What began decades ago as a simple gesture of support between local farmers and business leaders has grown into an opportunity for leaders from the county’s coastal and interior regions to feast on locally grown food, give thanks for a thriving community, and support the next generation of youth on the day before Thanksgiving. 

This wildly popular, fun event includes networking, live music by Back Country Boys Band, and a hearty steak lunch served with Immokalee-grown vegetables as well as beer and wine. As a true, heartfelt display of service and tradition, volunteer business leaders man the grills, and sides are served by Collier County elected officials who volunteer as celebrity servers. The event kicks off with the Collier County Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard Presentation of Colors and the official turkey pardon. This light-hearted American tradition spares a live turkey from being slaughtered for Thanksgiving.

Proceeds benefit the youth development programs of Collier County 4H, Collier County Junior Deputies, Key Clubs of Collier County, and Youth Leadership Collier. Youth beneficiaries will be on hand as volunteers to assist with a variety of fundraising opportunities. 

About Farm City BBQ

Rooted in a 68-year legacy, this cherished event began when Naples’ business leaders extended a hand to local farmers during a tough harvest year, ensuring no family would go without on Thanksgiving. The following year, the farmers returned the gesture, and a tradition of mutual support and community care was born. At its heart, Farm-City BBQ provides an opportunity to celebrate farmers, business owners, and neighbors and give thanks for the food on our tables, the hands that grow it, and the people who make this community thrive. Today, the Farm-City BBQ continues that legacy, serving up a delicious, locally sourced meal prepared by volunteers and served by Collier County elected officials. To date, the Farm-City BBQ has raised more than $630,000 for youth development programs in Collier County. To learn more, visit FarmCityBBQ.com.

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In a generous display of community spirit and culinary excellence, Sizzle Dining wrapped up its most successful “dine with purpose” event to date.

Together, the 127 participating Southwest Florida restaurants sold 87,483 meals and more than 8,000 Sizzle cocktails, with $1 from every meal sold going to help Blessings in a Backpack of Southwest Florida, a non-profit organization that provides nutritional food to food-insecure elementary students every Friday throughout the school year. Fueled by his experience with food insecurity as a child, Guy Clarke and his team set a goal to raise more money than in any of the past years. Residents and visitors in Southwest Florida enjoyed creative menus and discovered their new favorite restaurants while participating in this much-anticipated event. Plans are already underway to extend the 10th anniversary Sizzle Dining season and incorporate more heart-healthy options.

Over the past four years, Sizzle Dining has donated more than $150,000, helping to ensure over 30,000 hunger-free weekends for elementary school students across Lee, Collier, and Charlotte counties.

“This year’s event once again demonstrated the incredible heart of our restaurant community,” said Guy Clarke, executive director of Sizzle Dining. “Local restaurants needed the extra boost during the slow season, and our community came together in record numbers to dine with purpose and raise an extraordinary amount for Blessings in a Backpack. It’s proof that when we support local, everyone wins.”

The 2025 Sizzle Dining event brought new energy to Southwest Florida’s dining scene with exciting culinary offerings, creative prix-fixe menus, and special experiences. Restaurants across the region, from neighborhood favorites to fine dining destinations, participated in the four-week celebration of food, community, and compassion. Notable mentions from this year’s Sizzle Dining include a dollar-for-dollar match from Bone Hook Brewery and Craft Kitchen, with 506 meals sold equating to a $1,102 donation to Blessings in a Backpack. For the third consecutive year, Phelan Family Brands was the top donor, with a total of nineteen of its brand restaurants participating. Additionally, six restaurants participating in Sizzle Dining for the first time made it to the top 20 list for restaurant sales, including Estia, Blackbird Modern Asian, Hogfish Harry’s, M Waterfront Grille, Tap 42 Craft Kitchen + Bar, Naples, and Alice Sweetwater’s Bar & Grille. 

