Member News

FORT MYERS, Fla.–-Valerie’s House, Inc., a Southwest Florida nonprofit helping grieving children work through the loss of a loved one, has hired Jay Graham as Director of Philanthropy. Graham will oversee fundraising and donor development efforts, working closely with Valerie’s House founder and CEO Angela Melvin to expand the program’s impact on grieving children in the community.
 
“We are excited to have Jay join the Valerie’s House team,” said Melvin. “Not only are his years spent helping build non-profits a benefit, but his personal experiences of dealing with loss make him believe helping our children is a calling, not just a career.”
 
Graham is an experienced senior development executive, bringing 20 years of philanthropic work experience with him including executive positions at the Muhammad Ali Center and The Healing Place, both in Louisville, Kentucky. He is also an entrepreneur who has launched and run several businesses throughout his career.
 
Graham earned his bachelor’s degree in Education from Jacksonville State University in Alabama, where he was a member of the football team. He holds a Master of Arts in Missiology from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville.
 
Jay Graham can be reached at 239-841-0143 or [email protected].
About Valerie’s House
Valerie’s House is currently serving 140 children from Lee, Collier, Charlotte and Sarasota counties at its Fort Myers and Naples locations.  The organization’s vision is that no child will grieve alone.  If you know a child struggling with grief, please contact Angela Melvin at angela@valerieshouseswfl.org or go to www.valerieshouseswfl.org.  Valerie’s House is a United Way Partner Agency and is fully supported through generous donations from the community.
 
 
 
 

FORT MYERS, Fla. (April 6, 2018) — On April 11 from 2-4 p.m., Edison & Ford Winter Estates will host a tea tasting in honor of Clara Ford’s 152nd birthday. Cold tea from Clara’s Tea Garden and shortbread will be served, tea and tea-related items will be offered for sale and guests will get to meet and talk with “Clara Ford.”
Clara is honored every year for her philanthropy and activism. She was a human rights activist and worked to protect women, children and animals. Clara and her husband, Henry, founded the Humane Society of Michigan. She also helped build a hospital, established boy’s camps, started a community garden and many other initiatives.
Clara enjoyed gardening and had more than 100,000 plants in her Michigan garden, including herbs and vegetables, which she shared with the community at a stand in front of her home. She also enjoyed tea and drank it often with her husband.
The tea tasting is a free event (does not include tours of the homes, lab or museum). For more information, visit EdisonFordWinterEstates.org or call 239-334-7419.

FORT MYERS, Fla. (April 6, 2018) – The Fort Myers Miracle return to Hammond Stadium on Monday, April 9 for a seven-game homestand featuring promotions and giveaways galore.
On Friday, April 13, the Miracle will honor Hurricane Irma first responders, as well as heroes from the recovery effort, in a pregame ceremony. On Saturday, April 14, gates open early for the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest. On Sunday, April 15, children will have an opportunity to take the field before and after the game.
The seven-game homestand features more than 20 promotions and giveaways.
“Miracle fans always provide us a great homefield advantage, so hopefully starting out the season with so many home games will give us a leg up in the standings,” said Chris Peters, Miracle president and general manager.
Promotions for each game during the April 9-15 homestand include:

