{"id":11946,"date":"2015-01-22T14:36:25","date_gmt":"2015-01-22T19:36:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mcreativepr.com\/?p=11946"},"modified":"2015-01-22T14:36:25","modified_gmt":"2015-01-22T19:36:25","slug":"collier-countys-guidance-programs-for-success-wins-25000-award","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mcreativepr.com\/2015\/01\/22\/collier-countys-guidance-programs-for-success-wins-25000-award\/","title":{"rendered":"Collier County\u2019s Guidance Programs for Success wins $25,000 Award"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>\u00a0\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Jamie Scott & Pat Riley of GPS<\/p>\n

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Jan. 22, 2015) \u2013 Guidance Programs for Success (GPS) is the 2015 winner of the UNITE (Uniting Nonprofits In Teaming for Excellence) Award and the $25,000 cash prize.<\/p>\n

Established by Myers, Brettholtz & Company, PA<\/a> and supported by the Southwest Florida Community Foundation<\/a>, the Cape Coral Community Foundation, the United Way of Lee, Hendry and Glades Counties and the Smith Family Foundation, the UNITE Award is a regional award that\u00a0recognizes successful nonprofit collaborative models across the five-county area that exemplify excellence and community impact. Its goal is to\u00a0provide 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

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cWe serve more than 3,000 students in Immokalee,\u201d said Jamie Scott, GPS coordinator. \u201cWe look forward to utilizing this award as a way to really focus on continuing our improvement and track our students in multiple content areas, which will allow us to better serve them.\u201d<\/p>\n

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 the Naples Children and Education Foundation.<\/p>\n

Two runners up also received $2,500 each from the Smith Family Foundation.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Partners in the Fight Against Human Trafficking including Abuse Counseling & Treatment and Human Trafficking Awareness Partnership was named second runner up. They 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.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The Teen Outreach Program collaboration was named first runner up. The 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.<\/p>\n

Two additional finalists made it to the final round of judging including Lee Memorial Health System and United Way\u2019s Lee Community and the Bonita Springs Assistance Office\u2019s \u201cMoney Matters\u201d class in collaboration with New York Community Bank.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s call for entries received 21 applications.<\/p>\n

The 2015 winner was announced at the annual Myers, Brettholtz & Company\u2019s full-day nonprofit seminar on Wednesday, Jan. 21 at the Holiday Inn Fort Myers Airport-Town Center.<\/p>\n

\u201cEach of the 21 entries we received this 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

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