Naples Woman’s Club Awards Record Breaking $160,500 in Grants to Nine Naples Local Non-Profits
February 13, 2025
Peter Johnson shares the historical scrapbook documenting Youth Haven’s founding with Millie Savarese of NWC. Header Image Above: Leaders of the Nine Non-Profit Organizations alongside NWC representatives. LtoR: Millie Savarese (NWC), Peter Johnson, Chief Development Officer, Youth Haven, Nancy Dauphinais, COO, David Lawrence, Jessica Stanfield, Exec. Dir. A.N.A.’s Friends, Kellie Pedersen, Director of Development and Communications, Fun Time Early Childhood Academy, Pamela Malamphy, Grants Officer, St. Matthews House, Virginia Veras, Board Member, Providence House, Dale Mullen, CEO, Warrior Homes, Noemi Y. Perez, CEO, Immokalee Foundation, Daniel Christenbury, Exec. Dir., Florida Eye Lions Clinic, Kathy Peppe (NWC)In a remarkable show of support for the Naples community, the Naples Woman’s Club (NWC) has awarded $160,500 in grants to nine non-profit organizations dedicated to serving vulnerable populations. This year’s NWC grant is double the previous year’s amount, marking an historic milestone in NWC’s philanthropic efforts.
These NWC funds will support a wide range of critical initiatives, including housing for homeless teens and senior women, mental health care for veterans,
childcare for single mothers, support for abused and neglected children, and early detection of childhood glaucoma. Additionally, funds will enable the renovation of a kitchen to provide healthy, balanced meals for underserved preschoolers.
The grant recipients are:
- Youth Haven – Housing and support for homeless and at-risk youth
- David Lawrence Centers for Behavioral Health – Mental health services
- A.N.A.’s Friends – Support for children in crisis
- Fun Time Early Childhood Academy – Early childhood education and care
- St. Matthew’s House – Shelter and rehabilitation services
- Providence House – Transitional housing women and children
- Warrior Homes – Housing solutions for veterans
- Immokalee Foundation – Education and mentorship for underprivileged students
- Florida Lions Eye Clinic – Eye care to the underserved
“For nearly a century, the Naples Woman’s Club has been a driving force for positive change in our community,” said Suzanne King, President of NWC. “By working hand-in-hand with local nonprofits, we ensure that our philanthropy is not just a donation –it’s a lifeline. This record-breaking grant allows us to make an even greater impact.”
A Legacy of Giving
Since its founding in 1932, the Naples Woman’s Club has been deeply embedded in the fabric of Naples. From providing milk to undernourished children in the 1930s to starting the city’s first library in the 1950s and helping to launch Youth Haven in the 1970s, the club’s legacy of service runs deep. Today, members continue this tradition by volunteering at food banks, shelters, and fundraising events that fuel their philanthropic efforts. To date, NWC has contributed more than $4 million in grants, scholarships, and volunteer hours to organizations across Collier County.
About the Naples Woman’s Club. The Naples Woman’s Club (NWC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering individuals and families through
philanthropy, education, and service. With a mission to foster community engagement and meaningful impact, NWC provides financial support and hands-on assistance to various charitable causes in the region.
