Phil Deems Sr.

Ever since moving to Florida Phil has been focused in Commercial Real Estate. He has represented numerous national chains, oil companies and franchises and now concentrates on the sale and leasing of commercial, medical and industrial properties. But it’s his love of his family, his church and his classic cars that won him this award. Phil is passionate about ending hunger in the community.

In December of 2016, he created the Cape Coral Charity Car Show put on by Cape Coral First United Methodist Church to help stop hunger, with 100% of proceeds going to the Cape Coral Caring Center. The First Event was a great success and this annual event continues to grow with the fourth show planned for February.

Phil also heads up his church’s fundraising campaign to make much needed repairs to the building. His passion, persistence and generosity is contagious, and his hard work and dedication has made such a positive difference in the community.

Bill & Mary Masters

The team of Bill and Mary Masters truly embrace “Service Above Self”, says the nominator. The organization exists because the Masters choose others over self every day.

They came to Cape Coral to retire after working and raising their own 9 children; but instead of living a quiet life, they invested their own capital, time and love to women who were cast out or forgotten in the community. Every day they provide relief from the financial burden of single motherhood, along with opportunities to grow as godly women.

They offer a safe place for single-mother families where they can pursue a higher education and learn life skills that create a Christ-centered environment in each mother’s life. They do this out of love and are now parents and grandparents to far more children than they can count.

The Cape Coral Rotary Clubs and the Cape Coral Kiwanis Foundation for their collaboration on the School Bus Stop Safe Zone Project | Accepting this award are Nick Muhlenbruch, Mick Sheldrake & Elmer Tabor

Children need to wait at their school bus stop, some as early as 5:45am. Numerous stops have no street lights or sidewalks. After several news stories and the tragic death of one small child being hit by a car waiting for her bus, the Rotary Club could not bear to let this go on and met with the Kiwanis Foundation to collaborate on the School Bus Safe Zone Project. Several hurdles had to be considered, such as the fact that school bus stops can change each year. So a permanent structure would not work. Discussions were held with Lamar Advertising and the idea of movable park benches was born. As the stops are on city property, the City of Cape Coral had to give their approval and homeowners also had to be involved as the benches would be at the end of their properties. Both clubs along with Lamar Advertising, Brand One Ink, Loews and hundreds of volunteers never gave up and invested both financially and physically in this significant ongoing project. At last count, more than $80,000 has been invested with 175+ benches already installed.

Sam Galloway Ford-Lincoln, accepting is Robert Galloway, Vice President

Silently donating hundreds of thousands of dollars each year to charities, Sam Galloway Ford-Lincoln is one of the most philanthropic companies in southwest Florida. It’s primary annual event, The Sam Galloway Jr. & Friends Soup Kitchen Benefit for Community Cooperative, is well known and well attended by some 650 people who, like Mr. Galloway, want to help eliminate hunger and homelessness in Lee County. This event also inspires and supports sustained positive change in its clients, by delivering innovative food, education and social service programs. For the past 15 years its estimated that $15 million dollars has been raised through the Soup Kitchen event.

Stacey Cook, President & CEO SalusCare Florida

SalusCare is a nonprofit mental health and substance abuse service provider delivering exceptional and compassionate behavioral healthcare. Stacey’s efforts to shed a spotlight on mental health is inspiring.

A respected leader to more than 400 employees, and to her colleagues in the southwest Florida health field, her compassion and dedication is making a huge impact with children’s mental health issues, outpatient psychiatry, outpatient substance abuse treatment and drug prevention.

Lee & Ginny Schroeder, Naples Therapeutic Riding Center

Ginny and Lee Schroeder being active retirees, wanted something meaningful to do to help others. They visited the Naples Therapeutic Riding Center which provides equine-assisted therapeutic services to help people of all ages with special needs from autism to traumatic brain injuries, and many other often rare physical and neurological challenges.

The vast majority of the riders are children under 21 years of age. These lessons allow riders to experience a freedom of motion and ability they simple do not or cannot enjoy otherwise. They were “blown away” and went through the comprehensive volunteer orientation, attended training and passed their tests.

Ginny prefers sidewalking with her riders; and Lee, growing up with horses, is a leader in riding lessons. They commute four times a week from Fort Myers to Naples—sometimes twice a day—to help with the nightly feeding of the horses.

They also took the lead on a project to update the open-air observation deck and shed so parents and others have a comfortable place to watch or rest. They both love the smiles and hugs and seeing the progress the riders make is very rewarding.

Angela Katz, LARC Inc.

As Development Director at LARC, Angela is responsible for all aspects of fundraising, working closely with the community to increase awareness and to promote employment and inclusion of individuals with intellectual and development disabilities.

Her passion is to help fulfill the dreams and goals of people with disabilities so they can work, live and play in their community just like we all do.

She recently championed an innovative and ongoing new program called LAB – Learn, Achieve, Become. Her nominator writes: Angela’s enthusiasm is infectious. She constantly reminds us “there is nothing that cannot be accomplished if you organize your thoughts and aren’t afraid to do a little work.”

Wayne Kirkwood, Board Chairman, Community Cooperative

As a successful businessman and philanthropist, Wayne has supported countless organizations throughout Lee County, both financially and with his commitment and leadership to several nonprofit boards.

As the Board Chairman for Community Cooperative, he has been an incredible champion for their mission; to end hunger and homelessness in Lee County.

He runs the Board like his business, is not afraid of making changes or trying new ideas, promotes our cause and is a role model to not only our other board members but to all the staff as well. Community Cooperative feels so blessed to have him as their Board Chair.

Samaritan Health & Wellness – Accepting the Award is Executive Director, Dr. Susan Hook

A true family medical practice encompassing and treating the body, mind and spirt of the patient, Samaritan Health and Wellness is an example of servanthood and servant leadership. In less than five years, over 7,000 unduplicated men, women and children from Lee, Charlotte, Collier and surrounding Counties are accessing affordable, professional and compassionate healthcare. All are welcome, regardless of faith or spiritual belief, race, gender, sexual orientation, residency status or ability to fully pay. Dr. Hook and her team is a health ministry with a strong mission; loving the Lord and loving people as ourselves.

Kevin Ahmadi, Regional Director, Volunteers of America

Volunteers of America is a national nonprofit faith-based organization dedicated to helping those in need rebuild their lives and reach their full potential.

They also sponsor Gulf Coast Village, Cape Coral’s first retirement community. Kevin recognized the senior of tomorrow would be much more active, so under his leadership expanded its activities offering a true maintenance-free lifestyle, using a concierge approach to handle resident’s needs and wants.

In his role as Regional Director, Kevin leads an ambitious expansion plan that will bring the same much needed residential facilities to other parts of Southwest Florida, all with a focus on providing affordable quality programs rather than turning a profit.

His top priority is providing a full continuum of care for aging adults that offer an unparalleled lifestyle of comfort and convenience with a rich array of services and amenities that are focused on living well.

Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida Inc.- Accepting the award is Angela Fisher, President & CEO

Junior Achievement is dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success plan for the future, and make smart academic and economic choices. Programs are delivered by corporate and community volunteers and provide relevant hands-on experience that give students from kindergarten through high school knowledge and skills in financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship. In the 2018-2019 school year, Junior Achievement provided programs to nearly 12,500 students in over 63 schools in Charlotte, Collier and Lee counties, as well as collaborating with other nonprofit organizations and after school and summer programs providing educational programs to them as well.