• Monday: Dollar Dogs presented by Humana and 99.3 ESPN (hot dogs cost $1) and Humana Silver Slugger Club (free admission and parking to club members).
• Tuesday: Constructive Criticism Night (lodge a complaint at guest services and receive tickets to a future Miracle game) and Two-for-One Tuesday sponsored by Coors Light and 96K Rock (tacos, domestic beer and soda will be BOGO all evening).
• Wednesday: Winning Wednesday presented by Miller & Moulton (multiple chances to win great prizes).
• Thursday: Thirsty Thursday presented by Budweiser, Twin Peaks and Cat Country 107.1 (12-ounce beers for $2, live music at the bar and postgame party at Twin Peaks), College Night ($5 tickets for students with valid ID) and Dunk City Jersey Auction (proceeds from special edition jerseys will benefit the Boys and Girls Club).
• Friday: Irma Recovery Night (pregame ceremony to honor hurricane heroes), First Responders Night ($5 tickets for first responders with valid ID), Miracle Replica Hat Giveaway presented by IL Primo Pizza & Wings (first 500 fans snag some Miracle swag), Pregame Happy Hour sponsored by Wicked Dolphin and B103.9 (special drink offers from 6 to 8 p.m.) and Fireworks Friday presented by First Community Bank (postgame fireworks light up the sky; weather permitting).
• Saturday: Brian Dozier Bobblehead Giveaway presented by Nathan’s Famous (early fans bring home a Miracle alum), Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest (winner earns seat at 2018 Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest) and Goodwill Night (stop by your local Goodwill store for a special ticket offer).
• Sunday: Youth Baseball Day (children in uniform receive a free ticket), Family Sunday activities presented by Dairy Queen, Y 100.1 and PDQ (children play catch on the field before the game and run bases after the game), Team Autograph Session (players will meet fans and sign autographs) and Kids Club Sunday (members of Dick’s Sporting Goods Kids Club get free admission).

For a complete schedule of games and promotions, visit MiracleBaseball.com or call 239-768-4210.
About the Miracle
The Fort Myers Miracle are the Class-A Advanced Affiliate of the Minnesota Twins, and have played home games at Hammond Stadium since 1992. Notable Miracle alumni include Joe Mauer, Miguel Sano, Byron Buxton and Torii Hunter. Follow the Miracle online at MiracleBaseball.com or through its social media channels: Twitter (@MiracleBaseball), Instagram (fortmyersmiracle), Facebook (Fort Myers Miracle) and Snapchat (ftmyersmiracle). For questions or ticket information, call the Miracle at 239-768-4210.

Fort Myers, FL  April 6, 2018, 2018 – Massage Envy, the pioneer and leader of professional, accessible total body care services will celebrate its Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting in Fort Myers on Thursday, April 12, 2018 at 4:00 pm.  Located at 9374 Ben C Pratt/6 Mile Cypress Pkwy, the new clinic is in front of BJ’s Wholesale Club.
There will be prizes, refreshments, raffles, chair massage and Membership Specials. Swag bags to the first 50 attendees!
“We are excited to open our 5^th Massage Envy Location in Southwest Florida and give our members and guests an additional, convenient clinic where they can enjoy the benefits Total Body Care.” said John Preston, President. “We offer care for the entire body and mind, with an array of services to help you look, feel and be your best from head to toe, and the membership model makes it easy to incorporate all of these great services into your wellness plan.”
Massage Envy – Fort Myers offers progressive therapeutic massage treatments, advanced skincare services with exclusive, high-end skincare products and a proprietary assisted stretching service, called Total Body Stretch, that is not available anywhere else.
Massage therapists are trained in techniques such as trigger point therapy, Swedish massage, deep tissue massage, sports massage, reflexology, cranial sacral therapy, prenatal massage and geriatric massage. These techniques are applied for each client in a way that addresses their wellness needs.
Skin care services include customized healthy skin facials, men’s facials, back facials as well as Microderm infusion and chemical peel treatments.
Massage Envy – Fort Myers also offers Total Body Stretch services using the Streto method, a professionally assisted stretching protocol. It is built around a sequence of 10, targeted stretches that work from the top down, helping with flexibility, mobility, and performance.
First time guests can enjoy a sixty-minute introductory massage, facial, or stretch session* for $55 or the assisted stretch can be booked in a 30-minute increment for $34.  A monthly membership is $65. Membership benefits include:

• A sixty-minute massage, facial or stretch session per month
• Unlimited additional massages, assisted stretching, or skincare services per month at a discounted rate
• Family add on and guest pass opportunities
• Retail discounts
• Access and discounts at more than 1,180 Massage Envy franchised locations nationwide