“We are absolutely thrilled by the incredible generosity and enormous impact of Sizzle Dining this year. The funds they’ve raised will ensure that nearly 500 children have food every single weekend of the school year, which is a truly profound blessing. Beyond the financial support, Sizzle Dining’s campaign is an unprecedented awareness tool for us; I’ve personally spoken with new donors who felt compelled to support our mission after learning about us through the Sizzle experience,” said Jenn Robinson, managing director, Blessings in a Backpack Southwest Florida.

In addition to helping local children in need, Sizzle Dining continues to play a vital role in strengthening the regional economy. The event also:

• Contributes more than $5 million annually to the Southwest Florida economy by driving business to local restaurants during one of the slowest times of the year.
• Fosters community pride by encouraging residents and visitors to explore and support locally owned establishments.
• Stimulates job growth and boosts revenue across the hospitality supply chain.
• Attracts tourism, drawing visitors to Lee and Collier counties for unique dining experiences.

Plans are already underway for next year’s Sizzle Dining, with even more restaurants expressing interest in participating and expanding on this year’s success. Save the dates for September 1–30, 2026.

About Sizzle Dining 

Sizzle Dining began in 2016 as an 11–day dining event in Naples. Year after year, it has grown substantially thanks to the commitment of local restaurateurs and Sizzle’s founders, Guy and Erin Clarke. Each year, participating local restaurants create mouth-watering prix-fixe breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus that highlight their Chefs’ impressive culinary skills. The menus are offered at affordable prices to encourage visitors to try a variety of local restaurants. This event helps drum up business for our local dining scene during one of the slowest months of the year in Southwest Florida. On top of the much-needed boost to our local culinary industry, Sizzle Dining, a 509(a)(2) nonprofit, gives back to the community in an even more impactful way. For every meal purchased, restaurant owners donate $1 of their proceeds to help Blessings in a Backpack of Southwest Florida, an incredible organization that helps feed our local food-insecure elementary school children over the weekends. For more information, visit SizzleDining.org.   

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As summer winds down, The Naples Players (TNP) are making it even easier for the community to experience their critically acclaimed production of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. During the show’s final week of performances, July 23–27, TNP is offering a special $25 ticket price for teachers, students, first responders, and veterans—a significant reduction from standard rates.

These community discounts are always available through TNP, but this limited-time offer marks a generous seasonal sendoff for the blockbuster musical, which has wowed audiences since opening on June 25. The production features a 38-person cast, an 18-piece live orchestra, and a thrilling, immersive design that has drawn high praise from local theatergoers. In fact, 92% of surveyed audience members said they would recommend Sweeney Todd to a friend.

Final performances will take place:
Wednesday, July 23 – Saturday, July 26 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, July 27 at 2:00 p.m.

To redeem this exclusive $25 offer, eligible patrons must call the TNP Box Office at (239) 263-7990. Tickets are expected to go fast as the show enters its final days.

Families will also enjoy Sweeney Todd: Teen and its youth cast, with performances from August 8–10 in the Kizzie Theatre. Tickets: $25.

EXCEPTIONAL ACCESS

It is the commitment and mission of TNP to provide exceptional access to the power of theatre.  Learn more about the Arts Access Programs, Sensory Viewing Booth, Relaxed Performances, and Accessibility Options available for this production.

For more information about this production or other upcoming events, visit NaplesPlayers.org.

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Our warm, humid climate and abundant rainfall creates ideal breeding conditions for mosquitoes—and this can be deadly to our pets. As summer reaches its peak, so does the risk of pets contracting heartworm disease—a serious and potentially fatal condition spread by mosquitoes—that affects both dogs and cats.

Heartworm is spread by mosquitoes, making it especially dangerous in warm, humid climates like ours. Once infected, a pet can suffer from severe lung disease, heart failure, organ damage, and in some cases, death. Dogs are natural hosts for heartworms, but cats are also at risk—even indoor cats.

The tragedy? Heartworm disease is completely preventable.

