FORT MYERS, Fla. (Oct. 15, 2013) –The Women’s Legacy Fund (WLF) of the Southwest Florida Community Foundation (SWFLCF) presented $19,000 to support student mentoring at its annual fall luncheon on Thursday, Oct. 10 at Shadow Wood Country Club.

The luncheon included an update on the SWFLCF’s first regional call to action called FutureMakers, a mentorship program created to help navigate graduating high-school seniors through their next big steps into the future. This cause was selected by the WLF’s contributors during their spring luncheon held this past May, and their grant will provide support to the Community Foundation which is partnering with the most effective local organizations in the five-county region to address this regional community need. One of the partner organizations is The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools, Inc.  Superintendent Nancy J. Graham, Ed.D. was the luncheon’s keynote speaker.

“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 Women’s Legacy Fund 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.”

In addition, the WLF welcomed two new “Angels” who were announced during the event. Pam Nulman honored Bonnie Olson, and the late Herbert Conant honored his wife Carolyn Conant, which was presented posthumously.

The Angel honorary designation is for mothers, sisters, aunts, daughters, grandchildren, friends, loved ones and community leaders, either living or deceased, who have had a special impact on the lives of those around them. WLF members can make the special women in their lives a WLF Angel with a minimum contribution of $1,000 in their name.  The contribution is endowed in the WLF so that it lives on in perpetuity, and the residual interest is used by the foundation to fund initiatives.

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 $70 million, the Southwest Florida Community Foundation has provided more than $56 million in grants and scholarships to the communities it serves. During its 2012 fiscal year, the SWFLCF granted more than $3 million to more than 100 different organizations supporting education, animal welfare, arts and human services.

For more information about the Women’s Legacy Fund, please call 239-274-5900 or visit www.floridacommunity.com.

Rachel Rubinski, Dena Geraghty, Kitty Green, Dolly Farrell and Meg Geltner

Pam Nulman and Bonnie Olson

Meg Geltner and Cheryl Komnick

Madelon Stewart and Ruth Condit

Jacqueline Ehlers, Carolyn Rogers and Donna Gillroy

Gail Markham and Melissa Cofta

Elaine Hawkins and Pam Beckman

Elaine Green, Judi Hughes and Constance Jones

Dena Gerahty, Jane de Lisser and Tara Molloy