Superintendent Nancy Graham
FORT MYERS, Fla. (Sept. 4, 2013) –The Women’s Legacy Fund of the Southwest Florida Community Foundation will hold its annual fall luncheon on Thursday, Oct. 10 from 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Shadow Wood Country Club for contributors to the fund and women who are interested in making a difference in their community.
The luncheon’s keynote speaker will be Lee County Schools Superintendent Nancy Graham, Ed.D.
The luncheon will also include an update on the Future Makers mentorship program for post-secondary opportunities and career planning for high-school seniors in the region. This cause was selected by the Fund’s contributors to be the area of focus for the year.
“We all realize there are many issues facing our region, and sometimes deciding where to put our efforts to affect change can be challenging,” said Sarah Owen, president and CEO of the SWFLCF. “This year’s WLF focus area has the potential to change the lives of many Southwest Florida students right now. The WLF is proving again that we, as women, are doing more together than we could ever do alone.”
According to Owen, through the WLF’s collective contributions and the endowed fund, the group of contributors will distribute nearly $20,000 in grants to local agencies that are developing these innovative mentoring programs.
In just five years of existence, the WLF has provided nearly $75,000 in grants to benefit people and communities in the Southwest Florida region. Currently, the Fund has more than $270,000 in endowed funds that will continue to grow and help fund local issues now and in the future.
The Women’s Legacy Fund is a fund of the Southwest Florida Community Foundation, created to enable women in Southwest Florida to direct their giving in focused and strategic ways. The Fund’s mission is to engage women in affecting change in our community through collective philanthropy.
The Southwest Florida Community Foundation is celebrating its 36th year of supporting the communities of Lee, Charlotte, Collier, Glades and Hendry counties by connecting donors and their philanthropic aspirations with evolving community needs. With assets of nearly $70 million, the Southwest Florida Community Foundation has provided more than $55 million in grants and scholarships to the communities it serves. During its 2012 fiscal year, the SWFLCF granted over $3 million to more than 100 different organizations supporting education, animal welfare, arts and human services.
The event is open to the public. Shadow Wood Country Club is located at 22801 Oakwilde Boulevard in Estero. The cost is $35 per person, and reservations are required by Oct. 3. To register, visit the Community Foundation’s website at www.floridacommunity.com or call 239-274-5900.