“It is absolutely imperative that all pets—dogs and cats alike—are on monthly heartworm preventative” said Liz McCauley, Executive Director of the Cape Coral Animal Shelter. “This disease is not just dangerous—it can be deadly. Prevention is simple, but once infected, the treatment is long, expensive, and painful for the animal. We urge every pet owner to take this seriously.”

What Pet Owners Need to Know

• Prevention is key. Consult with your veterinarian about monthly preventive medication. It’s safer, easier, and far less expensive than treating an infected animal.
• Signs of heartworm in dogs include coughing, fatigue, reduced appetite, and weight loss. In cats, symptoms may be subtle or include vomiting, respiratory distress, or sudden collapse.
• Testing and early treatment are critical. Heartworm damage can begin long before your pet shows signs of illness.

How You Can Help Our Shelter Animals

At Cape Coral Animal Shelter, we are currently treating a growing number of heartworm-positive animals, and we need your help. Treating heartworm-positive pets is time-consuming and expensive. It can take 6 to 12 months for a dog to recover, and the costs of medications, veterinary care, and sheltering add up quickly. Please visit www.capecoralanimalshelter.com/donate or visit us in person to learn more about how you can help.

Together, we can protect pets from this silent killer—and give heartworm-positive animals the love and care they need to survive and thrive.

The Cape Coral Animal Shelter & Veterinary Clinic is located at 325 SW 2nd Avenue in Cape Coral, FL. For more information, please go to capecoralanimalshelter.com or call 239-573-2002.

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“I’ve wanted to do something like [the teddy bear toss] since I was in sixth grade, and I was finally able to do it this year,” Devyn said.

Devyn took her idea to the Oakridge administration and impressed Assistant Principal Nicole Spencer with her initiative and leadership skills. “Devyn had everything ready before she presented [to the administration]. It was like she was presenting a business plan. She had everything down to the day and time she wanted to do it. She has that natural leadership ability. When she comes up with an idea, she sets the goal and gives herself a timeline and then executes it. It is very impressive.”

During the event, students stood on the school’s second floor balcony and tossed the stuffed animals onto a tarp below. The children in the MC program then selected one from those collected. There were so many stuffed animals that the school donated some to other MC programs and to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office.

The teddy bear toss is just one in a long list of efforts Devyn has undertaken to support children with special needs at her school. She designed a t-shirt featuring the MC student’s handprints inside an Oakridge Bulldog’s pawprint, and ensured that every child in the MC program received a shirt. Devyn volunteers as a buddy for MC students during field day, carnival day, school dances, and field trips. She is part of the Best Buddies program at her school that pairs students in general education classes with those in MC classes.

Devyn said she first became interested in helping the students with special needs when she was in sixth grade, but there were not as many opportunities available.

“I would just see them at lunch and say ‘Hi’,” Devyn described.

This year, as a member of National Junior Honor Society, she was able to recruit other NJHS students to help her plan and execute activities to do with the children in the MC classes.

“I always wanted to do something for them,” Devyn said. “I like the experience and it feels good helping other people. It is really fun to be around them.”

“It means a lot to the kids,” said Leslie Sevy, MC teacher at Oakridge. “Anytime I [tell the class Devyn] is coming, they get excited. It is amazing that she loves to do this. She often will reach out to me and ask when is the next time she can be with the kids. This is a passion for her and I know she will do this in high school next year. And I know she will continue this even beyond high school.”

Devyn has a long list of accomplishments at Oakridge Middle School. She is on the Academic World Quest team, debate team, Student Government, and NJHS. She also plays tennis and is part of a theater group.

“She is very impressive with everything she is involved in,” Spencer said. “It is amazing.”

The post Naples Student Organizes Teddy Bear Toss to Support Children with Special Needs appeared first on SWFL Family.

• High fever
• Cold symptoms (runny nose, cough, red and watery eyes)
• A rash that spreads across the body

While most children recover, measles can cause severe complications such as pneumonia, encephalitis (brain swelling), and even death. While encephalitis is rare, this condition requires hospitalization and intensive treatment. It can cause seizures, hallucinations, permanent brain damage, blindness, hearing loss, and memory loss.

