The Jewish Federation of Greater Naples recently honored a slate of local residents and organizations making a difference at its annual Power of Community Celebration, including Warrior Homes of Collier.
The March 30 event celebrated the Federation’s role in building community and ensuring a vibrant and engaged future for the local Jewish community. Warrior Homes of Collier received the Human Needs Award, a grant created by the Jewish Community Relations Council of the Federation to acknowledge positive contributions of small nonprofit organizations serving severely means-limited disadvantaged populations.
Through its Annual Community Campaign, the Federation helps meet the financial needs of local, regional, national and overseas humanitarian organizations and beneficiary agencies. A committee of volunteers and the Federation staff balance available resources with community priorities through a grant process.
Beneficiaries include community-wide needs as well as various educational and cultural programs conducted by local synagogues, the Holocaust Museum & Cohen Education Center, other local Jewish organizations and social, educational and vocational needs throughout the Jewish world.
A 2025 Human Needs Award was also presented to Gargiulo Education Center, which provides enriching academic and entrepreneurial opportunities in a caring environment to students from the agricultural, migrant and at-risk populations.
Other award recipients:
- The Stand Up for Justice Award, also created by JCRC, is an educator grant that recognizes school educators who are innovative in bringing respect for others’ differences into their activities in a transformative, impactful and caring way. The 2025 winners are:
- Liddy Sexton and Julie Hayford of Naples High School, for creating a warm and welcoming library environment that teaches respect for diversity, counters bigotry and builds inclusion for all students.
- Catherine Crawford, New Beginnings Naples and Beacon High School, received a pair of grants for her efforts involving student support and dropout prevention at these two locations. She was similarly honored in 2024.
- Michael Daniels at East Naples Middle School for an innovative curriculum on an all-volunteer squad of World War II soldiers who were second generation Japanese Americans.
- Jennifer Berning of Manatee Middle School, which under her leadership is the first Collier County secondary school to become a Leader in Me school, a program that fosters leadership, empathy and communication.
- The Power of Community Award recognizes outstanding commitment and support demonstrated by a communal agency, congregation, community organization or individual in strengthening community partnerships and cooperation. The 2025 joint recipients are Marty Gauthier, co-chair of the Catholic-Jewish Dialogue; and the Very Rev. Robert J. Kantor, V.F., Pastor, St. Agnes Catholic Church, member of Catholic-Jewish Dialogue.
- The Heart of Community Award, recognizing years of unwavering dedication to the Greater Naples Jewish community. The 2025 honoree Patti Boochever is outgoing president of Women’s Cultural Alliance
- Patricia J. Adkins Youth Leadership Award, which honors the achievements of Collier County high school seniors demonstrating leadership in their activities at their respective congregation and or BBYO, the leading pluralistic Jewish teen movement. Recipients receive a $2,500 scholarship. 2025 recipients are Adam Dorio, Sidney Kamerman and Julia Reilly.