To make an appointment, purchase a membership or for more information, call 239-308-9079
or visit https://locations.massageenvy.com/florida/fort-myers/9374-ben-c-pratt—6-mile-cypress-pkwy.html
 
 
About Massage Envy
Massage Envy, based in Scottsdale, Arizona, is a national franchisor and, through its franchise locations, is the leading provider of therapeutic massage and skincare services, and proprietary assisted stretching service, Total Body Stretch. The Massage Envy franchise system is, collectively, the largest employer of massage therapists and estheticians, with more than 35,000 dedicated wellness professionals that provide best-in-class service to over 1.65 million members. Founded in 2002, Massage Envy has more than 1,180 franchise locations in 49 states that have together delivered more than 100 million massages and facials. For more information, visit www.massageenvy.com, or follow us on Twitter @MassageEnvy and Facebook www.facebook.com/MassageEnvy.
 
*Session times include service time and up to a total of 10 minutes of consultation and dressing, which occur both pre and post service.
 

FORT MYERS, Fla. (April 6, 2018) – The Fort Myers Miracle return to Hammond Stadium on Monday, April 9 for a seven-game homestand featuring promotions and giveaways galore.
On Friday, April 13, the Miracle will honor Hurricane Irma first responders, as well as heroes from the recovery effort, in a pregame ceremony. On Saturday, April 14, gates open early for the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest. On Sunday, April 15, children will have an opportunity to take the field before and after the game.
The seven-game homestand features more than 20 promotions and giveaways.
“Miracle fans always provide us a great homefield advantage, so hopefully starting out the season with so many home games will give us a leg up in the standings,” said Chris Peters, Miracle president and general manager.
Promotions for each game during the April 9-15 homestand include:

• Monday: Dollar Dogs presented by Humana and 99.3 ESPN (hot dogs cost $1) and Humana Silver Slugger Club (free admission and parking to club members).
• Tuesday: Constructive Criticism Night (lodge a complaint at guest services and receive tickets to a future Miracle game) and Two-for-One Tuesday sponsored by Coors Light and 96K Rock (tacos, domestic beer and soda will be BOGO all evening).
• Wednesday: Winning Wednesday presented by Miller & Moulton (multiple chances to win great prizes).
• Thursday: Thirsty Thursday presented by Budweiser, Twin Peaks and Cat Country 107.1 (12-ounce beers for $2, live music at the bar and postgame party at Twin Peaks), College Night ($5 tickets for students with valid ID) and Dunk City Jersey Auction (proceeds from special edition jerseys will benefit the Boys and Girls Club).
• Friday: Irma Recovery Night (pregame ceremony to honor hurricane heroes), First Responders Night ($5 tickets for first responders with valid ID), Miracle Replica Hat Giveaway presented by IL Primo Pizza & Wings (first 500 fans snag some Miracle swag), Pregame Happy Hour sponsored by Wicked Dolphin and B103.9 (special drink offers from 6 to 8 p.m.) and Fireworks Friday presented by First Community Bank (postgame fireworks light up the sky; weather permitting).
• Saturday: Brian Dozier Bobblehead Giveaway presented by Nathan’s Famous (early fans bring home a Miracle alum), Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest (winner earns seat at 2018 Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest) and Goodwill Night (stop by your local Goodwill store for a special ticket offer).
• Sunday: Youth Baseball Day (children in uniform receive a free ticket), Family Sunday activities presented by Dairy Queen, Y 100.1 and PDQ (children play catch on the field before the game and run bases after the game), Team Autograph Session (players will meet fans and sign autographs) and Kids Club Sunday (members of Dick’s Sporting Goods Kids Club get free admission).

For a complete schedule of games and promotions, visit MiracleBaseball.com or call 239-768-4210.
About the Miracle
The Fort Myers Miracle are the Class-A Advanced Affiliate of the Minnesota Twins, and have played home games at Hammond Stadium since 1992. Notable Miracle alumni include Joe Mauer, Miguel Sano, Byron Buxton and Torii Hunter. Follow the Miracle online at MiracleBaseball.com or through its social media channels: Twitter (@MiracleBaseball), Instagram (fortmyersmiracle), Facebook (Fort Myers Miracle) and Snapchat (ftmyersmiracle). For questions or ticket information, call the Miracle at 239-768-4210.

