Community News

Emmanuel Academies and Emmanuel Communities welcome Kristin Delfs as new Administrative Coordinator

 

Emmanuel Academies and Emmanuel Communities are pleased to announce Kristin Delfs has joined the team as the new Administrative Coordinator for the two local not-for-profit organizations under a management agreement with Success Facilitators, a Naples-based management services and consulting firm.
Delfs will serve as lead administrative professional with an emphasis on communications, relationship building and community partner collaboration.
With an in-depth background in team leadership, customer service and software support, Delfs brings a myriad of valuable skill sets to the two organizations. As a past software business analyst, she understands the importance of data collection, business management flow, functionality, and flexibility.
Originally from Colorado, Delfs moved to Naples approximately one year ago. Upon learning of the missions and community work of Emmanuel Academies and Emmanuel Communities, the call to community service and serving others drew her out of semi-retirement.
“We are very excited to have Kristin join us,” says Howard Isaacson, Chief Executive Officer of Emmanuel Communities, Inc. and Emmanuel Academies, Inc. “As we continue to grow, Kristin brings a wealth of experience in communications, problem solving, and leadership based upon her many years in the technology industry. I am excited about leveraging her skills to further the impact of our two ministries.”
To find out more about the programs from Emmanuel Communities or the college degrees offered through Emmanuel Academies, please contact Beatrice (BB) D’Angelo, Operations Coordinator, at Beatrice@EmmanuelCommunities.org or call her direct line at 239-595-6900.
Emmanuel Communities is a Blue Zones Project recognized organization. The non-profit also offers a community park which has special events and programs that are ongoing. The Emmanuel Community Park is located at 2770 Oil Well Road in Naples (west of Everglades Boulevard). For information call (239) 352-0118 or visit www.emmanuelcommunities.org.

Community News

STARability Foundation receives over $7,000 from First Watch Soft Opening

The STARability Foundation was the recipient of a “Friends and Family Pre-Opening” event held at First Watch in mid-July at their newly opened restaurant located at 900 Neapolitan Way in Naples.

The special fundraising event was held during the restaurant’s soft opening; all who attended were treated to a complimentary fresh breakfast, brunch or lunch entree of their choice plus a beverage. Each guest was asked to donate a minimum of $10 with 100% of the proceeds benefitting the STARability Foundation and, over the two-day opening, funds raised through donations at the restaurant amounted to $6086. And, an additional $1,000 was donated to STARability as a result of this event.

A check was presented to STARability in August by Kelsie Davidson, Regional Marketing Manager of First Watch, and Gigi Sendejes, First Watch’s Park Shore General Manager.

“We are so grateful to have First Watch as a community partner. They support our mission of shining light on ability, not disability,” says Karen Govern, STARability Executive Director.  “This event was a wonderful gift.”

ABOUT STARability Foundation

The STARability Foundation exists to Support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities by providing life-transforming opportunities that emphasize Teamwork and connection to the community to build Awareness and Respect for their individual abilities. A professional staff and more than 100 volunteers deliver a full calendar of engaging, innovative and creative programs to ensure that members, currently ages 14 to 70, have the quality of life they seek and deserve after aging out of school-supported services.

For more information about the Naples nonprofit and its programs, go to www.STARability.org or https://www.facebook.com/STARabilityfoundation.

Photo – Left to right:

Susan Ford, STARability Program Coordinator

Madison McNally, STARability Program Director, Trailblazer Academy

Karen Govern, STARability Executive Director

Gigi Sendejes, First Watch – Park Shore General Manager

Kelsie Davidson, Regional Marketing Manager, First Watch Restaurants, Inc.

Community News

Save the Date 2nd Annual 3K Fun Run, Walk & Roll set for October 12, 2019 to benefit STARability Foundation

Mark your calendars for the STARability Foundation 2nd annual 3K Fun Run, Walk & Roll on Saturday, October 12 at Cambier Park, located at 755 8th Avenue South in Naples.

The Fun Run will be for all ages and starts at 8:00 a.m. with registration beginning at 7:15 a.m. After the race, attendees may enjoy music, sponsor booths/exhibits, and healthy food and refreshments provided compliments of First Watch.

Attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about the STARability Foundation and their programs at the event which has been designed to bring exposure to diverse members of the community. Proceeds will benefit STARabiltiy programs for individuals with disabilities and their families.

The public is invited to take part in this fun family event. Registration for this “All Abilities” event is open to the public; fees are $25 for adults and $15 for children 10 and under. To register please visit www.starability.org/3k-fun-run-registration.

Sponsors helping make this event possible include: Gulf Coast Runners, Naples Pool Service, Inc., Cherry Hill Tattoo, and Paragon Theaters Pavilion Naples.

Sponsorship opportunities are still available; for more information please email info@STARability.org or call 239-594-9007.

ABOUT STARability Foundation

The STARability Foundation exists to Support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities by providing life-transforming opportunities that emphasize Teamwork and connection to the community to build Awareness and Respect for their individual abilities. A professional staff and more than 100 volunteers deliver a full calendar of engaging, innovative and creative programs to ensure that members, currently ages 14 to 70, have the quality of life they seek and deserve after aging out of school-supported services.

For more information about the Naples nonprofit and its programs, go to www.STARability.org or https://www.facebook.com/STARabilityfoundation.

Business Tips, Community News, News

Finding Balance Between Work and Personal Life

Some studies have found that a poor work-life balance can result in unhealthy levels of stress, unhappiness, and even reduced productivity. Prioritizing between your work and personal life is extremely important. Balancing these two things is important to living longer, healthier, and happier.

E. Sue Huff & Associates has made a commitment to living a healthier life and committing to a healthy work-life balance by joining the Blue Zones Project®.

The Blue Zones Project is a community-wide well-being improvement initiative to help make healthy choices easier for everyone in Southwest Florida. This initiative is helping transform communities across the U.S. into areas where the healthy choice is easy, and people live longer with a higher quality of life.

The organization encourages changes to our community that lead to healthier options. Every change that is made contributes to huge benefits for all of us: lowered healthcare costs, improved productivity, and ultimately, a higher quality of life.

Blue Zones encourages individuals to achieve healthier lifestyles through participating in daily exercise, living with purpose, finding stress relieving strategies, eating mindfully, participating in faith-based community, investing time with family, and surrounding yourself with friends who support you.

For more information about Blue Zones Project® visit southwestflorida.bluezonesproject.com.

We hope you will make the commitment to a better work like balance too. Check out their website and their Vitality Compass assessment.

Community News

E. Sue Huff and Associates, Inc. Launches New Website

E. Sue Huff & Associates, Inc. is excited to announce that they have recently launched a new website. Sue Huff, owner of E. Sue Huff & Associates, says the rebranded website is mobile friendly, will feature blogs from various contributors, and will feature photo albums from client events.

E. Sue Huff & Associates, Inc., located in Naples, Florida provides strategic marketing and management consulting as well as public relations services to owners and managers of small to mid-size businesses in Southwest Florida. Founded in 1996, Huff works with a wide range of industries from construction and restaurants to medical and charitable organizations.

E. Sue Huff & Associates, Inc., is a marketing and management consulting firm that targets small to mid-sized businesses and non-profits in Southwest Florida. For more information about E. Sue Huff and Associates visit www.esuehuff.com, call (239) 596-7990 or e-mail sue@esuehuff.com.