Member News

Kiosks will also be located in the Cape Coral and Lehigh Acres service centers and will be available for use beginning Feb. 13.
We look forward to seeing you there.
WHAT:  Unveiling of new vehicle registration kiosks at the Lee County Tax Collector’s Office
WHEN: Thursday, Feb. 13 from 8-8:30 a.m.
WHERE: Lee County Tax Collector’s Office, 2480 Thompson Street, Fort Myers 33901
WHY: To streamline the process of renewing vehicle registration
 

You are cordially invited to attend a presentation by Dr. Michael Greger, entitled Evidence-Based Weight Loss, as part of Lee Health’s national speaker series.  Dr. Greger is an physician, New York Times best-selling author and internationally  recognized speaker on nutrition, food safety and public health issues.
He is a founding member and Fellow of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine.  In 2017, Dr. Greger was honored with the ACLM Lifestyle Medicine Trailblazer Award.  He has videos on more than 2,000 health topics freely available at NutritionFacts.org.  All proceeds he receives from his books, DVDs and speaking engagements are donated to charity.
Date and time:  March 2, 2020, from 6-7 pm
Location:  First Christian Church, 2061 McGregor Blvd, Fort Myers
To register for this free event, go online to LeeHealth.org/classes and click on National Speaker Series button.

Fort Myers, FL, Feb. 6, 2020 – Local business and community professionals from throughout Lee County gathered on Friday, Jan. 31 to recognize outgoing Horizon Council board members, welcome new
officers to the council and Horizon Foundation and hear keynote speaker, Larry Burns, author, “Autonomy: The Quest to Build the Driverless Car—And How It Will Reshape Our World.”
The annual event attracted over 350 people to Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre in Fort Myers. Christopher Spiro was introduced as the 2020 Horizon Council Chair, succeeding Dan Eveloff, who now becomes the
2020 Horizon Foundation President. Outgoing Horizon Foundation President Wayne Kirkwood was honored for his three terms as president. Founding Horizon Council members, past Horizon Council Chairs and Lee County Economic Development Director John Talmage were all recognized during the event for their service to Lee County.
The Horizon Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization established as a fundraising vehicle enabling individuals and businesses to actively support the program of work of the Horizon Council and the Lee County Economic Development Office. For more information, visit www.leecountybusiness.com or call 239-533-6800.

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Feb. 6, 2020) – Shell Point Retirement Community’s 2019-2020 Fine and Performing Arts Series announces the final concert in its Performing Arts program with a performance by the Florida Gulf Coast University Wind Orchestra at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 19 at The Village Church auditorium on The Island at Shell Point, 15100 Shell Point Blvd. in Fort Myers. Tickets for this event cost $15 and can be purchased online at www.shellpoint.org/concerts or by phone at 239-454-2067.

The FGCU Wind Orchestra is conducted by Timothy Yontz, director of bands and head of instrumental studies for the Bower School of Music & the Arts. Comprised of the finest wind and percussion students at Florida Gulf Coast University, the FGCU Wind Orchestra was formed in 2008 and has already performed world premieres and commissioned works.

The Wind Orchestra performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City in 2015 and The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. in 2018. With strong support of the outstanding studio faculty, every student in the ensemble is given the opportunity to learn from instructors who emphasize expressive musicianship and artistry.

About Shell Point Retirement Community

Shell Point Retirement Community, founded in 1968, is a nonprofit continuing care retirement community located in Fort Myers, Florida. Shell Point offers independent retirement living, assisted living, and skilled nursing for its 2,500 residents in an active, resort-style environment. Lifestyle amenities include deep-water boating access with free dockage, a championship 18-hole golf course, and other recreational and educational activities. To learn more, visit www.shellpoint.org or call 1-800-780-1131.

Registration and sponsorships now available for two-day charity event

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Feb. 6, 2020) – Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are now available for the eighth annual “Breaking Par at Grandezza” Gala Dinner & Golf Tournament to benefit Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida and its flagship program, the CEO Academy at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU). The two-day event will be held March 19-20 at The Club at Grandezza, 11481 Grande Oak Blvd. in Estero.

Since 1919, Junior Achievement’s mission has been to empower young people to own their economic success, plan for their futures and make smart academic and economic choices. For over 100 years, Junior Achievement has relied on dedicated volunteers and fundraising to carry out that mission.

