Meet the 36 ENPY award finalists, representing SWFL's nonprofit excellence
On Tuesday, Oct. 18, The Community Foundation will host the 6th annual ENPY awards – Excellence in Nonprofit Performance Yearly awards ceremony. Too often the ones doing the work to better our community do not get recognized. The efforts of Southwest Florida nonprofits and the accomplishments of nonprofit leaders will collectively be recognized during a special live televised broadcast, airing across Southwest Florida and watched around the world by live streaming at ctntelevision.com. In addition, there will be a private, invitation-only VIP reception and watch party for award finalists and sponsors.
The Community Foundation received 147 ENPY award nominations and sold out every sponsorship category for the Oct. 18 TV show to honor nonprofit leaders, donors, and volunteers.
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I am pleased to announce the 36 named finalists, 12 selected award presenters and the emcee for the ENPYs. The finest nonprofit organizations, leaders, volunteers, staff, and business partners in Southwest Florida will be recognized with a winner named in 12 categories. The ENPY awards is sponsored by Regions Bank.
The emcee, or mistress of ceremonies, for the 2022 ENPY awards is Wendy Fullerton Powell, Southwest Florida Region editor, The News-Press and Naples Daily News.
A panel of impartial non-local judges selected three finalists from an online nomination process in each of the following categories:
Nonprofit Board Leader of the Year (board member)
Debra Frenkel – Wellfit Girls
Jessica Van Hart - Family Initiative, Inc.
Jane Schiff - Jewish Federation of Greater Naples
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Nonprofit Organization of the Year (established more than five years ago)
Quality Life Center of Southwest Florida, Inc.
Thrive
Southwest Florida Symphony
Nonprofit Executive of the Year (CEO, president, executive director)
Matthew Johnson – The IMAG History & Science Center
Richard LeBer - Harry Chapin Food Bank
Melissa Bonner - Dr. Piper Center for Social Services, Inc.
Nonprofit Employee of the Year (paid staff member)
Dick Draffone - Collier Lee Honor Flight
Dr. Jan Abernathie - Wonder Gardens
Dr. Rebbeca Gatian - Avow Hospice
Business Partner of the Year (business that supports nonprofits and the community)
Local Roots
Beattie Development
MindWestOne Bank
Nonprofit Volunteer of the Year (individual who serves the organization and/or community)
Vicky Cordes - New Horizons of SWFL
Amy McQuagge - Pace Center for Girls, Lee
Mary Bartoshuk - Children’s Garden of LaBelle
Nonprofit Rising Organization of the Year (established less than five years ago)
Bonita Senior Center Inc.
Community Assistance Ministry
Southwest Florida Music Education Center
Paul Sanborn Service Above Self Award (outstanding servant leader)
Jaime Suanez – Valerie’s House
Pat Boris - F.I.S.H. OF SANCAP
Lydia Masters - The New Beginnings of Southwest Florida
Elmer Tabor Generosity Award (individual who exemplifies being kind and generous to others)
Lisa Moorehead - Donate4kidz
Neftali Feliciano - Cancer Alliance of Naples
Sue Dalton – Community Philanthropist
Community Impact Award (individual improving the well-being of children, youth, and families)
Daniel Andrews – Captains for Clean Water
Kelly Palmer - Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast
Janel Trull – Cape Coral Museum
Next Generation Leader Award
Alycia Downs - Captains For Clean Water
Sarah Williamson - Wonder Gardens
Margo Brewster - Pace Center for Girls, Lee
Connie Ramos-Williams Nonprofit Publicity Award (innovative marketing/PR on a shoestring budget)
Jennifer Bushinger-Ortiz – Loveland Center
Jacki Liszak - FMB: Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce
Vanessa Chaviano – Leading Latina
The 2022 ENPY Award Presenters:
· Nonprofit Organization of the Year – Laura Swaggerty, Justin Swaggerty Aviation Foundation
· Rising Organization of the Year – Earnest Wilks, Regions Bank
· Executive of the Year – Michael Chatman, The Community Foundation
· Volunteer of the Year – Kevin Johnson, Merrill Lynch
· Board Leader of the Year – Eva Gonzalez, Engage with Eva
· Employee of the Year – Bryan Blackwell, Southern Oak Wealth Management
· Next Generation Leader of the Year – Jeremy Frank, Finemark National Bank & Trust
· Business Partner of the Year – Teri Hansen, Priority Marketing
· Community Impact Award – Tami Cindrich, Markham, Norton, Mosteller, Wright & Co.
· Connie Ramos Williams Nonprofit Publicity Award – Wes Olds, Grace Church
· Elmer Tabor Generosity Award – Dennis Gingerich, Cape Christian
· Paul Sanborn Service Above Self Award – Joe Cerino, Law Office of Joseph Cerino
The Community Foundation, founded in Cape Coral, the largest city in Southwest Florida, is the voice and the choice of the region’s 5,219 nonprofits with a combined workforce of 37,610 employees that generate $4.15 billion in annual revenue. The Community Foundation is also the creator of Generous People, weekly television production that combines entertainment with philanthropy. The groundbreaking television series will broadcast across Lee, Collier, Charlotte, DeSoto, Glades and Hendry counties in Florida to more than 610,000 households. Every episode features real-world nonprofit leaders and experts who are working in the trenches of the charitable sector.
Michael Chatman is president & CEO of The Community Foundation, the global center for generosity, and can be reached at michael@capecoralcf.org, on Twitter @michaelchatman. The foundation is located at 1405 SE 47th Terrace, Unit 2, Cape Coral. For information, call 239-542-5594 or go to www.capecoralcf.org
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Finalists for ENPY awards announced, representing SWFL's nonprofit excellence
