Champions For Learning is honored to announce this year’s Champions for learning as well as the Heart of the Apple Recipient. These are individuals who have helped change the lives of Collier County students. Congratulations to this amazing group of community leaders!

Heart of the Apple Recipient:

Gary Personette

Gary has been a volunteer since 2012, beginning with the Golden Gate High School Pilot project. He has mentored 5 Champions For Learning students. He has been a Board member, an Ambassador, a selection committee volunteer, a financial aid coach, and an event volunteer. Gary was instrumental in bringing the IncubatorEDU Entrepreneurship program to Collier County Public Schools, which prepares students to be creative and resilient problem solvers and critical thinkers. This program has

grown exponentially under Gary’s guidance over the past several years, this year expanding to all CCPS Elementary Schools.

Champions:

Pat Botthof
Pat has been a volunteer since early 2017, first serving as an event volunteer for Night of Champions. Since then, she has fulfilled several volunteer roles, including mentoring and serving on the ambassador council to support outreach and retention efforts.

Braulio Colón
As Vice President of Florida Student Success Initiatives, Braulio has facilitated a partnership with Champions For Learning to further improve college-prep and completion rates for limited-income, first-generation and underrepresented students in SWFL.

Ritch Cuvier
Ritch is a graduate from Champions For Learning / Take Stock in Children 11^th grade Program. He currently works in IT for John R. Wood Properties. Ritch has been an active alumni volunteer, participating in networking opportunities and sharing his experience as a Champions For Learning graduate.

Serge Ecityan
Serge is on the board for Champions For Learning, and is actively involved in the Champions Advisory Council, Planned Giving Committee, Take Stock in Children Selection Committee, and the Classroom Grant Selection Committee. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst with BMO Wealth Management, which has sponsored Champions’ graduation event, Countdown to Cap & Gown, for the past 6 years.

Kim & Gary Price
Kim and Gary have supported Champions For Learning over the years in a number of ways; Gary has Chaired the Night of Champions, served on the Professional Advisors Network and Golden Apple Selection Committee, and both Kim and Gary’s businesses have been donors and event sponsors.

Marti & Gordon Watson
Marti and Gordon have been involved with Champions For Learning and the Take Stock program in the roles of mentor, selection committee members and donors since they came to Naples over 20 years ago. Gordon & Marti helped to build the relationship with FSW that lead to the TSIC 11^th grade pilot.

These individuals will be honored at Champions For Learning’s signature event, Night of Champions on Saturday, February 25, 2023.

This piece was originally printed in Naples Illustrated (January 2022): https://www.naplesillustrated.com/ni-current-issue/

Champions For Learning is proud to announce this year’s honored Champions and Heart of the Apple recipients.

The honorees are being recognized at the Night of Champions Dinner on Friday, February 4, 2022, at Arthrex One for their impact on the lives of students through mentoring, leadership, collaboration and community involvement with educators or students. These honored Champions exemplify what it means to make a commitment to our students and their future. As a partner with Arthrex, sharing a common vision for innovation in our community, we are pleased to be hosting this special celebration at Arthrex One.

The 2021-22 Night of Champions honorees are: Hope Daley and Matt Dykes of Guerilla Media, Guenther Gosch, Angie E. Joseph, Janet Perna and Melanie Rose of the Perna-Rose Foundation for Hope, and Kristy Schoen Pollard of the Schoen Foundation. This year’s Heart of the Apple recipients, Marcelo and Betty Alvarez, are also being honored for their sustained and committed leadership in support of building the culture of learning in our community through the mission of Champions For Learning.

“It is a great honor to be highlighting a group of community leaders who are dedicated to impacting students,” says Susan McManus, President of Champions For Learning. ”The Night of Champions honorees truly embody what it is to be a Champion for our students’ future.”

We would like to thank our generous sponsors:

Presenting sponsor: Huntington Private Bank

Major sponsors include Naples Daily News, Naples Illustrated, Suncoast Credit Union, Stock Development, and scholarship sponsor, Florida Gulf Coast University.

Proceeds will support Champions For Learning student programs. Tickets for this event are $350. To learn more about how you can join in, please visit https://championsforlearning.org/night-of-champions/ or call (239) 643-4755.

Table and event sponsorships are also available. For more information, please contact Champions For Learning at 239-643-4755 or Events@ChampionsForLearning.org.

Meet The Champions 

On February 1 ,Champions For Learning is honored community leaders. These individuals were honored for their impact on the lives of students through mentoring, leadership, collaboration and community involvement with educators or students. These honored Champions exemplify what it means to make a commitment to our students and their future.

“We are honored to be highlighting these community leaders who have immense dedication to impacting students and teachers,” says Susan McManus, President of Champions For Learning. ” The Night of Champions honorees truly embody what it is to be a Champion.”

