Member News

Help Save The Life of an Eight-year-old SW Florida Child Battling Leukemia Searching for a Matching Blood Stem Cell Donor
Fort Myers, FL (February 17, 2021) – Edison Mall is asking our Fort Myers community to come together and help save the life of a young boy in our southwest Florida area.  Jakobe “Kobe” Washington is an 8-year-old from Punta Gorda, who was diagnosed last summer with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Kobe loves baseball and played Little League before his diagnosis. He is a faith-filled child who loves singing worship music and praying for others well-being, but now he needs the prayers and support of community members. Kobe’s leukemia can be cured by a blood stem cell or bone marrow transplant, but he currently does not have any matching donors in his family or on the Be The Match Registry® and time is running out. Be The Match in partnership with Edison Mall is holding a live swab drive Saturday, February 20^th, “Kobe Day”, at the Dreams + Inspirations event from 11AM-4PM in the parking lot by JC Penney’s,  located at 4125 Cleveland Avenue.
Time is of the essence. “We are honored to serve our local community by using our town center for this drive for Kobe,” said Angeli Chin, Marketing Director at Edison Mall.  “As a part of the southwest Florida community, it’s critical that we support one another in times of need. Now is the time for us to come together to make a difference in Kobe’s fight!”
Individuals ages 18-44 years old are encouraged to attend the drive, wear red (Kobe’s favorite color), and commit to donating to any patient they should match. Approximately 1 in 430 registry members will go on to donate blood stem cells and save a life. Participants will be instructed to register from their phones and will be given a cheek swab to painlessly swab their inner cheek.  Registry members will only be called for further testing if they are identified as a potential match.
Every year, more than 12,000 patients turn to Be The Match, the national marrow donor program, to search for an unrelated blood stem cell or bone marrow donor to help cure them of blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma, or blood diseases. Unfortunately, half of these patients will not find the ideal match they need – and African American patients like Kobe are least likely to find a match (only 23% of Black patients will find a fully matched donor). This is because ancestry matters in finding a match, and of the 22 million potential donors on the registry, just 4% are Black or African American. More donors of all races and ethnicities are urgently needed to help diversify the Be The Match Registry. Those unable to attend the event can text Kobe to 61474 to receive a cheek swab kit at their home.
Join Edison Mall for Kobe Day this Saturday 4125 Cleveland Avenue in Fort Myers, on the parking lot in front of JC Penney’s from 11AM-4PM. Edison Mall. Help us save a life today.  For more information, please visit ShopEdisonMall.com.
About Edison Mall:
Edison Mall is Southwest Florida’s only enclosed and climate-controlled shopping destination serving the Greater Fort Myers and Naples area. The community center is home to more than 160 national and local retail, dining and entertainment options, as well as numerous events and activities throughout the year. A dynamic offering of things to do along with things to buy keeps guests engaged and returning often.
About Be The Match®
For people with life-threatening blood cancers—like leukemia and lymphoma—or other diseases, a cure exists. Be The Match® connects patients with their donor match for a life-saving marrow or umbilical cord blood transplant. People can contribute to the cure as a member of the Be The Match Registry®, financial contributor or volunteer. Be The Match provides patients and their families one-on-one support, education, and guidance before, during and after transplant.  Be The Match is operated by the National Marrow Donor Program® (NMDP), a nonprofit organization that matches patients with donors, educates health care professionals and conducts research so more lives can be saved. To learn more about the cure, visit BeTheMatch.org or call 1 (800) MARROW-2
About the Icla da Silva Foundation
The Icla da Silva Foundation is the largest recruitment center for the Be The Match Registry in
the United States. It recruits over 38,000 new potential bone marrow donors every year, with a
strong focus on minority communities. Be The Match is a nonprofit that services the largest marrow registry in the United States. To date they have facilitated over 100,000 marrow and cord blood transplants and facilitated 6,660 transplants last year to give patients hope for a future. Be the Match and the Icla da Silva Foundation help find life-saving transplants for patients for over 70 blood cancers like Leukemia and Lymphoma and other diseases like sickle cell anemia.

