$93,700 AWARDED TO LOCAL NONPROFITS AND SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT IN MEMORY OF JORDAN ASHLEY GUTHEIM 20-year-old graduate of Evangelical Christian School and a junior at Florida State University, was killed two years ago in a car accident
8771 College Parkway, Building 2, Suite 201
Fort Myers, FL 33919
239-274-5900
Fax 239-274-5930
FORT MYERS, Fla. –Four local nonprofits, a church mission trip and a high school senior were this year’s recipients of funds from the Jordan Ashley Gutheim Foundation Fund and the Jordan Ashley Gutheim Scholarship Fund, funds of the Southwest Florida Community Foundation. This is the second year for Jordan’s blessings, which now totals $226,700 with over $108,000 already distributed.
The funds were established in memory of Jordan Gutheim, a 20-year-old who graduated from Evangelical Christian School and was a junior at Florida State University. Jordan and her boyfriend Benji Piechoczek were killed in a car accident on May 12, 2016 while waiting to make a legal turn. Born in Fort Myers, Jordan was known for her fun and loving spirit, her happiness, sensitivity and interest in going out of her way to help others.
This year’s recipients included Cape Coral Animal Shelter, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office Teen Driver Challenge, Valerie’s House and the Dr. Ella Piper Center’s Foster Grandparents Program. In addition, Sylvia Canko of Cape Coral High School is the scholarship recipient of the Jordan Ashley Gutheim Scholarship for four years $2,000 per yearand a grant was made to New Hope Presbyterian Church to aid with a mission trip to Puerto Rico planned for this summer. $10,000 was also committed to While We’re Waiting, a faith based retreat for bereaved parents.
According to her family, Jordan was passionate about animals, seniors, families, and helping those in need in impoverished countries. The funds support what Jordan loved, including no-kill animal shelters, seniors facing dementia, humanitarian mission trips, driver safety and family services. Annually, the foundation also awards a 4-year scholarship to FSU.
“Jordan’s light shined so bright with her outpouring of love for her family, friends, and people in need. Our family, and the world for that matter, lost someone irreplaceable,” said her family. “Jordan loved to travel, exercise, experience new things, and make others laugh. We miss her more and more each day, and through this fund, our wonderfully kind and caring daughter will live on and continue to help others.”
The fund is available for anyone who would like to contribute at http://bit.ly/JordanAshleyGutheim, or send a check to the Southwest Florida Community Foundation. For more information about Jordan, please visit www.jordangutheim.org.
The Southwest Florida Community Foundation, founded in 1976, cultivates regional change for the common good through collective leadership, social innovation and philanthropy to address the evolving community needs in Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades counties. Last year, the Foundation partnered with individuals, families and corporations who have created nearly 400 philanthropic funds. Thanks to them, the Foundation has invested $5 million in grants and programs to the community. With assets of more than $93 million, it has provided more than $67 million in grants and scholarships to the communities it serves since inception. The Community Foundation is the backbone organization for the regional FutureMakers Coalition and Lee County’s Sustainability Plan.
For more information about the Southwest Florida Community Foundation, call 239-274-5900 or visit https://floridacommunity.com.