Proceeds for this event helped support Champions For Learning student programs including College & Career Readiness programs and scholarships.

The 2019 Night of Champions honorees are:

• Ingrid & Fabrizio Aielli: Ingrid and Fabrizio are the owners of the Aielli Group, a company that operates the restaurants Sea Salt Naples, Sea Salt St. Pete, Barbatella, and Dorona. 
• Stacy & Todd Bradley: Todd, of Cummings & Lockwood, serves on the Planned Giving Council. Stacy, a long-time educator, has volunteered on the Golden Apple Selection and Grants Committee.
• Corky & Chuck Carlsen: Corky and Chuck became involved with Champions For Learning by mentoring two students through the Take Stock in Children program. Corky and Chuck are the 2019 Mentors of the Year.
• Yolanda Flores: Yolanda is currently the Administrative Director for Postsecondary Adult and Community Education for Collier County Public Schools.
• Florida Prepaid College Foundation: Stanley G. Tate Florida Prepaid College Foundation has awarded over 44,705 scholarships and collaborated with 170 local community-based organizations.
• Mary Lynn Hill: Mary Lynn serves on the Champions Advisory Council and as a active Glass Slipper Alumni recipient, helps to raise scholarship money for female graduates.
• Sharon Hood: As founder and publisher of èBella magazine, Sharon enjoys telling her 22,000 readers about Champions For Learning and how they can get involved.
• Charles Kerwood III: Charlie, of Waller Financial, is involved through the Planned Giving Council and serves on a student selection committee for Champions For Learning.
• Mike Martin: As current President of Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU), Mike has brought his philosophy that to be a good citizen people need to participate in the community.
• Dawna E. Pipersburg: Dawna, of Rembrandt Accounting, is involved in the Take Stock in Children student selection committee. and serves on Champions For Learning’s Board of Directors.
• Steve Pontius: Steve is the Executive Vice President of Waterman Broadcasting Corporation and General Manager of our NBC2 media partner.
• Carol Windfeldt: Carol, a long-time volunteer, has helped facilitate the organization’s strategic planning process, most recently resulting in the new vision and refreshed mission statement.

Champions For Learning is proud to announce their 2018-2019 Night of Champions honorees.

These honorees are being recognized at the Night of Champions event on Friday, February 1, 2019, at the Naples Grande Beach Resort. These individuals will be honored for their impact on the lives of students through mentoring, leadership, collaboration and community involvement with educators or students. These honored Champions exemplify what it means to make a commitment to our students and their future.

The 2018-2019 Night of Champions honorees are: Ingrid & Fabrizio Aielli, Stacy & Todd Bradley, Corky & Chuck Carlsen, Yolanda Flores, The Florida Prepaid College Foundation, Mary Lynn Hill, Sharon Hood, Charles Kerwood III, Mike Martin, Dawna E. Pipersburg, Steve Pontius, and                                                                                 Carol Windfeldt

“We are honored to be highlighting these community leaders who have immense dedication to impacting students and teachers,” says Susan McManus, President of Champions For Learning. ” The Night of Champions honorees truly embody what it is to be a Champion.”

Proceeds for this event will support Champions For Learning student programs including College & Career Readiness programs and scholarships.

We would like to thank our generous sponsors:

Presenting sponsor: Capital Wealth Advisors

Major sponsors: eBella, Naples Daily News, Naples Illustarted, Suncoast Credit Union and Waterside Shops

Tickets for this event are $300. Table and event sponsorships are also available. For more information

We are proud to announce their 2017-18 Night of Champions honorees.

These honorees are being recognized at the Night of Champions event on Wednesday, January 31, 2018, at the Naples Grande Beach Resort. These individuals will be honored for their impact on the lives of students through mentoring, leadership, collaboration and community involvement with educators or students. These honored Champions exemplify what it means to make a commitment to our students and their future.

Champions For Learning is proud to have honored community leaders at the Night of Champions event that was held on February 2, 2017 at the Naples Grande Beach Resort.

The 2016-2017 Night of Champions honorees are: Michael J. Adams, Della Burt-Bradley, Theo Etzel, Kaleigh Grover, Cindy Helton, Thelma Hodges, Claudine Léger-Wetzel, Andrea & Felix Lluberes, Susan & Wayne Mullican, Senator Garrett Richter, Joan & Jack Toren, Sharon & Dolph von Arx, and Michael A. Wynn.

Thank you to the generous sponsors:

Presenting sponsor:  Wells Fargo

Major Sponsors:  Arthrex, Capital Wealth Advisors, Suncoast, CenturyLink, Beverly Feagin, Laimbeer Family Gift Fund, McGlynn Family Foundation, Publix Super Markets Charities, Trendy Travel and Tours, Waterside Shops.

Click here to see photos from the event.