane Irma.
“The devastation suffered by thousands of residents who lost their homes to Irma and needed immediate help humbled us all,” club member Melissa McClayton said. “We were very privileged to have the resources to assist those in need by awarding a special $43,000 grant to the Collier Comes Together Disaster Relief Fund for those impacted by the disaster.” League members also volunteered many hours to assist Meals of Hope at three meal-packing events to help ease the effects of the hurricane on area food banks, she added.
Here are the agencies that received grants this year:
Able Academy
Angels Undercover
Baby Basics of Collier County
Books for Collier Kids
Boys and Girls Club of Collier County
Catholic Charities
Collier Child Care Resources
Collier Comes Together
Disaster Relief Fund
Collier County Junior
Deputies League of Naples
Friends of Foster Care Forever
Fun Time Early Childhood Academy
Good Wheels
Grace Place for Children & Families
Guadalupe Center
Guardian ad Litem Foundation
20th Judicial Court
Habitat for Humanity Collier County
Harry Chapin Food Bank of SWFL
Laces of Love
Lighthouse of Collier County
Literacy Volunteers of Collier County
Naples Botanical Garden
Naples Lions Club Foundation
Neighborhood Health Clinic
New Horizons of SWFL
Our Mothers Home of SWFL
Partners for Breast Cancer Care
Senior Friendship Health Center
The Immokalee Foundation
United Arts Council
Youth Haven
The League Club is an organization of women dedicated to strengthening communities through fellowship, education, volunteerism and philanthropy. Members are current or former members of The Association of Junior Leagues International.
– Florida Weekly – April 12, 2018
