News

Champions For Learning announces their 2018-2019 Board of Directors. This group of professionals and community leaders is committed to a vision of a community that is 100% engaged in support of student success.  Champions For Learning serves a unique role, as The Education Foundation of Collier County, in bringing the community together to support a culture of learning and innovation

“Our Board of Directors consists of individuals who are very dedicated to providing life-changing learning experiences to every student,” says Lynn Davidson, Board Chair. “Each board member brings their own expertise and passion to the organization and I am honored to serve among them. These community leaders exemplify that vision of our future in Collier County. “

Members of 2018-19 Board of Directors for Champions For Learning include:

• Lynn Davidson, Board Chair, Retired Executive Vice President-Time Warner
• William R. Barker, Immediate Past Chair, Southeast Regional President, USA Today Network and LocaliQ and president of the Naples Daily News and The News-Press
• Chuck Carlsen, Vice Chair, Owner / CEO – Fluidall, Inc.
• Beverly Feagin, Vice Chair, Retired Vice President- Securities Analyst & Investor Relations Consultant
• Nancy Potter, Vice Chair, Founding Member- Nelson Auto Group
• William M. Burke, Secretary, Attorney- Coleman, Yovanovich & Koester, PA
• Kenneth P. Thomas, Treasurer, Community President- Huntington Private Bank
• Danny Pate, At-Large Executive Committee, Vice President of Operations- CenturyLink
• Mary Beth Geier, At-Large Executive Committee, Florida Director- Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation
• Susan McManus, President– Champions For Learning
• William Beynon, President & CEO- Capital Wealth Advisors
• Mike Christopher, General Manager at Naples Daily News, and GPS National Sales Director
• Anne Fleming, General Manager- Waterside Shops
• Bill Hall, Retired CEO- WL Hall Company
• Michael Jean-Baptiste, Accountant- Gulfshore Insurance
• Daniel Lampe, Senior Vice President- Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC
• Stephanie Lucarelli, School Board Vice Chair- Collier County Public Schools
• Barbara Melvin, Vice President- First Florida Integrity Bank
• Kamela Patton, Superintendent- Collier County Public Schools
• Dawna E. Pipersburg, Owner & Manager- Rembrandt Accounting & Tax Services
• Jacqueline Rodriguez, Vice President of Service Operations- Suncoast Credit Union
• Martha Rozman, Marketing & Operations- Delta Air Lines
• Mario Valle, Relationship Manager- PBS Construction Company

Champions For Learning (The Education Foundation of Collier County) has recently been awarded a 4-start rating from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity evaluator, for its strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency.

This is the sixth time that Champions For Learning has earned this top distinction. The 4-star rating is the highest possible rating and indicates that Champions For Learning adheres to sector best practices and executes its mission in a financially efficient way.

Champions For Learning is among only 23% of the charities evaluated who have received at least 3 consecutive 4-star evaluations, indicating that Champions For Learning outperforms most other charities in America.

Collier County teachers were surprised by Champions For Learning board members, volunteers and supporters as they received funds for their classroom grants.

During the course of the day, Champions For Learning awarded 118 grant checks that totaled $66,867 to 38 schools. The checks will provide teachers with the funds needed to implement creative and innovative learning experiences for students. Click here to see a list of the teachers.

These classroom grants were requested by Collier County teachers through the online grant portal on Champions For Learning’s website. The community can go to the website and fund requests (up to $2,000).  This online grant program began in 2003, to enable the community to support teachers.

Thanks to a charitable gift from Suncoast Credit Union, which supports the technology and capacity for the classroom grant portal, 100% of community contribution goes into supporting teacher grants.

The following provided significant contributions to fund specific teacher grants:  Suncoast Credit Union, Florida License to Learn License Plate Fund, Lucie Jenny MacCarthy Music Fund of the Community Foundation of Collier County, Perna-Rose Foundation for Hope, W.I.N.G.S., and Seminole Tribe of Florida.

Help provide life-changing learning experiences to students! There are still opportunities to fund a teacher’s great idea. Click here to support local classrooms today! You can also help fund Classroom Grants through the License to Learn Fund (Florida Education Tag). Collier County community members can buy the new version of the tag in late October. $20 of the annual $25 fee is donated to Champions For Learning and 100% of the funds support classroom grants.

Strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency have earned Champions For Learning (The Education Foundation of Collier County, Inc), a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity evaluator.

This is the sixth time that Champions For Learning has earned this top distinction. The 4-star rating is the highest possible rating and indicates that Champions For Learning adheres to sector best practices and executes its mission in a financially efficient way.

Champions For Learning is among only 23% of the charities evaluated who have received at least 3 consecutive 4-star evaluations, indicating that Champions For Learning outperforms most other charities in America.

“Champions For Learning’s exceptional 4-star rating sets it apart from its peers and demonstrates its trustworthiness to the public,” according to Michael Thatcher, President & CEO of Charity Navigator. “Only a quarter of charities rated by Charity Navigator receive the distinction of our 4-star rating. This adds Champions For Learning to a preeminent group of charities working to overcome our world’s most pressing challenges. Based on its 4-star rating, people can trust that their donations are going to a financially responsible and ethical charity when they decide to support Champions For Learning.”

“We are extremely proud to be receiving a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator,” says Lynn Davidson, Chair of the Board of Directors. “Our Board of Directors and staff are committed to ensuring that the investments from the community create life-changing learning experiences for every student in Collier County.”

Community Engagement Coordinator

Champions For Learning is seeking a Community Engagement Coordinator to coordinate the outreach and onboarding process for prospective volunteers and donors to ensure they become fully engaged in the mission.  Job requirements include four-year degree, strong interpersonal and written/verbal communication skills, along with proven ability to build relationships.

Director of Development

Join the team at Champions For Learning to plan and execute corporate sponsorships, donor communications for small gifts, key fundraising events and acknowledgements. Requirements include four-year degree, strong interpersonal and written/verbal communication skills, along with development experience at a not for profit.

Submit resumes to HR@ChampionsForLearning.org

The Future Ready Collier network of partners was recognized recently as an Unsung Hero of Community Resilience for the local efforts post-Irma to ensure that children and families stayed on track with their educational goals in the aftermath of the hurricane.  Lisa Church, Vice President Champions For Learning accepted the award on behalf of the partners at the recent FCAN Summit.

The Florida Unsung Heroes of Resilience Awards honors leaders throughout the state who helped students navigate an uncommonly tumultuous year.

During the 2017-18 school year, Florida students not only had to cope with damages to their homes and neighborhoods because of Hurricane Irma, but also had thousands of displaced students from Puerto Rico and other parts of the Caribbean being integrated into their schools mid-year. Additionally, the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shattered the sense of safety for students in Parkland and beyond.

“This award is in recognition of Florida community members who went above and beyond the call to support students impacted by extraordinary events that challenged our state over the past school year,” said Kathy McDonald, FCAN’s Assistant Director for Network Partnerships.

Future Ready Collier (futurereadycollier.org) is a network of local partners working to ensure every child is ready for Kindergarten, and every young person is career ready by graduating high school on track to obtain a degree or credential.  Champions For Learning, the Education Foundation of Collier County, is the backbone organization facilitating this collaborative effort.