Funding Will Support School Success Programs
FORT MYERS, FL (April 6, 2018) – The Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation has granted $50,000 to The Heights Foundation to support School Success Programs for at-risk kids in the Harlem Heights neighborhood.
“Our School Success program includes academic tutoring, after school and summer camp programs, scholarship and college access assistance, school supplies, and tuition support,” said Kathryn Kelly, President and CEO of The Heights Foundation and The Heights Center.  “Each program is geared to meet the specific needs of children and young adults who seek to further their education.  The support of the Richard M. Schulze Foundation helps ensure our kids have the necessary tools to succeed in school.”
Harlem Heights was originally settled as a rural agricultural community. Approximately 780 children live in a mixture of single-family homes and multi-family apartments.  The poverty rate for children in Harlem Heights is more than twice the county average, with family income 40% below the county average. Families are not able to easily access family support services located in downtown Fort Myers, and benefit greatly from programs located within the neighborhood.  The Heights Foundation and The Heights Center were created with the goal of building strong, self-sufficient families in the Harlem Heights neighborhood.
The Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation was created in 2004 by Best Buy founder and chairman emeritus Dick Schulze to benefit the lives of middle- and working-class families through entrepreneurial investments in education, health and human services that have the capacity to produce measurable and transformative results. The foundation is committed to investing $1 billion in grants to non-profit organizations primarily in the Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul area, where Best Buy began and where Schulze raised his family, and in the Greater Naples-Fort Myers area where Schulze resides.
To learn more about The Heights Foundation and The Heights Center, visit heightsfoundation.org or call (239) 482-7706.
About the Heights Foundation and The Heights Center
 The Heights Foundation works to build self-sufficient families in the Harlem Heights neighborhood. The mission
Is to support education and wellness, promote family and community development, and provide the benefits of enrichment and the arts. The Heights Center, supported by The Heights Foundation, is a place for Education, Opportunity, and Enrichment.
Harlem Heights was originally settled as a rural agricultural community. Approximately 780 children live in a mixture of single-family homes and multi-family apartments. Demographically, the population is approximately 70% Hispanic, 20% African-American, and 8% Caucasian. The poverty rate for children in Harlem Heights is more than twice the county average, with family income 40% below the county average. Families are not able to easily access family support services located in downtown Fort Myers, and benefit greatly from programs located within the neighborhood.

March 28, 2018 – FORT MYERS, FLA – Florida SouthWestern State College (FSW) student Summer Chrzescian, 19, was in shock after hearing she had been nominated for the 2018 All-US Academic Team, a Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society program recognizing the best two-year college students in the nation.
Chrzescian’s original goal had been to make the All-Florida Academic Team to help pay for attending Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) in the fall. She made the state team – along with fellow FSW students Idea Andrade and Jordan Sutphin – but was also nominated to represent FSW at the national level. Earlier this month she was recognized as a Coca-Cola Academic Team Bronze Scholar.
“I was in complete tears of joy,” she said. “I had only been aiming for the Florida team so going beyond that was amazing.”
Students are nominated for the state or national academic teams by a college administrator and selection is based on academic achievement, leadership, and engagement in college and community service. As one of 150 students chosen nationwide, Chrzescian will receive a scholarship from the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation.
In her two years at FSW, she served as president of the college’s PTK Omicron Epsilon Chapter on the Thomas Edison (Lee) Campus, worked as a Peer Mentor, and was inducted into the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. As a member of the FSW Honors Scholar Program, she also studied how political systems affect their citizenry in Nicaragua and participated in the Model United Nations simulation at Harvard University.
Chrzescian, a first generation college student from Naples High School, will be graduating from FSW in May and transferring to FGCU to continue studying Finance. Inspired by her study abroad trip to Nicaragua, she wants to work with an international service organization.
“After coming back from Nicaragua I decided that I wanted to travel for a living,” she said. “I’ve been traveling for years and I love it.”
PTK’s mission is to recognize the academic achievement of college students and to provide opportunities for them to grow as scholars and leaders. It is the largest honor society in American higher education with 1,280 chapters on college campuses in all 50 of the United States and it’s recognized as the official honor society for community colleges by the American Association of Community Colleges.
Student organizations and clubs at FSW enhance the student experience through community service, leadership development, social events, peer mentoring, recreation and more. Keeping students engaged is part of the college’s “Dedicate to Graduate” initiative, which provides the tools and services they need to graduate.
Take a look at how FSW students get involved at www.FSW.edu/engage and learn more about PTK at www.PTK.org or www.FSW.edu/ptk.
Florida SouthWestern State College is Southwest Florida’s largest and one of the most affordable institutions of higher education. Annually serving nearly 22,000 students globally, FSW offers a variety of nationally-ranked, career-focused academic programs with two- and four-year degrees, and professional certifications. Students are also active in clubs and programs catered to their interests. FSW debuted its intercollegiate athletics program in January 2016. Visit www.FSW.edu for more information.

