Member News

FORT MYERS, Fla. (December 10, 2019) – LARC (Lee Association of Remarkable Citizens) will host a glorious evening of delicious food, fine wines, fun and intrigue on Thursday, March 12 at 6:30 p.m. at the historic riverfront home of Fran Fenning in Fort Myers.  Guests will step back in time to the 1920s where an elaborate party is being hosted by the famous silent film actor Eric Jewett.  Thomas and Mina Edison, Henry and Clara Ford, Sidney and Berne Davis are all said to attend along with other famous residents of Southwest Florida of the era.
 
One of the famous guests has something to hide.  Highly-trained improv actors will set the scene for the evening and guests will have the next two hours to unravel the secret. Sponsorship opportunities and ticket packages are available.
 
The event is co-chaired by philanthropist Marc Collins and Dwayne Bergmann, principal of Dwayne Bergmann Interiors.  Fran Fenning is the honorary event chair.
 
Fenning’s home, also known as the Jewett-Thompson house, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  Built in 1926, during the land boom period, the home is one of the most elaborate constructed in Southwest Florida during that time.  The home is an excellent example of Mediterranean Revival style and includes beautiful gardens.
 
Attendees are encouraged to dress to match the 1920s era.
 
“We are so grateful to Fran Fenning for opening her home for our fundraiser.  It is a magnificent property,” said Angela Katz, LARC Development Director.  “Guests will have the opportunity to roam the 3+ acres while partaking in the plot and proceeds from the event will benefit LARC’s programs that empower individuals with disabilities to reach their full potential.”
 
Sponsorship packages that include an exclusive VIP reception are available.
 
For ticket package or sponsorship information visit www.larcleecounty.org, call Angela Katz at (239) 334-6285 x 229 or email [email protected]
 
 
About LARC
Established in 1954, LARC Inc.’s mission is to empower and support individuals with disabilities and their families to reach their full potential. LARC is a 501(c)3 that provides programs and services for approximately 300 local men and women annually. The nonprofit offers youth programs, vocational training, community residential services, and a vast array of other state-of-the-art community inclusion services on a full-time, year-round basis.  LARC’s main campus is located at 2570 Hanson Street, Fort Myers, and has a satellite campus in Bonita Springs.  LARC also operates two Residential Group Homes located in Cape Coral and North Fort Myers.
 
 
 
Elly Hagen
Elly Hagen Marketing & Public Relations
(239) 994.3927
[email protected]

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Dec. 10, 2019) – Shell Point Retirement Community has announced the roster for its fifth annual 2020 Medical Breakthroughs & Discoveries series, a free community speaker series beginning in January, designed to share updates on the latest advances in medical research and health care practice.
Free and open to the public, this educational series will feature prominent local and national experts who will address recent advances in the fields of global health care, macular degeneration, memory disorders and modern medicine.
Four presentations complete the lineup for the 2020 speaker series, including:

• Tuesday, Jan. 14 at 10 a.m. – “Strategies for Improving Memory and Brain Health,” presented by Gary Small, professor of psychiatry and biobehavioral sciences at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles
• Tuesday, Jan. 21 at 7 p.m. – “What’s New in Macular Degeneration,” presented by Dr. Stephen G. Schwartz, medical director at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute
• Tuesday, Feb. 4 at 7 p.m. – “What Is It and How It Can Improve Healthcare,” presented by Julie A. Johnson, Pharm.D., dean and distinguished professor at the University of Florida College of Pharmacy
• Monday, March 30 at 7 p.m. – “Innovation and Progress at a Modern Healthcare Company,” presented by Jay Saccaro, executive vice president and chief financial officer for Baxter International, Inc.

All four Medical Breakthroughs & Discoveries presentations will be held in the Village Church Auditorium on The Island at Shell Point, 15100 Shell Point Blvd. in Fort Myers. Registration is requested by calling 239-433-7936.
The 2020 Medical Breakthroughs & Discoveries series is presented by The Legacy Foundation at Shell Point in conjunction with Shell Point Wellness Connection. The series is sponsored UBS Wealth Management.
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.

