Naples Florida Weekly
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Shy Wolf Sanctuary takes action to prepare for future storms

One month after deadly Hurricane Ian devastated Southwest Florida, Shy Wolf Sanctuary Education and Experience Center is jumpstarting one of the most important fundraising efforts in its history to support the area’s people and pets and inviting the public to take part via a crowdfunding campaign.

The “Shelter in the Storm” campaign is raising money for a new hurricane shelter rated for CAT 5 storms, and will run through Nov. 30, the official end of the 2022 hurricane season. The hurricane shelter is part of the Sanctuary’s expansion plans, which will be located on 17+/- acres in Golden Gate Estates.

In addition to rescuing, housing and, when possible, adopting abandoned, neglected, and abused exotic animals, Shy Wolf Sanctuary is committed to protecting pets in the area. Even as it recovers from Ian, the organization knows it is a matter of when, not if, this 10,000 square foot CAT 5 shelter will be needed. A special emphasis on being able to shelter the pets of first responders when they are called to work hurricanes or other disasters is being factored into the architectural planning.

Shy Wolf Sanctuary has a goal of raising $50,000 through “Shelter in the Storm.” When completed, Shy Wolf’s animals along with the pets of first responders and other community members will be able to be safely housed. The new shelter will be designed to withstand category 5 hurricane winds, minimize the threat of flooding, operate by generator in case of a power outage, and include a kitchen to prepare emergency meals for the animals.

Donors to the GoFundMe campaign will be able to choose from various contribution levels that have incentives to create a positive impact for the people and animals of the area for many years to come By donating, supporters will be investing in the future and becoming a part of the greater community solution.

Opera Naples receives Collier Community Foundation grant

Opera Naples announce it has received a $12,000 grant from the Collier Community Foundation. These funds will support expansion of the Resident Artists in-school programming. The Resident Artists Program offers emerging young artists invaluable performance experience as they develop their professional opera careers. Resident artists are selected through a national search to work with Opera Naples during the peak season and receive housing, stipends, coaching, instruction and career advice. Participants perform a variety of principal and secondary roles in local operas, events and concerts.

As part of the program, Resident Artists tour a one-act youth opera to Collier and Lee County schools and after-school programs to expose grade school children to the arts. Currently, Opera Naples exposes more than 3,000 children to opera each school year. The Collier Community Foundation grant will help Opera Naples grow access to the arts for over 4,000 children and create additional opportunities to inspire the next generation of young artists throughout Southwest Florida.

The Collier Community Foundation awards annual grants through a competitive application and review process. Selected organizations receive grant dollars from the Community Impact Fund. This Fund is made up of donors who believe in the Community Foundation’s ability to identify and grant to the community’s most current needs.

Avow receives a $20,000 grant from Moorings Park

Avow has received a $20,000 grant from Moorings Park Foundation to support its adult bereavement program, which is open to all residents and visitors in Southwest Florida without cost.

In 2021, the cost to offer bereavement services was $355,800 and served 930 individual virtual and in-person adult sessions, 7,408 phone check-ins to those grieving, 865 bereavement support groups, 4,385 bereavement group participants and 1,469 unique individuals.

Support sessions for adults are available online and/or in-person at the Center for Grief Support on the Avow campus. All sessions are open to residents and visitors in Southwest Florida without cost.

Moorings Park Foundation, established in 1995, focuses its philanthropic support on assisting local agencies that feed, house or otherwise sustain local seniors in need. The Foundation also helps to advance the development of the workforce needed to serve local seniors. This support takes the form of scholarships to Moorings Park employees, grants to educational institutions, and partnerships with other agencies to fund the building of affordable housing.

Students earn new wheels in ‘Books for Bikes’ summer reading program

Sixty local students recently earned new bicycles and helmets following a summer of reading, thanks to The Lykos Group “Books for Bikes” initiative, in collaboration with Guadalupe Center and its summer enrichment program. Twenty kindergarten, 20 first- and 20 second-grade children living in Immokalee who participated and regularly attended Guadalupe Center’s six-week summer program celebrated their achievements with a bicycle and helmet party at its conclusion, courtesy of The Lykos Group.

The summer enrichment program and “Books for Bikes” initiative is a collaboration to address summer learning loss and encourage even the most reluctant readers to discover the joy of reading for themselves. For the past three years, Lykos Group Project Manager Roy Bartlett and his wife, Rosemary have sponsored the rewards portion of the program, purchased bicycles and helmets, and delivered them to Guadalupe Center.

In previous years, the Bartletts sponsored the program through their personal funds. However, this year’s effort was in jeopardy of falling short as expenses have increased. Upon overhearing Roy Bartlett talking about the program, The Lykos Group Principal Thomas Lykos immediately took over its shortfall and donated “several” thousand dollars in support of Bartlett’s efforts.

When the students received their new bicycles and helmets, Bartlett said, “It’s like we gave them the world. Their pride in reaching a goal, combined with receiving new bicycles as rewards for hard work, it was just an incredible moment for everyone.” ¦

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