FORT MYERS, Fla. (Dec. 4, 2014) – Myers, Brettholtz & Company, PA, Certified Public Accountants & Business Consultants, will hold its 13th annual nonprofit workshop on Wednesday, Jan. 21.

Since 2001, Myers, Brettholtz & Company, PA has sponsored seminars focused on the needs of nonprofits in the areas of human resources, fundraising, accounting practices and finance.

The full-day seminar, “Make Every Word Count,” will take place at the Holiday Inn Fort Myers Airport-Town Center located at 9931 Interstate Commerce Drive in Fort Myers from 7:15 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Myers, Brettholtz hosts the annual seminar in partnership with the Southwest Florida Community Foundation and the United Way of Lee, Hendry and Glades Counties. More than 130 nonprofit leaders, staff and board members attended last year’s event.

This year’s program will include information on new skills that will help nonprofits gain the support of the people whose backing they need to succeed. Sessions will include how to identify the people best positioned to bring success, how to craft messages that will keep them engaged and tools that will keep nonprofits connected.

Guest speaker Ann Christiano is the Frank Karel Endowed Chair, Public Interest Communications for the University of Florida.

During the event, the 2015 UNITE (Uniting Nonprofits In Teaming for Excellence) Award collaboration winner will be announced. The UNITE Award is a private/public partnership established by Myers, Brettholtz & Company, PA and supported by the Southwest Florida Community Foundation, the Cape Coral Community Foundation, the United Way of Lee, Hendry and Glades Counties and the Smith Family Foundation. The winner will receive $25,000 and the top two runners up will receive $2,500 each.

This year’s call for entries received 21 applications. Twelve collaborations made it to the second round before the five finalists were chosen.

The five finalists include:

  • Guidance Programs for Success (GPS) – GPS expands access to after-school programs for grades K-12 in Immokalee. Partners include the Guadalupe Center, RCMA Immokalee Community School, Immokalee Foundation, Southwest Florida Workforce Development Board, Collier County Public Schools, Boys & Girls Clubs, and Naples Children and Education Foundation
  • Partners in the Fight Against Human Trafficking – Abuse Counseling & Treatment and Human Trafficking Awareness Partnership are part of the Southwest Florida Regional Coalition that coordinates efforts and training among law enforcement agencies, human service providers, and federal and local government agencies.
  • Teen Outreach Program – The Teen Outreach Program collaboration began in 2006 with three agencies teaming to serve at-risk teens in two rural counties. In 2013, 13 more agencies were added to the collaboration, and today, there are currently 22 partners serving five counties.
  • Lee Community Healthcare – The Lee Community Healthcare initiative is a collaboration with Lee Memorial Health System and United Way to provide medical care and social services to disadvantaged and medically underserved in Lee County.
  • Bonita Springs Assistance Office – The “Money Matters” Class was created for clients of the Bonita Springs Assistance Office. In collaboration with New York Community Bank, the BSAO teaches clients how to be better stewards of their money.

“Each of the 21 entries we received this year were inspiring,” said Lori Sampson-Wilson, principal of Myers, Brettholtz. “It clearly shows that our regional nonprofits are working together to achieve positive collaborative results.”

To be eligible for this year’s award, a collaboration had to:

  • Be based in the five-county Southwest Florida area (Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades)
  • Involve two or more entities (i.e., nonprofit organizations, businesses, and/or government agencies)
  • Include a lead organization that is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit
  • Have a structure that is evidenced by a formal written agreement (i.e., memorandum of understanding, contract or merger agreement)
  • Be able to demonstrate the impact of the collaboration through measurable outcomes
  • Have been in operation for a minimum of 18 months, with a formal written agreement in place no later than March 1, 2013.

Registration is $25 per person and can be made by Jan. 8 by emailing kelly.talamo@mbcopa.com or calling 239-939-5775. A continental breakfast, lunch and refreshments will be served.

Since 1979, Myers, Brettholtz & Company, PA has been working with nonprofit organizations in Lee and Collier counties helping them achieve their goals. The company serves clients across the nation by performing accounting and auditing, tax preparation, bookkeeping and consulting.