Event festivities will kick off with an elegant Gala Dinner starting at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 19, featuring delicious cuisine amid an incredible live and silent auction. The signature Shotgun Scramble Golf Tournament, which features students from the PGA Golf Management Program at FGCU, will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, March 20. The two-day event wraps up with an awards ceremony and scrumptious buffet, and an opportunity to win fabulous prizes.

“Breaking Par at Grandezza” serves as the primary funding source for the CEO Academy. In partnership with FGCU, the CEO Academy is a “model” weeklong shark tank-style summer camp for Southwest Florida’s rising high school juniors and seniors, and led by Dr. Sandra Kauanui, director of the Institute for Entrepreneurship at FGCU.

Over the past seven years, “Breaking Par at Grandezza” event proceeds have contributed more than $382,000 in funding to support Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida’s CEO Academy as well as its educational in-class and after-class programs at schools throughout Southwest Florida.

Tickets for the March 19 Gala Dinner are $100, and registration for the Shotgun Scramble and Awards Ceremony is $150. To purchase tickets or for sponsorship opportunities, please visit https://www.juniorachievement.org/web/ja-swflor/ja-golf-event. For more information, visit www.JASWFL.org, call 239-225-2590 or email [email protected].

About Junior Achievement:

Junior Achievement is the world’s largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their future, and make smart academic and economic choices. Junior Achievement programs are delivered by corporate and community volunteers, and provide relevant, hands-on experiences that give students from kindergarten through high school knowledge and skills in financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship. Today, JA reaches more than 4.8 million students per year in more than 107 markets across the United States, with an additional 5.2 million students served by operations over 100 other countries worldwide. Locally, Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida partnered with more than 270 classroom business volunteers during the 2018-2019 school year to provide nearly 70,200 hours of instruction to nearly 12,500 students in 520 classes throughout Collier, Lee and Charlotte counties. For more information on Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida, visit www.JASWFL.org, call 239-225-2590 or email [email protected].

A special 25th-anniversary celebration including Grammy-nominated recording artist Shelly Berg and the Shelly Berg Trio, with vocals by Kate Reid. Featuring the works of George Gershwin including music from An American in Paris, Porgy and Bess, Crazy for You, and the American classic, Rhapsody in Blue.
GUEST ARTISTS
Shelly Berg is a Steinway piano artist and five-time Grammy-nominated arranger, orchestrator, and producer. His album projects Gershwin Reimagined: An American in London (Decca Gold), The Deep (Chesky), The Nearness of You (Arbors), Blackbird (Concord) and The Will (CARS) are critically acclaimed. Berg earned three Grammy nominations in the Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocal(s) category with jazz singer-lyricist Lorraine Feather and international superstar Gloria Estefan, and a fourth Grammy nomination as co-producer of Gloria Estefan: The Standards (Sony). He earned his fifth Grammy nomination as co-arranger of “I Loves You Porgy / There’s a Boat That’s Leavin’ Soon for New York” from the album Rendezvous (2018) featuring jazz singers Clint Holmes and Dee Dee Bridgewater with The Count Basie Orchestra. Recent projects include recording and performing with Tony Bennett, Seal, Lizz Wright, Andra Day, Clint Holmes, Renée Fleming, and Arturo Sandoval. He is also the host of a monthly radio show Generation Next on Sirius XM, music director of The Jazz Cruise, and artistic advisor for the Jazz Roots series at the Adrienne Arsht Center in Miami.
Jazz singer and pianist Kate Reid appears as a duo and with her trio and quartet at jazz venues in the Los Angeles and Miami areas. Kate can be heard performing with Miami pianists Martin Bejerano and Tal Cohen, guitarist John Hart and trumpet player John Daversa and his Progressive Big Band. She is a featured performer presented by the Miami Jazz Co-op. Kate has worked with many of the great jazz musicians in southern California including guitarists Ron Eschete and Larry Koonse, trumpeter and composer John Daversa, drummers Roy McCurdy and Jamey Tate. Kate has worked with many noted artists including John Clayton, Robin Eubanks, Jon Hendricks, Grady Tate, Mercer Ellington, Don Shelton, Mark Murphy and the Duke Ellington Orchestra. Dr. Kate Reid is associate professor of jazz voice in the Studio Music and Jazz department and Director of Jazz Vocal Performance at the University of Miami Frost School of Music.
PRE-CONCERT DINNER
A Taste of the Mediterranean
Join us for a delicious pre-concert dinner catered by Nick & Stella’s prior to our Gershwin Reimagined concert on Sunday, February 9 at 5 pm. Includes buffet dinner and dessert, plus beer, wine, or soda.
Pre-concert dinners are catered by local restaurants with all proceeds benefiting the Gulf Coast Symphony’s education and community outreach programs.
MENU
Hummus* +
Babaganosh *+
Pita Greek Chicken in a Red Sauce * + Spanikopita (Spinach Pie) * String Beans in red sauce * + Greek Salad * + (with dressing and cheese on the side) Rolls and Butter Yogurt + and Fruit *+ with Greek Cookies (Indicates *Lactose Free, + Gluten Free)
The pre-pops dinner is held in Building J, Room 117 on the campus of Florida Southwestern College, just steps from the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall lobby. Seating is limited to 100 people! This is a separately ticketed event, but you must have a ticket for the concert to participate. Tickets must be purchased in advance. No tickets sold at the door or at the box office. $35 per person
To purchase ticket, click on the link below or call 239.277.1700