FORT MYERS, FLA., December 9, 2019– World-renowned artists from throughout Europe, Russia, and Poland will travel to Fort Myers this winter to perform for the Fort Myers Community Concert Association in its 71st annual concert series.
Single tickets will be available for purchase starting December 15 for each of the five performances, which organizers say are among the best ever offered by the Fort Myers Community Concert Association.  Prices are $55 for orchestra seats, $35 for lower balcony seats and $25 for upper balcony seats. Mezzanine seats are sold out.
All performances will start at 7:30 p.m. at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall on the Florida SouthWestern State College campus in Fort Myers.  For tickets, call the Barbara B. Mann Hall box office at 239-481-4849.
The five concerts for the 2020 season are:

• The Wroclaw Philharmonic Orchestra – January 10, 2020. – The Wroclaw Philharmonic Orchestra was founded in 1945 and officially became the State Orchestra of Wroclaw, Poland in 1949.  The orchestra was renamed the Wroclaw Philharmonic in 2015 when the orchestra moved into its new home, the National Forum of Music, where it is has performed for nearly 100,000 attendees in its first two seasons.  It is widely considered to be the premier venue of its type in Poland.
• The Siberian State Symphony Orchestra – January 27, 2020.  Direct from Krasnoyarsk, Russia, the Siberian State Symphony Orchestra embarks on an eight-week U.S. tour in January, 2020. Founded in 1977, the orchestra quickly won a reputation as one of the best orchestras from Russia. The orchestra plays the great Russian classics and has made numerous recordings.
• Teatro Lirico D’Europa performing Verdi’s “La Traviata” – February 3, 2020. La Traviata is the classic tale of unrequited love taking place in and around Paris during the 1840s. Teatro Lirico D’Europa is the most successful opera touring company in Europe and the U.S. and travels with a full orchestra of 47 to 50 members and a chorus of 40 singers.
• Russian State Symphony Orchestra –February 10, 2020.  The Russian State Symphony Orchestra, known for its rich sound, nobility of expression and skillfully balanced sound presents Glinka: Rusian and Ludmila Overture; Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4 and Grieg: Piano Concerto with pianist Pavel Nessessia, one of the most remarkable Russian pianists of his generation.
• Russian National Ballet – March 2, 2020. The Russian National Ballet performs the timeless “Sleeping Beauty.”  Luminous costumes and elaborate sets complement one of Moscow’s finest ballet companies. The Russian National Ballet Theatre was founded with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation and invigorates the tradition of classical Russian ballet with developments in dance from around the world.

The Fort Myers Community Concert Association, now in its 71st concert season, is an all-volunteer not-for-profit organization founded by the legendary Barbara B. Mann in 1949 to bring world-class entertainment to Southwest Florida at affordable prices.  The association consists of more than 1,700 members, underwriters and sponsors.  Performers brought to Fort Myers in the past by the association include The Israel Ballet, Violinist Itzhak Perlman, The Boston Brass, Minnesota Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, Vienna Boys Choir, Pianist Andre Watts, Violinist Joshua Bell with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields and many others.  For Community Concert Association membership information, visit www.fortmyerscommunityconcerts.org.

FORT MYERS, FL (December 9, 2019)- Top interior designers, sponsors, and vendors gathered at the Kravet Inc. Showroom in Naples on November 25th for the Project Design Phase II kick-off, benefiting Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC) Southwest Florida. With a consistently full House and a waiting list, it’s become imperative to add six bedrooms to the existing House, thereby doubling its occupancy. Groundbreaking is expected before the end of the month.
Design Co-Chairs Suzanne Costa and Jeffrey Fisher will lead the project. Participating designers, vendors, and sponsors include Alexis Marie Interiors, California Closets, Dwayne Bergmann Interiors, Ficarra Design Associates, Jeffrey Fisher Home, Jett and Company, Judith Liegeois Designs, Pamela Durkin Designs, Renee Gaddis Interiors, Republic of Décor, Kravet, Naples Flooring Company, California Closets, The Shade Store, Cambria, Phillip Jeffries, Wilson Lighting, Home & Design Magazine, and Venjhamin Reyes.
About Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southwest Florida
Since its founding in 1996, Ronald McDonald House has served thousands of families from Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Glades and Hendry counties, and other states and countries. Here, families find a “home away from home” while their children are undergoing medical treatment at Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida. Thousands of children are served by the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile® program, two mobile healthcare units providing medical and dental services to underserved children, and by the Ronald McDonald Family Room®, located in Golisano Children’s Hospital.
About Kravet Inc. 
Kravet Inc., established in 1918, is the industry leader in the to-the-trade home furnishings industry. This fifth-generation family business distributes fabrics, furniture, wall coverings, trimmings, carpets, and accessories. The family’s commitment to innovation has helped the company transform from a small fabric house to a global leader, representing brands and designers from all over the world. Kravet Inc. owns Kravet Fabrics, Lee Jofa, Brunschwig & Fils, Groundworks, and GP & J Baker, all high-end fabric houses that specialize in style, luxury, and exceptional design. With locations in North America and worldwide, Kravet Inc. offers the highest level of customer service, quality products, and web technology for today’s design professional.