SBA Disaster Recovery Q&A Sessions
02/15 – 02/19
11:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M. (en Español)
2:00 P.M. – 3:00 P.M.
Was your small business affected by Covid-19? Are you looking for small business funding? You have questions, we have answers! Join us during our virtual hours and have your Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) questions answered by a live person. Participants may call at anytime and are welcome to enter and exit at will.
Tuesday and Wednesday 
2pm – 3pm
Join Microsoft Teams Meeting
202-765-1264; Conference ID – 191 652 154
 
Wednesday (en Español) — Cancelled
11am – 12pm
Join Microsoft Teams Meeting
202-765-1264; Conference ID – 919 146 391

Starting March 1, the following changes will go into effect for flounder:

• Extending ALL Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission(FWC) flounder regulations into federal waters.
• Increasing the minimum size limit from 12 inches to 14 inches total length (recreational and commercial).
• Reducing the recreational daily bag limit from 10 to five fish per person.
• Establishing an Oct. 15 through Nov. 30 recreational closed season.
• For commercial harvesters using allowable gear: Establishing a commercial trip and vessel limit of 150 fish from Dec. 1 – Oct. 14, and 50 fish from Oct. 15 – Nov. 30.
• Modifying the incidental bycatch limit for commercial harvesters using non-allowable gear from 50 pounds/trip to 50 fish/trip.
• Creating a federal waters trawl bycatch limit of 150 fish/trip from Dec. 1 – Oct. 14, and 50 fish/trip from Oct. 15 – Nov. 30.

The Commission approved these changes at its December 2020 meeting because a stock status update suggested that the flounder fishery statewide has been in a general declining trend and is likely overfished and undergoing overfishing on the Atlantic coast of Florida. Other south Atlantic and Gulf states have also reported declines in flounder populations and have been making their own regulation changes.
Learn more about flounder regulations at MyFWC.com/Marine.

SENIORS BEWARE
As individuals, especially seniors, await their opportunity to receive the COVID-19 vaccination, scammers are taking advantage of those who have yet to be vaccinated.
In January, Sheriff Carmine Marceno issued a Crime Prevention Tip regarding this scam.  Sadly, scammers are increasing their efforts leaving innocent victims without money and without the vaccine.
Scammers use text messaging, emails and phone calls offering immediate opportunities for vaccination.
If you are offered an opportunity to receive the vaccine, and asked to pay “out of pocket,” you are being scammed.
The Coronavirus vaccine is FREE.  Under no circumstances should you be asked to send money, gift cards, etc. in exchange for vaccination.
Report all such calls/requests to the Florida Attorney General’s Fraud Hotline at 1-866-966-7226.
OPERATION S.A.F.E
Florida’s Chief Financial Officer, Jimmy Patronis, offered prudent advice and a significant warning to Florida seniors regarding attempts to take advantage of our state’s most vulnerable citizens.
“Florida currently ranks second in fraud and identity theft reports nationwide and fraudsters will stop at nothing to prey on our most vulnerable population, Florida’s seniors,” Patronis stated.
Operation S.A.F.E. (Stop Adult Financial Exploitation) is designed to provide information addressing fraudulent activity within the state.
Click here to visit “BE SCAM SMART” for tips, workshops and videos designed to help you remain safe!

FORT MYERS, FLA., February 4, 2021– Susan Bennett Marketing & Media, L.C., is celebrating its 30^th anniversary with the announcement that it has now donated $2.5 million in in-kind professional services and cash contributions to area not-for-profit organizations and helped raise more than $70 million for fund-raising and capital campaigns during her career.
Susan Bennett, an accredited and certified public relations professional with more than 50 years’ experience, founded the Fort Myers-based company that carries her name in 1991.  Since that time, Susan Bennett Marketing & Media, has become one of the most respected marketing firms in Florida with more than 200 awards from the Florida Public Relations Association, including the organization’s highest honor for the best public relations campaign in the state.
Susan Bennett Marketing & Media, L.C. has represented hundreds of businesses and non-profit organizations ranging from medical, banking, restaurants, and higher education to commercial enterprises, non-profit organizations and large public service events.
She is the founder of the “Grande Dames Tea” for the PACE Center for Girls, “Laughter Is the Best Medicine Comedy Night” for SalusCare, Inc., and the Founders’ Society of the Southwest Florida Community Foundation, among many others.
“Be good, do good and goodness will follow is my motto,” she says.
Susan Bennett Marketing & Media, L.C., is a full-service public relations and marketing firm offering innovative marketing and public relations campaigns, media relations, results-driven marketing analyses and plans, digital strategies, website and video development, and social media management.
Bennett attributes the firm’s longevity to its passion for helping others and its deep connections within the community that have been fostered over her long career in the market.
“We owe our success to the strong relationships we have formed with our clients, most of whom have been with us for 10 or more years, as well as our creative partners who help us design marketing, media and fund-raising plans that get results,” Bennett said. “Our clients’ goals become our goals and we work tirelessly to help them achieve results.”
Prior to opening her company, Bennett was a Gannett Co. executive, member of the launch team of USA TODAY and former marketing director, editor and reporter at The News-Press.  She is a high honors graduate of the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism and a Master of Arts degree in mass communications.
For more information, call 239-277-5255 or email [email protected].