New facility retains homey feel of local children’s grief center
 FORT MYERS, Fla.–-Valerie’s House, Inc., a Southwest Florida nonprofit helping grieving children work through the loss of a loved one together, has relocated to a home in downtown Fort Myers in order to serve the growing need for services in the community.  The previous Valerie’s House was listed for sale by the owner, forcing the non-profit to find another location to serve children.
“The new house brings the same homey feel of our original location, yet has allowed us stability,” said Angela Melvin, Founder and CEO of Valerie’s House.  “We have secured a two-year lease on our new home while we begin to build a campaign to raise money so we can build and secure a home of our own.”
The new Valerie’s House Fort Myers location is at 1762 Fowler Street. It has 2200 square feet that includes a main house and two units, plus room for parking and a back yard to play.
The two story yellow and white Victorian house was originally built in 1910. After many years as the home of several early Fort Myers families, the house has been refurbished to accommodate the Valerie’s House organization.
Melvin said, “We are happy to have been the inspiration for bringing life back to this house.”
Valerie’s House children meet weekly at the home for grief support and mentoring.  The organization is currently serving 140 children from Lee, Collier, Charlotte and Sarasota counties at its Fort Myers and Naples locations.  The vision of Valerie’s House is that no child will grieve alone.  If you know a child struggling with grief, please contact Angela Melvin at angela@valerieshouseswfl.org or go to www.valerieshouseswfl.org.  Valerie’s House is a United Way Partner Agency and is fully supported through generous donations from the community.

MARCH 28, 2018 – FORT MYERS, FLA. – For the 23^rd consecutive year, 100 percent of Florida SouthWestern State College’s (FSW) Dental Hygiene Program graduates have passed the National Board Dental Hygiene Exam (NBDHE).
FSW’s Dental Hygiene program accepts 18 students per year, and students take the NBDHE in March while enrolled in their last academic semester at FSW.
“The NBDHE consists of 350 questions to include general education, program specific general education and dental hygiene core courses,” said Karen Molumby, FSW Dental Hygiene Program Director. “FSW’s dental hygiene curriculum prepares students to apply critical thinking and evidence-based care through the application of rigorous didactic examinations, laboratory competencies and clinical performance evaluations. Because of their diligence and hard work, 100 percent of the dental hygiene class of 2018 has once again passed the NBDHE.”
“We are extremely proud at the continued success of our dental hygiene students,” said Dr. Marie Collins, dean, FSW School of Health Professions. “It is through the exceptional instruction provided by our faculty and staff, that our students continue to achieve this amazing feat and a one-of-a-kind, national accomplishment.”
The Associate in Science degree in Dental Hygiene is one of seventeen career options offered in the FSW School of Health Professions. The program is fully accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation.