Collaboratory announces recipients of ‘Arts and Animals’ grants
The Animal Refuge Center in North Fort Myers and the Octagon Wildlife Sanctuary are among the 14 organizations recognized by Collaboratory.
Through specific legacy funds, Collaboratory honored regional collaborative nonprofits by awarding $90,000 to fund programs and services that enrich the community. Collaboratory presented the Arts and Animals Grants on Aug.31 and Sept. 2 in Fort Myers.
Arts and Animals is an endowed, field-of-interest grant program. The grants provided were from legacy field-of-interest funds.
ARC, a no-kill animal shelter, received $5,000.
Octagon, a rescue across from Babock Ranch that takes in an cares for exotic animals, received $10,000.
“Our donors emphasized a strong desire to assist nonprofits that enhance the arts culture in Southwest Florida and provide a nurturing environment for animals that need our support,” said Dawn Belamarich, president and CEO of Collaboratory. “These grants recognize the incredible work these organizations are already doing while investing in what’s possible next – helping make Southwest Florida a community that values the arts and cares deeply for the animals who call it home.”
Collaboratory selected six arts organizations for grants:
• Alliance for the Arts ($5,000). Features visual and performing arts exhibitions, performances, classes and community programs.
• Arts Bonita ($5,000): Enriches lives by providing opportunities for artistic expression, education and appreciation in a supportive and nurturing environment.
• Florida Repertory Theatre ($5,000): Nurtures and develops an ensemble of theatre professionals who produce a variety of comedies, dramas and musicals.
• Gulf Coast Symphony ($5,000): Contributes to cultural enrichment through a season of community and educational projects, events and performances.
• The Fort Myers Community Concert Association ($5,000): Offers world-class live music, fosters music appreciation and encourages the teaching of music, music history and music appreciation.
• The Music Foundation of Southwest Florida ($5,000): Transforms the lives of young people by igniting a lifelong joy of making music through summer camps, scholarships and musical instruments.
“Southwest Florida has so much to offer its residents and visitors, but our region’s thriving arts culture is a jewel that benefits the entire community,” said Greg Longenhagen, producing artistic director at Florida Repertory Theatre. “Nationally, theater – and performing arts in general – have taken a hit in terms of public funding, so generous organizations like Collaboratory that recognize the value of the arts are creating a stronger foundation for children and our community as a whole.”
Additionally, Collaboratory honored eight animal care organizations:
• Caloosa Humane Society ($5,000): Serves, shelters and protects homeless pets while providing low-cost spay and neuter services.
• Cape Coral Animal Shelter and Veterinary Clinic ($10,000): Strengthens the human-animal bond through adoption services, quality and affordable veterinary care, and community education.
• Guardians of Florida Animal Rescue ($5,000): Removes animals from situations involving abuse or endangerment and provides temporary homes and appropriate care until they are placed into responsible homes.
• Gulf Coast Humane Society ($10,000): Offers a safe haven for pets in need by providing medical care, promoting adoptions and nurturing the bond between pets and people.
• Haven on Earth Animal League ($5,000): Provides tender care and permanent placement for dogs and cats at risk of danger due to abuse, neglect or abandonment.
• Octagon Wildlife Sanctuary ($10,000): Establishes a safe haven for exotic animals and ensures they live out their lives in a healthy, stress-free, clean and loving environment.
• The Animal Refuge Center ($5,000): Educates the community about the importance of spaying and neutering pets while providing interim shelter and medical care to cats and dogs who are homeless, injured or abandoned.
• The Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife ($10,000): Teaching hospital and visitor education center dedicated to saving wildlife through veterinary care, research, education and conservation medicine.
“Wildlife and animal welfare are often overlooked in philanthropy, which makes this investment from Collaboratory and its supporters especially meaningful,” said Alison Charney Hussey, executive director of CROW. “We are incredibly grateful for this support and for the recognition that protecting Southwest Florida’s wildlife is an investment in the future of our region. This grant will help CROW continue providing lifesaving veterinary care to sick, injured and orphaned wildlife while ensuring these animals have the best possible chance to return to the wild.”
Collaboratory’s philanthropic work aligns with three priorities – workforce and education, community infrastructure, and health and wellness. Additionally, donors can establish separate funds that reflect their personal interests and charitable intentions. The Arts and Animals field-of-interest grants arose after generous donors specified a desire to support those causes, including the Sigourney Esty Fund, Patricia B. Murray Charitable Fund for Humane Treatment of Animals, Dale and Virginia Rice Memorial Fund, Lloyd and Shirley Matthai Animal Welfare Fund, Adelaide G. Bowen and Elizabeth B. Solley Animals and Children’s Fund, Fund for the Arts in Southwest Florida, Bireley Family Foundation Arts Fund and Sadako Judd Fund for the Arts.
For more information about supporting local charitable causes through Collaboratory, please visit Collaboratory.org/giving.
About Collaboratory Collaboratory is Southwest Florida’s regional community foundation and convener, committed to coordinating solutions to the region’s most pressing social challenges by 2040. For more than 50 years, Collaboratory has mobilized philanthropy and stewarded more than $147 million in charitable investments across a five-county region by bringing together nonprofits, education, government and private-sector partners to drive systems-level change. Through grantmaking, scholarship administration, community research, capacity building and cross-sector collaboration, Collaboratory aligns resources, talent and data to ensure donor dollars are strategically invested for measurable, lasting impact and a stronger, more resilient Southwest Florida. To learn more and get involved, call 239-274-5900 or visit www.Collaboratory.org.