{"id":11211,"date":"2014-08-01T11:14:19","date_gmt":"2014-08-01T15:14:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mcreativepr.com\/?p=11211"},"modified":"2014-08-01T11:14:19","modified_gmt":"2014-08-01T15:14:19","slug":"unite-award-applications-open-25000-will-be-awarded-for-best-collaboration-and-2500-awarded-to-the-top-two-runners-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mcreativepr.com\/2014\/08\/01\/unite-award-applications-open-25000-will-be-awarded-for-best-collaboration-and-2500-awarded-to-the-top-two-runners-up\/","title":{"rendered":"UNITE Award applications open: $25,000 will be awarded for best collaboration and $2,500 awarded to the top two runners up"},"content":{"rendered":"

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FORT MYERS, Fla. (Aug. 1, 2014) \u2013 The application process for the 2015 UNITE (Uniting Nonprofits In Teaming for Excellence) Award is now open and will close on Sept. 30, 2014.<\/p>\n

Established by Myers, Brettholtz & Company, PA<\/a> and supported by the Southwest Florida Community Foundation, the Cape Coral Community Foundation and the United Way of Lee, Hendry and Glades Counties, the UNITE Award is a regional award that recognizes successful nonprofit collaborative models across Southwest Florida\u2019s five-county area that exemplify excellence and community impact. Its goal is to provide information to the nonprofit community about collaborative models that have succeeded in our area and to share proven effective practices for nonprofits working together.<\/p>\n

The Bob Janes Triage Center\/Low Demand Shelter was the winner of the inaugural UNITE Award in January 2014 and received the $25,000 cash prize. In addition, each of the runners up, Families First: Children\u2019s Advocacy Center of Southwest Florida Inc. and Child Care of Southwest Florida, Inc., and Southwest Florida Addiction Services\/Lee Mental Health Merger, received $2,500 thanks to funding made available by the Wayne Smith of the Smith Family Foundation who wished to reward the other finalists for their dedication to collaboration in the community.<\/p>\n

The 2015 winner will be announced at the annual Myers, Brettholtz & Company\u2019s full-day nonprofit seminar to be held on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2015, at the Holiday Inn Fort Myers Airport-Town Center. Once again the top winner will receive $25,000 thanks to the support by Myers, Brettholtz & Company, PA, the Southwest Florida Community Foundation, the Cape Coral Community Foundation and the United Way of Lee, Hendry and Glades Counties, and the top two runners up will each receive $2,500 from the Wayne Smith Family Foundation.<\/p>\n

\u201cEach of the 27 entries we received last year were inspiring,\u201d said Lori Sampson-Wilson, principal of Myers, Brettholtz. \u201cIt clearly shows that our regional nonprofits are working together to achieve positive collaborative results.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Bob Janes Triage Center\/Low Demand Shelter is a collaboration with the Salvation Army of Lee, Hendry and Glades Counties, the Lee County Board of County Commissioners, local law enforcement, Lee Memorial Health System, SalusCare, the National Alliance on Mental Illness and the United Way. The Triage Center serves primarily as a voluntary pre-arrest diversion program to reduce the number of individuals with mental illness and\/or substance use disorders that are arrested and sent to jail for minor offenses.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were so appreciative of this recognition of our efforts that help make a difference in the community,\u201d said Major Thomas Louden of the Salvation Army. \u201cThe cash award was put back into the program to help participants with incidental expenses for job readiness such as needed medications, apparel for job interviews and other various items that will help them get back on their feet and become independent.<\/p>\n

To be eligible for this year\u2019s award, a collaboration has to:<\/p>\n