The Moorings Park Foundation, through resident contributions, distributed grants through its Senior Peak Challenge program, which is estimated to have helped in excess of 15,000 local seniors in Collier County in 2018.
“Since its inception, the Moorings Park Foundation’s mission has been to create a culture of philanthropy which provides opportunities to benefit the residents of Moorings Park, its employees, and the greater community,” stated Dan Lavender, CEO of Moorings Park. “These wonderful grants continue this important tradition.”
Residents raised $254,000 for grants that were distributed to seven local recipient agencies, many of whose patrons live below the poverty level.
Those agencies included Senior Friendship Health Center, Naples Senior Center, Golden Gate Senior Center, Alzheimer’s Support Network, Parkinson’s Association, Step Smart Collier, and Valerie’s House.
Senior Friendship Health Center received a grant to support health screenings for cancer, heart diseases and arthritis, its Friends in Need assistance, and dental assistant services for the underprivileged.
The Naples Senior Center received a grant for the support of eight dementia support programs serving over 100 people and support for art and music therapy programs.
The grant to The Golden Gate Senior Center will go toward health-strengthening exercise classes for seniors, carpeting of a meeting room, and to boost the group’s Emergency Direct Assistance funds.
The Alzheimer’s Support Network received a grant to fund website and informational videos for training businesses in customer service with dignity for people living with Alzheimer’s.
The grant to the Parkinson’s Association went to support the group’s program of providing free home assessment plans for Parkinson’s Disease caregivers.
Step Smart Collier received a grant for public education programs that teach seniors about the risks of falling and how to prevent them.
Valerie’s House also received a grant. The organization typically supports grieving children, but the Moorings Park Foundation grant will also help fund support groups for grandparents suddenly raising their grandchildren due to unfortunate and often tragic family circumstances.
Earlier this year, the Moorings Park Foundation pledged money through its Peak Senior Challenge, for the Healthcare Network of Southwest Florida's new Nichols Community Health Center in Golden Gate, a much needed facility that has become a major project for Moorings Park’s residents.
Several residents have also pledged more individually, including Karl and Alice Sheffield, who generously have pledged a million dollars when they realized how directly Moorings Park employees would be served with quality, affordable healthcare at the center.
For information regarding the Moorings Park Foundation call (239) 919-1692.