FORT MYERS, Fla. – February 9, 2021 – Valerie’s House, a nonprofit organization in Southwest Florida helping children grieve, is celebrating its fifth year of providing grief support services to Southwest Florida with a year-long celebration throughout 2021.
Valerie’s House will be sharing “Then and Now” stories of growth and healing from children that have attended Valerie’s House over the years. Various news stories, behind the scenes videos of Valerie’s House, and family and volunteer testimonials will be highlighted.  Additionally, local businesses and other organizations have “adopted” Valerie’s House on social media and in their communications in an effort to increase awareness of the importance of helping grieving children.
“When we first opened Valerie’s House in 2016, I would often get asked if there were enough children in our community grieving to need a place like Valerie’s House,” said Angela Melvin, Founder & CEO of Valerie’s House. “I knew there was, but they didn’t have a voice.  In the last five years, I can say that we have now given them a voice. We are so very grateful for the community for supporting us these past five years and helping us fill the void in grief support for children in our community.”
Valerie’s House first opened its doors with 20 children and their caregivers on the evening of January 11, 2016 in a small house in downtown Fort Myers.  Since then, the organization has grown to help more than 1,000 children and expanded into three locations across Southwest Florida, including now Naples and Punta Gorda.
All throughout 2021, the community is encouraged to share personal stories of their experiences attending Valerie’s House, volunteering, and the impact the organization has had on their lives by using the hashtag  #VHTurns5 on social channels, or by emailing their story to Valerie’s House Communications Coordinator Alexa Nargi at [email protected].
Plans also are in the works for the construction of a much-needed Forever Home for grieving families of Southwest Florida that will be built on property donated by the City of Fort Myers. For more information on how you can help bring this home to life, please contact Angela Melvin at [email protected].
One in nine children in Florida is predicted to lose a parent or sibling before the age of 21, according to the 2020 Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model.
Valerie’s House provides a safe, comfortable place for children and their families to heal together following the death of someone they love. Valerie’s House offers support groups and other activities at a home on 1762 Fowler Street in Fort Myers and a home in Naples at 819 Myrtle Terrace. Valerie’s House also holds group meetings at First United Methodist Church in Punta Gorda. Valerie’s House is a United Way partner agency and is fully supported by community donations.  More information can be found at www.valerieshouse.org.

Fort Myers, FL, February 12, 2021: Be Greek for the Weekend…..in a socially distanced way of course!
Join us Friday & Saturday, February 26 & 27 from 11am to 7pm and Sunday, February 28 from 11am to 6pm for all of the mouth-watering Greek Food our Greek Fest is known for – call ahead, drive thru and bring it home for lunch or dinner! Tastes like all the goodies Yiayia ( Grandma) used to make!  Appetizers, Sandwiches, Dinners, and many Desserts!  Vegetarian Items available. Gyros, Spanakopita, Baklava and so much more. Place your today – order online, by phone or day of at the church & enjoy a Taste of Greece at home. Stop by on Friday to pick up dinner and come back for lunch, dessert and another dinner – we’re open all weekend long!
Due to Covid 19 restrictions we are unable to provide our wonderful marketplace, carnival rides and amazing authentic Greek Dance Groups, but being Greek is all about the  food and we have it all!
Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church has been an important part of Lee County for many years serving over 235 families. For over 46 years, our parish has entertained Lee County with a glorious display of sights, sounds and tastes of Greece. Families have been coming to Cypress Lake Drive for many reasons— No matter the reason, they always experience the warmth and generosity that have been the hallmarks of the Greek culture.
This festival helps our community to fund the multiple ministries that serve our community – from youth groups to philanthropic organizations.
The weekend ends with our huge $25,000 CASH RAFFLE! Win $25,000 Cash! Drawing held on Sunday, February 28th, 2021. Tickets are $25 each and only 2,000 tickets will be sold. (50/50 with the maximum payout being$25,000). Thank you to our sponsor, Nick and Stella’s Family Sports Pub!
For more information, to purchase your ticket or place your To-Go order, call the church office at: 239.481.2099. Order Online at www.greekfestfortmyers.com
Celebrating our 46th year of Greek Fest Fort Myers, let us do the cooking – all weekend long –   OPA!
Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church – 8210 Cypress Lake Drive – 239-481-2099