Naples Woman's Club awards $30,000 to A.N.A.'s Friends
The Floridant/10347071

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Floridant -- A.N.A.'s Friends received a $30,000 grant from the Naples Woman's Club for its Children's Needs Program and Heartfelt Hangouts, a donation that will support approximately 250 Collier County children.

The funding will help A.N.A.'s Friends respond to the individual circumstances of Collier County children as needs arise while creating opportunities for positive childhood experiences and connection.

"There isn't a single roadmap for helping a child through a difficult chapter of their life," said A.N.A.'s Friends CEO Jessica Kaestner. "The Naples Woman's Club has spent generations investing in Collier County, and this gift carries that commitment forward by directly supporting vulnerable children in our community. It gives us the flexibility to respond to local children as their needs change while making room for positive experiences and memories along the way."

More on The Floridant

• Creole101 Launches Multilingual Dictionary App with 50,000+ Entries, Vocabulary Games and Haitian Cultural Resources
• Meeld Completes Successful Test Weeks of Daily Delivery Routes in Omaha
• 5CEOs Reports 400/400 on ARC-AGI-1 Public Training Tasks Using Deterministic Reasoning
• Hilton Waikiki Beach Resort & Spa Introduces Level 37 Sky Lounge by Casamigos
• Self-Published Dad's Santa Book Finally Found After 3 Years on Amazon

Founded in 1932, the Naples Woman's Club has served Collier County for more than 90 years through philanthropy, volunteerism and education. The organization played a role in Naples' early development, including establishing the community's first library and helping develop Youth Haven, a home for dependent children whose residents are supported by A.N.A.'s Friends programs and services.

Today, nearly 350 members continue that tradition of community service. In 2025, the Naples Woman's Club donated $503,350 through grants and scholarships and contributed 10,288 volunteer hours across 105 community projects.

"Every child deserves a safe place to sleep, the opportunity to learn and the chance to simply be a child. A.N.A.'s Friends provides these essential supports to children who have experienced abuse, neglect or abandonment, helping bring stability, dignity and moments of joy into their lives during an incredibly difficult time," said Carolyn Kovach, president of the Naples Woman's Club. "We are proud to support this important work and to help ensure that vulnerable children in Collier County have the resources they need to heal, thrive and look forward to a brighter future."

More on The Floridant

• Libraries_SOS to host statewide public read-in on Nov. 1
• Lee Wetherington Homes welcomes two new hires
• Meta Partnership Expanding as Omni One Orders Surge 3X -New Consumer Bundles, Defense Opportunities & AI Robotics: Virtuix Holdings: N A S D A Q: VTIX
• Michelle Ortelli Shares Three Ways St Johns County can Improve Mortgage Rate Opportunities
• Onsite windshield replacement makes the repair process easy

Serving children across Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades counties, A.N.A.'s Friends provides essentials like clothing, bedding, hygiene products and school supplies, along with funding for tutoring, therapies and summer programs. The nonprofit also offers Heartfelt Hangouts and EmpoweredU, helping children and young adults build confidence, develop life skills and prepare for adulthood beyond foster care.

Learn more about A.N.A.'s Friends by visiting ANAsfriends.org or calling 239-245-7787.