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Jan. 22, 2020) – Sally J. Pimentel Deaf & Hard of Hearing Center (DHHC) received a $5,000 grant from the Southwest Florida Community Foundation for “Sign the City,” a program to provide lunch and learn opportunities to businesses throughout the community.

As part of the Community Foundation’s Community Impact Grants, DHHC received funding to bring lunch for 15 to 20 people and teach employees how to sign the alphabet, common introductions and specific words related to business to help with communication with any deaf clients. In addition to lunch, an American Sign Language instructor and all materials are provided.

“We are excited to get this grant and launch this program that will raise awareness and help the deaf community,” said Alicia Miller, executive director of the center. “There are about 36 million hard of hearing and deaf people in the United States. By learning even a little sign language, you can communicate with 17% more of the population than you did before.”

Any business interested in scheduling a lunch and learn can call 239-461-0334 voice phone, 239-247-5821 video phone.

About Sally J. Pimentel Deaf & Hard of Hearing Center

Founded in 1983 as The Deaf Service Center, the Sally J. Pimentel Deaf & Hard of Hearing Center is the only organization of its kind in Southwest Florida specifically working to improve the quality of life for the deaf and hard of hearing citizens and their families through education, advocacy and community involvement. A wide range of services are offered to deaf and hard of hearing children and adults of Lee, Charlotte, Collier, Hendry, Glades and DeSoto counties, including interpreting services, free telephone equipment loans, deaf mentor program, American sign language classes, information and referral services, employment assistance, family education, community outreach and education, and adaptive equipment sales. For information, call 239-461-0334 voice phone, 239-247-5821 video phone, or visit www.dhhc.life.

About the Southwest Florida Community Foundation

The Southwest Florida Community Foundation, founded in 1976, cultivates regional change for the common good through collective leadership, social innovation and philanthropy to address the evolving community needs in Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades counties. The Foundation partners with individuals, families and corporations who have created more than 400 philanthropic funds. Thanks to them, the Foundation invested $6.8 million in grants and programs to the community. With assets of more than $126 million, it has provided $78.2 million in grants and scholarships to the communities it serves since inception. The Foundation is the backbone organization for the regional FutureMakers Coalition and Lee County’s Sustainability Plan. The Southwest Florida Community Foundation’s regional headquarters are now located in the historic ACL Train Depot at Collaboratory in downtown Fort Myers, with a satellite office located in LaBelle (Hendry County). For more information, call 239-274-5900 or visit www.floridacommunity.com.

FORT MYERS, FLA., February 4, 2020 – Handbag Happy Hour is returning to Fort Myers Wednesday, March 25, with celebrity handbags and lots more to be auctioned to benefit Valerie’s House and The Nature Park Environmental Education Foundation at The Shell Factory.
“We are so excited to bring this fabulous event back after a 13-year hiatus,” said Pam Cronin, event chair and owner of The Shell Factory and Nature Park.  “We have several celebrity handbags already and we hope to have 100 or more new or previously loved handbags from celebrities and local supporters.”
Cronin and her committee are currently soliciting new and gently loved handbags, pet items and men’s accessories for the event at The Standard Restaurant in downtown Fort Myers.
Donated items can be delivered to The Standard Restaurant at 1520 Broadway, next door at the Seed & Bean Market and at The Shell Factory on U.S. 41 in North Fort Myers.  Pick up of items also can be arranged by calling 239-410-1929.
“Havana Nights” is the theme for this year’s event with Flamenco dancers, bongo drummers and Cuban cigars setting the mood for the evening.  Mojitos and Cuban appetizers are included in the ticket price of $50 per person or $800 for a reserved table of eight.  Sponsorships also are available at $1,000 to $3,000.
Tickets may be purchased online at www.shellfactory.com
Downtown Diva Stephanie Davis and Wine Aficionado Gina Birch will share emcee duties for the live auction of a few select celebrity handbags.  The majority of items will be offered in a silent auction.
Event sponsors at The Standard Restaurant, The Shell Factory and Nature Park, Florida Weekly and Susan Bennett Marketing & Media, L.C.
All proceeds will benefit Valerie’s House, which helps grieving children heal after the loss of a parent or loved one, and The Nature Park Environmental Education Foundation, which provides transportation funding for Lee County school children to visit the park.  Both organizations are not-for-profit and all donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.
 