The Best Protection: Vaccination

The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is the most effective way to prevent measles. It is safe and effective and has been used for decades to protect children worldwide. The CDC and WHO recommend:

• First dose at 12–15 months
• Second dose at 4–6 years

Children who receive both doses of the MMR vaccine are about 97% protected against measles. Talk to your pediatrician about catching up if your child hasn’t been vaccinated or missed a dose.

Other Ways to Prevent Measles

1. Avoid Exposure
If there is a measles outbreak in your area, limit your child’s exposure to crowded places, especially if they are too young to be vaccinated.

2. Practice Good Hygiene
Teach your child to wash their hands regularly, cover their mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, and avoid sharing utensils with others.

3. Know the Signs of Measles
Early detection can help prevent the spread of the virus. If your child develops a fever, rash, or cold-like symptoms, call your pediatrician before visiting the office to avoid exposing others. Do not abruptly visit a health care provider without contacting them first. If you suspect or notice any symptoms, contact your health care provider or local county health department to receive instructions on how to safely seek medical attention without exposing others.

Final Thoughts

Measles is preventable, and as a parent, the best step you can take is ensuring your child gets vaccinated on time. You can help protect your child and others from this dangerous disease by staying informed and following these precautions.
Don’t hesitate to consult your pediatrician if you have any concerns about the vaccine or your child’s health. Protecting your child from measles is vital to keeping them safe and healthy!

For more information, go to www.afterhourspediatrics.com.
Please visit your primary care provider or local health department for immunizations.
Florida Department of Health Collier County
Florida Department of Health Lee County

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The 4.5-acre Nature Park will be open for guests to visit and explore hundreds of unique animals and critters, including a variety birds, iguanas, tortoises, alligators, fish, a camel and more. Admission is $16 for adults, $11 for children ages 4 to 12, free for children 3 and under (with a paid adult), $12 for seniors ages 55+ and $11 for military veterans. Ticket sales support the Nature Park staff in the continued care and feeding of the animals as they finalize efforts to rehome to approved facilities.

The park’s onsite restaurants, the Southern Grill and Tommy’s Outdoor Café, will be open with a limited menu until supplies run out.

All remaining merchandise from the Gift Shop is discounted at 40% off, which includes a range of unique gifts, tchotchkes and holiday items. For the safety of guests, capacity within the store will be limited and entry may be staggered accordingly. Guests are advised to be prepared for lines for entry and check-out, which may include outdoor waits.

Any further announcements for the Shell Factory’s closing weekend, and any weather updates, will be posted at Facebook.com/ShellFactoryNaturePark.

About Shell Factory & Nature Park

For 86 years, the Shell Factory & Nature Park has been entertaining children and the young at heart, with something for everyone. The sought-out attraction provides a full day of fun, including amusement-style rides, arcade games, 50,000 square feet of gift shops and much more. The Nature Park offers over 400 critters, birds, reptiles and fish, with a variety of critters from an armadillo to a camel. Visit ShellFactory.com.

The post Shell Factory & Nature Park announces details for final closing weekend Sept. 28-29 appeared first on SWFL Family.

Fennie was extremely frustrated struggling to keep up with the rising costs.

“I’m a social worker and a single mother of two. It’s to the point where I have to choose between paying my rent or buying food,” she stated. “Being in the middle class is super hard because I don’t qualify for any type of government assistance such as food stamps or Medicaid. It’s so discouraging because the whole purpose of me going to college was so I wouldn’t have to struggle, and I feel like I failed.”

Fennie, who is the mother of a 7 year old and 1 year old, recently had to leave town to make ends meet.

“I was living in Fort Myers and it was getting to the point where I was trying to do everything. I was doing Door Dash, Uber, babysitting on the side, and working as a case manager as my full time job,” she described. “It was not enough to keep my head above water, so I decided to relocate to Atlanta. It is still expensive, but not as expensive as Florida. I am doing good, but I miss Florida.”