Smiles will be plentiful as children receive toys
 Note to Media: MY Shower Door partnered with TWO39 Work, Brown and Brown Insurance, Audi of Fort Myers, KindLeigh and CONRIC PR & Marketing this holiday season to brighten the day of the children and families at Golisano Children’s Hospital. Hundreds of toys have been collected and will be distributed on Tuesday at the hospital.
WHAT: Delivery of toys to families at Golisano Children’s Hospital
WHEN: Tuesday, Dec. 10, 10 a.m.
WHERE: Golisano Children’s Hospital, 9981 S Healthpark Dr., Fort Myers, FL 33908
WHY: To spread Christmas cheer to families whose holidays deserve a special present through the Golisano Children’s Hospital Toy Drive and the Golisano Snow Pile Room, where toys are delivered.

(FORT MYERS, Florida) – ENX Magazine announced that CopyLady was chosen this year as a 2019 Elite Dealer.  The prestigious award, which is published annually, signifies the Who’s Who of the office technology dealer community.
ENX Magazine selected this year’s winners based on several criteria, including marketing prowess, digital transformation, leadership, work environment, technology, customer service and charitable endeavors.
CopyLady was established in 2002 in Fort Myers, Florida by businesswoman and entrepreneur Cynthia Duff.  Built from the ground up on the principles of integrity and service, Cynthia has grown CopyLady into the leading supplier of copiers and printers to the business community of Southwest Florida.
“CopyLady is honored to be recognized by ENX with the coveted Elite Dealer award,” says President and CEO Cynthia Duff. “It symbolizes our commitment to complete customer satisfaction while providing innovative business technology solutions for our clients. It really benefits all when a company’s corporate culture remains dedicated to integrity and professionalism. I’m so proud of our CopyLady team!”
“In our eyes, an Elite Dealer makes a concerted effort to produce a winning experience for not just its clients, but its employees and vendors as well,” said Susan Neimes, managing editor of ENX Magazine and ENX The Week in Imaging. “A defined corporate culture and a willingness to embrace new technologies—and share them with their customer base—also goes a long way. There’s no one ingredient behind an Elite Dealer—it’s a confluence of many factors that lifts these performers above the rest.”
About ENX Magazine
ENX Magazine is a monthly publication dedicated to the office technology and document imaging industry since 1994. Now in its 26th year, ENX Magazine continues to deliver exclusive editorial coverage on market opportunities and issues, news and trends, company profiles, new products, and industry insights. With a monthly circulation of more than 27,000 hard copies, ENX Magazine serves as a leading integrated resource that brings together industry people, products, and business concepts and strategies for office technology industry professionals.
Added Erik Cagle, editorial director of ENX Magazine, “The Elite Dealer and Difference Maker issues are my personal favorites, because they capture the spirit and personalities behind the dealerships. Every company has a tale to tell, and there is more than one path that leads to success. In an era where technology continues to dominate, these Elite Dealers employ a blend of old-fashioned customer service with the best of modern communication tools to remain indispensable to not just their client base, but their communities as well.”
About CopyLady
CopyLady, Inc. is a locally-owned, factory-authorized dealership for copiers, multi-functional printers, and other office technology equipment to meet all document solution needs.  The mission of CopyLady, Inc. is to deliver high-value products and exceptional service to clients and ensure the best ownership experience in America. CopyLady, Inc. is located at 1949 Dana Dr., Fort Myers, FL 33907.
For more information, visit www.CopyLady.com or call (239) 939-5383.

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Dec. 9, 2019) – Lee Health Foundation has awarded the Frank Haskell Humanitarian Award to Dr. Steve Machiz for his incredible leadership in establishing SWFL Children’s Charities, Inc., a nonprofit most known for its annual Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest.

Machiz established the nonprofit in 2008, and one year later, SWFL Children’s Charities, Inc. pledged $10 million to build a new children’s hospital in Southwest Florida. By 2012, they were ranked by Wine Spectator as the third most successful wine festival in the country. Since its inception, it has generously donated more than $19 million to Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida, making it the second largest donor behind the hospital’s namesake, Tom Golisano.

“I was honored to be in a position to bring the Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest to life with the support of so many caring and generous people,” shared Dr. Steve Machiz. “By being strategic and thinking big, we have proven that when we work together for the community good, we can accomplish anything. There is no greater joy than to see the Children’s Hospital standing tall and proud on the campus of HealthPark.”

Prior to Machiz’ acceptance at the event, a new pledge of $3 million to create SWFL Children’s Charities Eye Institute of Golisano Children’s Hospital was announced, which will make SWFL Children’s Charities, Inc. the largest donor to Golisano Children’s Hospital.