About Valerie’s House
Valerie’s House is the first and only organization in Southwest Florida with the sole mission to help children grieve the loss of a loved one.  With locations in Fort Myers, Naples and Punta Gorda, Valerie’s House is a special place where children connect with one another and learn the tools to heal after they have experienced the death of someone they love.  At Valerie’s House, children know others their own age, and they learn that loss doesn’t have to limit their dreams.  In addition to a dedicated team of staff and volunteers, Valerie’s House is a family of others grieving.  Many have also gone through the same journey and help children see that there is hope.   Valerie’s House is fully supported through community donations that can be made online at www.valerieshouseswfl.org or by mail to Valerie’s House, Inc., P.O. Box 1955, Fort Myers, FL 33902.
 
 
About The Nature Park Environmental Education Foundation
The Nature Park Environmental Education Foundation is located at The Shell Factory in North Fort Myers and provides new and enhanced habitats, nutritious meals and enrichment for the animals, birds, reptiles and fish that call the Nature Park home. Contributions also provide funding for transportation for Lee County School students to visit the park.  The organization’s mission is to provide an educational and fun experience for local school children by providing the opportunity to learn about and explore the animals and the environment.  For more information or to make a tax-deductible gift, visit www.shellfactorynaturepark.com .

SANIBEL, Fla. (Feb. 4, 2020) – Stevens Construction has completed construction of a new, two-story complex for BIG ARTS located at 900 Dunlop Road on Sanibel Island, announced Mark Stevens, company president.

Stevens Construction provided construction management services for a new 27,000-square-foot facility, which houses a 3,800-square-foot performing arts center with a 414-seat theater. The first floor features a spacious lobby, green room, box office, gift shop, piano storage, catering kitchen, two dressing rooms with showers and an expanded art gallery.

An education center is situated on the second floor to host lectures as well as painting, drawing, photography, music, dance and pottery workshops and classes. The second floor also includes an administrative department with conference rooms and offices. The conference rooms have video conferencing capabilities enabling BIG ARTS to stream in lecturers or conference participants.

BIG ARTS features an expansive, impact-resistant, reflective glass façade at the front of the building, which overlooks an outdoor veranda while reducing the heat load of the building. A broadened driveway for guest drop-off, landscaped walkways and ample parking provides convenience for guests.

Stevens Construction constructed BIG ARTS with energy efficient elements such as a metal roof to reflect heat, chilled water heating and cooling system to provide energy efficient climate control, spray foam insulation to provide a thermal barrier from the exterior to interior and LED lighting.

Stevens Construction demolished the existing approximately 18,000-square-foot building, which housed the auditorium, gallery and offices within four days.

Stevens Construction provided pre-construction services for a year offering recommendations and constructability reviews to ensure that the project could be achieved within their budget and tight schedule.

The Stevens Construction team includes Mike Waskiewicz, project manager; Jim Ruby, superintendent; Tate Hernly, project engineer; and Sue Ziegenfus, project administrator. The project was designed by Amy Nowacki Architect, LLC.

About Stevens Construction

With offices in Fort Myers, Tampa and Orlando, Fla., Stevens Construction specializes in providing construction management, general contracting and consulting services to clients and design professionals. Other services include site and design team selection, budgeting, project scheduling, permitting, cost and quality control and warranty service. The company builds healthcare, commercial and hospitality facilities. For information, visit www.stevensconstructioninc.com or call 239-936-9006.

About BIG ARTS

BIG ARTS, established in 1979, is a nonprofit organization devoted to providing quality artistic, cultural and educational experiences to Sanibel and Captiva residents and visitors. Visit www.BIGARTS.org to learn more about our 2020 Dream Season and to purchase tickets. Tickets can also be purchased by calling 239-395-0900.