On Tuesday, Oct. 19, the Cape Coral Community Foundation will host its 5th annual Excellence in Nonprofit Performance Yearly (ENPY) awards ceremony. Too often the ones doing the work to better our community do not get recognized.
This year, however, due to concerns surrounding the delta variant and taking the necessary steps to keep everyone safe and healthy, the efforts of Southwest Florida nonprofits and the accomplishments of nonprofit leaders will collectively be recognized a little differently. There will be a special live televised broadcast airing across Southwest Florida and watched around the world by live streaming at ctntelevision.com. In addition, there will be a private, invitation-only VIP reception and watch party for award finalists and sponsors.
The Cape Coral Community Foundation received 160 ENPY award nominations and sold out every sponsorship category for the Oct. 19 television show to honor nonprofit leaders, donors, and volunteers.
I am pleased to announce the 36 named finalists, 12 selected award presenters, and the emcee for this year’s ENPYs. The finest nonprofit organizations, leaders, volunteers, staff, and business partners in Southwest Florida will be recognized with a winner named in 12 categories. The ENPY Awards are sponsored by Regions Bank.
The emcee, or mistress of ceremonies, for the 2021 ENPY Awards is Wendy Fullerton, News Director for The News-Press
A panel of impartial non-local judges selected three finalists from an online nomination process in each of the following categories:
Board Leader of the Year (board member)
Patricia Luppy – Freedom Waters Foundation
Joseph Casella – Cape Coral Caring Center
Danielle Dyer – Dr. Piper Center for Social Services
Previously:Cape Coral Community Foundation to donate $210K to local nonprofits
Nonprofit Organization of the Year (established more than five years ago)
Guadalupe Center
Senior Friendship Centers
Pace Center for Girls (Lee County)
Nonprofit Executive of the Year (CEO, president, executive director)
Megan McCarthy Beauvais – Boys & Girls Club of Collier County
Noemi Y. Perez – The Immokalee Foundation
Maggie Feiner – F.I.S.H. of SANCAP
Nonprofit Employee of the Year (paid staff member)
Debbie Bedard – New Horizons of SWFL
Maria Espinoza – F.I.S.H. of SANCAP
Wendy Wooten – Cape Coral Caring Center
Business Partner of the Year (business that supports nonprofits and the community)
Sanibel Community Association
Castellanos + Tramonte Architects
Priority Marketing
Nonprofit Volunteer of the Year (individual who serves the organization and/or community)
Cathi McWhirter – Community Cooperative
Carl Scharfenberg – The Dubin Center
Lorraine Masud – Gulf Coast Humane Society
Nonprofit Rising Organization of the Year (established less than five years ago)
Cape Coral Animal Shelter
Invest in America’s Veterans Foundation
Angel Wings of Southwest Florida
In addition, the Paul Sanborn Service Above Self Award, the Elmer Tabor Generosity Award, Community Impact Award, Health Innovator of the Year Award, and the Connie Ramos-Williams Nonprofit Publicity Award will each be recognized by the Cape Coral Community Foundation.
Community Impact Award (individual improving the well-being of children, youth, and families)
Sandy Stillwell Youngquist – SWFL Children’s Charities
Trish Leonard – Bonita Springs YMCA
Lowell & Sally Senitz – Wings of Shelter Int’l, Inc.
Nonprofit Health Innovator of the Year (individual who makes a difference in health and wellness)
Dr. Susan Hook – Samaritan Health & Wellness
Diane Spears – Lee Health
Laura Ragain – Ronald McDonald House Charities
Connie Ramos-Williams Nonprofit Publicity Award (innovative marketing/PR on a shoestring budget)
Shelby Peters – Fort Myers Beach Lions Club
Melissa Phillips – The Immokalee Foundation
Ramona Miller – Voice in the Wilderness
In addition to the 36 finalists for ENPY Awards, let me introduce you to the 12 selected business and community leaders who will recognize and present the awards to the finalists and winners on Tuesday, Oct. 19, at 7:30 p.m. during the televised event.
Organization of the Year
Bryan Blackwell, Southern Oak Wealth Management
Rising Organization of the Year
Earnest Wilks, Regions Bank
Board Leader of the Year
Juan A. Gonzalez, The HIVE CDC, Inc.
Paul Sanborn Service Above Self
Joe Cerino, Law Office of Joseph Cerino
Nonprofit Executive of the Year
Michael Chatman, sponsored by Raving Fans Media
Health Innovator of the Year
Phil Deems, Phil Deems Real Estate
Business Impact Partner of the Year
Cory Demmel, Cape Christian & Southwest Florida Leaders Group
Community Impact Award
Tami Cindrich, Markham, Norton, Mosteller, Wright & Co., P.A.
Elmer Tabor Generosity Award
Elmer Tabor, Humanitarian & Real Estate Entrepreneur
Connie Ramos Williams Nonprofit Publicity Award
Connie Ramos-Williams, CONRIC PR & Marketing
Volunteer of the Year
Terry Frith, Edward Jones
Nonprofit Employee of the Year
Kati Calvo, Calvo & Calvo Attorneys at Law
The Cape Coral 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.