Commentary: Community Foundation announces 33 finalists for annual ENPY Awards

Michael Chatman
·3 min read

On Thursday, Sept. 28, The Community Foundation will host the 7th annual ENPY (Excellence in Nonprofit Performance Yearly) Awards ceremony. Too often the ones doing the work to better our community do not get recognized.

The Community Foundation received several award nominations and invites companies to become sponsors for speaking roles during the soldout event, and present awards for the various categories to honor nonprofit leaders, donors, and volunteers.

I am pleased to announce the 33 named finalists and the emcee for this year's awards ceremony. The finest nonprofit organizations, leaders, volunteers, staff, and business partners in Southwest Florida will be recognized with a winner named in 11 categories.

The emcee, or master of ceremonies, for the 2023 ENPY Awards is Michael Chatman, President & CEO of The Community Foundation.

A panel of impartial non-local judges selected three finalists from an online nomination process in each of the following categories:

Megan Rose
Megan Rose

Nonprofit Executive of the Year Award

  • David Brown, President and Co-Founder, Family Initiative

  • Megan Rose, President & CEO, Better Together

  • Heidi Davis, Executive Director, SWFL Children’s Charities

Stacey Cook, the CEO of SalusCare stands for a portrait in one of the units that had repairs done because of damage associated with Hurricane Ian.
Stacey Cook, the CEO of SalusCare stands for a portrait in one of the units that had repairs done because of damage associated with Hurricane Ian.

Nonprofit Organization of the Year Award

  • SalusCare

  • Pace Center for Girls, Collier at Immokalee

  • Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties

Nonprofit Employee of the Year Award

  • Kate Major, Director of Social Services & Education, Community Cooperative

  • Dianne Summers, Executive Assistant, Florida Repertory Theatre

  • Erin Wolfe Bell, Director of Exhibition and Special Programs, Naples Botanical Gardens

Dennis Gingerich Ministry Award

  • Ron Inge, Lead host, SWFL Community Prayer Breakfast Inc.

  • Wynn Watkins, President, Trinity Life Foundation, Inc.

  • Dr. Phil Phillips, Senior Pastor, Agape Christian Fellowship

Dr. Phil Phillips, Senior Pastor, Agape Christian Fellowship, has been nominated for the Dennis Gingerich Ministry Award.
Dr. Phil Phillips, Senior Pastor, Agape Christian Fellowship, has been nominated for the Dennis Gingerich Ministry Award.

Nonprofit Volunteer of the Year Award

  • Jim and Joan Bajek, Volunteers, FISH of SANCAP

  • Dayra 'Dee' Dominguez, Founder, Against All Odds

  • Allison O'Reilly of Florida Drowning Prevention Foundation, Inc.

Business Partner of the Year Award

  • Sanibel Captiva Community Bank

  • New Horizons of Southwest Florida

  • Regions Bank

Community Impact Award

  • Sandra Worth, Founder and Executive Director, My Autism Connection

  • Tanna Horner, Executive Director, Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Gardens

  • Dr. Susan Hook, Executive Director, Samaritan Health & Wellness

Paul Sanborn Service Above Self Award

  • Dr Tom Felke, Associate Dean / Associate Professor, FGCU

  • Jess Walker, Consultant, Markham Norton Mosteller Wright & Company, P.A

  • Ernestine Squires, Founder,Bobby Holloway Jr. Foundation

Connie Ramos-Williams Nonprofit Publicity Award

  • Halle Goldstein, Field Marketing Manager, Live Wildly Foundation

  • Teresa M. Araque, Marketing Executive, Hodges University

  • Martha Perez, Communications Manager, New Horizons of SWFL

Malaina Mote
Malaina Mote

Next Generation Leader Award

  • Manuela Martinez, Program Coordinator, FISH of SANCAP

  • Malaina Mote, Board Member, Director of Development, Habitat for Humanity of Lee & Hendry Counties

  • Falon Tabares, Chief Executive Officer, The Healthy Earth Organization

Elmer Tabor Generosity Award

  • Kathryn Klar, Treasure Chair Governance Committee, Friends of Lovers Key

  • Danyale Kinney, Executive Director, The New Beginnings of Southwest Florida

  • Yvonne Hill, Founder/President, Legacy Tours

The Community Foundation fosters a healthy and dynamic community where individuals are inspired to support, strengthen, and enrich quality of life through generosity and civic engagement. The Foundation offers a variety of inventive ways to give generously to a multitude of diverse partners, prioritize needs and best serve its citizens – locally, regionally, nationally, and abroad.

With any questions or thoughts, please feel free to reach out to Alison, Assistant to the CEO, at alison@capecoralcf.org. The foundation is located at 1405 SE 47th Terrace, Unit 2, Cape Coral. For information, you can also call or text 239-542-5594 or go to www.capecoralcf.org

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Commentary: 33 finalists named for annual ENPY Awards