Shadow Wood Charitable Foundation gives generously




With a check for Interfaith Charities of South Lee County are, from left: Steve Zentz, Loran Brodniak, Lisa Wilkes, Norm Wells and Joyce VanHorn.

With a check for Interfaith Charities of South Lee County are, from left: Steve Zentz, Loran Brodniak, Lisa Wilkes, Norm Wells and Joyce VanHorn.

The Shadow Wood Charitable Foundation awarded a record $1.5 million in grants to 14 charities and the two scholarship programs it supports. The grant money is being invested in worthy initiatives that address housing, food, education and health and human services.

“Our vision is for all Southwest Florida residents to have a decent place to live, adequate provisions to sustain them, and an opportunity to fulfill their life goals,” said SWCF President Steve Zentz in a press release.

Money for the grants and scholarships this year was raised in sponsored events and donations from Shadow Wood residents. The foundation in 2023 has also awarded post-Hurricane Ian emergency funding and pandemic relief to select nonprofits.

“For two decades, the foundation has given Shadow Wood residents a simple and trustworthy way to express their compassion and support for our neighbors in need,” said Zentz. “As a result, we are now helping to serve more than 30,000 people in Lee and Collier counties.”

With a check for Bonita Springs Assistance Office are, from left: Barbara McGonagle, Dawn Brewer, Teri Lamaine, Tracy Dankoff and Jesus Santiago.

With a check for Bonita Springs Assistance Office are, from left: Barbara McGonagle, Dawn Brewer, Teri Lamaine, Tracy Dankoff and Jesus Santiago.

Supported nonprofits include Alliance for Period Supplies, Bonita Springs Assistance, Cafe of Life, Feeding the 5000, Florida Lions Eye Clinic, Foundation for Lee County Public Schools, Friends of the Salvation Army, Guardian Ad Litem, Habitat for Humanity, Hearts & Homes for Veterans, Interfaith Charities of South Lee, Literacy Council Gulf Coast, New Horizons of Southwest Florida, Valerie’s House, St. Matthew’s House.

The Shadow Wood Charitable Foundation supports two scholarship programs. The first is for SWCC and Shadow Wood Community Association employees or their dependents seeking funding for college. Each awardee will receive $6,000 to cover tuition and other educational expenses. Recipients continuing their education also are eligible to renew their scholarships for three additional years if they achieve a minimum 2.5 grade point average.

The program is administered by Shadow Wood residents Tom Nientimp and Larry Becker with recipients selected by the Collier Community Foundation.

In addition to the SWCC Scholars, the foundation awarded 16 scholarships, $5,000 each, to high school graduates of Estero High School and Bonita Springs High School who are enrolling in trade or technical school programs.