4/24/2015
Charity for Change presents first­ever Character in Collier awards | Naples Newspaper | News, Business, Real Estate and Arts in Naples FL | Florida
Editions: Naples
April 23, 2015
Search Archives
Like
3.6k
Follow
2015-04-23 / Top News
Charity for Change presents first­ever Character in Collier
awards
SPECIAL TO FLORIDA WEEKLY
Charity for Change presented its inaugural Character in
Collier awards as part of the second annual Giver
Challenge in March at The Club at Olde Cypress. The five
awards went to:
Dorothea Sonne, Eric Sonne, Judy
Green, Jack Fulmer, Jackie Ressa,
Ames Ressa, Joan Kessler and Joel
Kessler TIM GIBBONS / FLORIDA
WEEKLY
¦ Bruce and Karla “Peaches” Conley – the ChangeMaker
Award.
¦ Cindy Thomas, manager of Cove Yacht Club and
organizer of Christmas for Children – the Charity award
sponsored by Arthrex.
¦ Lisa Morse, director of community engagement and district initiatives with Collier County Public
Schools – the Integrity award sponsored by First Florida Integrity Bank.
¦ Diane Ponton, director of family literacy at Grace Place for Children & Families – the Kindness
award sponsored by the Lund Family.
¦ Eileen Wesley, victim advocate at Project HELP – the Perseverance award sponsored by the
Lund Family in memory of Christine Thompson.
The Conleys were recognized for more than 30 years of service to the community. Through the
2nd Chance Foundation they have significantly affected the strengthening, growth and capacity
of dozens of nonprofit organizations including Care Club of Collier County, the Freedom Waters
Foundation, the music therapy program at Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida,
http://naples.floridaweekly.com/news/2015­04­23/Top_News/Charity_for_Change_presents_firstever_Character_in.html?print=1
1/3
4/24/2015
Charity for Change presents first­ever Character in Collier awards | Naples Newspaper | News, Business, Real Estate and Arts in Naples FL | Florida
Naples Equestrian Challenge and Naples Historical
Society. Beyond the impact of dollars, they encourage
innovation and creativity, support educational
development and empower people and organizations to
develop new ways to approach and solve some of the
complicated challenges within the community.
Angelina Acunto, Eileen Wesley and
For more than 15 years, Ms. Thomas has led members
Peg O’Kane
of the Cove Yacht Club raising more than $585,000 in
their volunteer efforts affecting 1,600 children and their
families. The Christmas for Children initiative provides holiday gifts at Lely Elementary School
and tutoring programs at Lely Elementary and Calusa Park Elementary schools.
Chad Oliver, Karen Conley and Lisa
Morse
Ms. Morse was honored for her
dedication to education, charity and
the community. The award
highlighted her unwavering integrity
while advocating for our community's
youngest members with fortitude and
love.
Where's the story?
3 Points Mentioned
Ms. Ponton was recognized for living a life of kindness,
treating others with compassion and respect. Her
benevolence and attitude of caring and love are exemplified in her thoughtful spirit as she truly
cares about the families she helps.
Ms. Wesley’s perseverance is unshakable as she responds with extraordinary compassion to
calls 24 hours a day helping victims of sexual violence, family members who have suddenly lost
a loved one or people contemplating suicide.
Charity for Change advisory board member Kathy
Feinstein was chairperson of the Character in Collier
selection committee, which included Mason Ayers,
Connie Byrne, Todd Foege and Joel Kessler.
This year’s Giver Challenge committee included:
Katherine Albert, Beth Amico, Lillian Ashton, Amanda
Beights, Kaitlan Benedict, Mary Birr, Sara Dewberry, Pam Tamara Gogin, Karla Conley, Bruce
Conley, Dierdre Strigenz, Tim
Fultz, Gail Graham, Beth Juliano, Michele Lamb, Sue
Strigenz
Lottridge, Gina McCabe, Lisa Nakfoor, Amy Owen and
Cyrilla Wagner. The evening’s sponsors included Arthrex,
eBella, Iberia- Bank, Bank of America, Community Foundation of Collier County, Courtney’s
Creations, Home-Tech and Stock Development.
http://naples.floridaweekly.com/news/2015­04­23/Top_News/Charity_for_Change_presents_firstever_Character_in.html?print=1
2/3
4/24/2015
Charity for Change presents first­ever Character in Collier awards | Naples Newspaper | News, Business, Real Estate and Arts in Naples FL | Florida
Co-chaired by Jackie Ressa and Brooke Stone, the fundraised netted $47,000. State Rep.
Kathleen Passidomo and John Passidomo served as honorary chairs, and Chad Oliver emceed
the lively evening of awards and games.
Charity for Change and its Giver character education
curriculum reach more than 10,000 pre-K through fifth
grade students in Collier County. For more information,
visit charityforchange.org. ¦
Randy Packard and Cindy Thomas
Diane Ponton and Richard Ponton
Return to top
If you have any problems, questions, or comments regarding www.FloridaWeekly.com, please contact our
Webmaster. For all other comments, please see our contact section to send feedback to Florida Weekly. Users
of this site agree to our Terms and Conditions.
Copyright © 2007—2015 Florida Media Group LLC.
Twitter |
Facebook |
RSS
Newspaper web site content management software and services
http://naples.floridaweekly.com/news/2015­04­23/Top_News/Charity_for_Change_presents_firstever_Character_in.html?print=1
3/3