The Frank Haskell Humanitarian Award recognizes outstanding leadership in the advancement of quality health care for the citizens of Southwest Florida. The award is named in honor of Frank Haskell, co-founder, with his late wife Betty, of Barbara’s Friends – Golisano Children’s Hospital Cancer Fund, which was named in memory of their daughter Barbara after cancer claimed her life when she was far too young. For more than 25 years, Frank has worked tirelessly to help local children win their battles with cancer and life-threatening blood disorders. At age 90 he is not done yet, raising more than $20 million to date and counting. Previous recipients of the award have included Al Kinkle, Joe Catti, Jim Nathan and Amanda Cross.

The prestigious award was presented at Lee Health Foundation’s annual Evening of Gratitude, held Nov. 20 at The Forest Country Club. The formal event thanked more than 350 donors and supporters in attendance for their generosity and unwavering commitment to enhancing health care services within the Lee Health network. Also in attendance to address the audience was Kelli Parlavecchio, a patient of Lee Health’s Regional Cancer Center and beneficiary of the Sharon MacDonald Breast Health Fund. Sharon MacDonald was present at the event who shared an embracing moment after Parlavecchio shared her story of gratitude. Fifteen-year-old Summer Kates, who was hit by a car in 2015, also shared her story of gratitude. Kates now runs her own nonprofit, Summer’s Cookies, to benefit the Child Life program at Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida.

For more about health care advocacy in Southwest Florida and philanthropic opportunities with Lee Health, visit LeeHealthFoundation.org.

About Lee Health Foundation

Lee Health Foundation raises philanthropic dollars on behalf of Lee Health, including Cape Coral Hospital, Gulf Coast Medical Center, HealthPark Medical Center, Lee Memorial Hospital and Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida. The Foundation provides financial support for many service areas including the Regional Cancer Center, Lee Health – Coconut Point, The Rehabilitation Hospital, Shipley Cardiothoracic Center, Community Health Clinics and Golisano Children’s Hospital Specialty Clinics in both Port Charlotte and Naples. Over the past two years, the Foundation has distributed more than $53 million to Lee Health to support its lifesaving mission. Please visit LeeHealthFoundation.org or call (239) 343-6950 for more information.

Cape Coral office to present check during Dec. 7 event
 FORT MYERS, Fla. (Dec. 5, 2019) – A special Dec. 7 event will highlight a project from the heart by the Cape Coral office of the Lee County Tax Collector supporting veterans in need of housing assistance through the Hearts and Homes for Veterans Inc. organization.
The Cape Coral office will co-host the event, starting at 1 p.m., at the Southwest Florida Military Museum & Library in Cape Coral and present a substantial monetary gift to Hearts and Homes. The event will honor Pearl Harbor Day. The museum is located at 4820 Leonard St. in downtown Cape Coral.
Chief Deputy Tax Collector Noelle Branning also will be in attendance for the ceremony.
“Our Cape Coral office and the community really opened their hearts to help veterans seeking assistance,” Branning said. “The generosity to those who have given so much for us is touching and heartwarming.”
The inspiring teamwork of the Cape Coral office to raise the money started Jan. 1. Each of the 23 clerks in the office were asked to contribute at least $5 each day until they reached their money goal, and they sold candy bars to customers. Providing extra motivation was an idea by clerk Robin Halek. She purchased a trophy and whomever gave the most money each day earned the right to display the trophy, which had a clever name.
“She called it the candy crusher,” Cape Coral customer service manager Chrissy Means said.
This was the second year the Cape office has opened their hearts to continue a program created last year by then Cape Coral Customer Service Manager Lorena Velasquez, who is a military veteran.
Means said they are excited about the check presentation ceremony. “It’s a big day. Patrick in our office is a veteran and we have two other clerks from the office who have family members who are veterans. We also have veterans coming from Lehigh for the check presentation.”
Hearts and Homes is a non-profit corporation, based in Fort Myers, which provides subsidized housing to low- and middle-income veterans. The organization also provides food and job support for veterans seeking employment, as well as assisting them in applying for benefits. 
 About Lee County Tax Collector
The Lee County Tax Collector (LCTC) exists to serve the citizens of Lee County. The office takes pride in organizational excellence and offering exemplary customer service and operates by the credo of “We’ve got your back.” The LCTC operates leetc.com, the official interactive website of the tax collector, which allows county residents to quickly and easily take care of motor vehicle and vessel registration, pay property taxes, make appointments for concealed weapon permits and more. The agency operates seven service centers open daily throughout the county to provide efficient, convenient services. The LCTC works to provide innovative and quality service that supports the growth and sustainability of the community. For more information, visit leetc.com or follow Lee County Tax Collector on social media.