She said it is so sad that a person with a college degree and a good job struggles to pay the bills.

“It is not cheap here either,” she said. “My grocery bill is still expensive. A good third of my check goes to my rent. It was worse in Southwest Florida; half my check went to rent and then daycare and I didn’t have any money for food. Hopefully things can change.”

Smith is a third generation Floridian, born and raised in Naples. She thought that her good job, with overtime working 60 hours a week, as a critical research coordinator would be enough, and it was until prices skyrocketed.

“The economy here is hard,” she said. “Our rent jumped, our auto insurance jumped another $300 a month, and we have to pay $260 a week in daycare. Groceries alone kill us. I’ve tried to find a second job myself and it’s hard because I live in Fort Myers and work in Naples, and during season it can take me almost two hours to get home. Most people that live in Fort Myers have to work in Naples. You can’t afford to live in Naples with the rent, but can’t afford to work in Fort Myers. My same position in Fort Myers, I would get $7 an hour less.”

To earn some extra cash Smith posts in moms’ Facebook groups to see if anyone needs help with groceries or handywork.

“I don’t get a lot of feedback because it is so saturated,” she explained. “A lot of people are already doing those things. I have helped somebody move, but that was it. Sometimes my boss will ask me if I want extra money to do odds and ends at the office after work.”

Smith, who has a 14-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter, has done Uber Eats but stopped because many customers weren’t tipping her.

“I work in a profession where I shouldn’t be struggling,” she said. “We get paid very well here, but nobody can keep up with inflation.”

Shawgo works full time while raising her daughters ages, 14 and 9.

“I work at Five Guys every other week when my girls are at their dad’s house,” she said. “I go home after work, let the dog out, and go straight to the other job.”

The Lehigh Acres resident feels lucky to find an employer that lets her work every other week. “It is very hard for single parents who have a custody agreement to find a second job.” Shawgo said the situation is very frustrating. 

“It has almost become unaffordable to live here, not just for single parents, but for people with double incomes as well. At some point it will be unaffordable to live here.”

Stay and Work at Home

Stay-at-home moms are also being forced to find work to help pay the bills, and it is not easy juggling work and little ones.

Amanda Flaitz Von Ohlsen of Cape Coral has a 16-year-old son, a 6-year-old son with special needs, and a 4-year old daughter. She said it is impossible to get a job outside the home because her middle child needs to be driven to therapy five days a week and her youngest would need expensive daycare.

“It would cost more money to go back to work,” she said.

So Flaitz Von Ohlsen started her own digital marketing business that she runs from home. She teaches people how to enhance their social media pages, sell products, and create their own digital marketing business. She recently wrote an e-book about online moneymaking.

“I am starting to make some money,” she said “It took a while to learn the skills, partially since my children are distracting.”

This was not the first venture Flaitz Von Ohlsen tried. For a while she sold hair bows.

.“It was not worth making all these bows and just selling five or 10, so I started researching ways to make money from home. If I sold 10 hair bows, I had to make 10, but with digital marketing if I sell 10 e-books I only have to make it once, so it was working smarter instead of harder.”

It is not always easy. She tries to work while her boys are in school, but she still has to care for her daughter.

“I work on my phone – like all the time,” she described. “I fit it into the little pockets of time throughout my day. We will go to the park and she will play and I will work. We go to Chick-fil-A and while she plays I might get 45 minutes there.”

It’s not easy balancing working from home with children. Ashley Mandeville, Ph.D., an assistant professor of management at Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, has some tips.

“This is a tough one,” she began. “The boundary theory is the idea that we construct boundaries around our work self and family self. Sometimes you can’t separate those two worlds and that can cause stress and frustration.”

She suggests creating a home office or designated work space. 

“It can be, ‘When I am at this dining table from 1-5, this is my work space’,” she explained. “The most helpful thing is to create those boundaries and understand that sometimes those boundaries are going to get crossed.”

Starting a Business

Ashley Deal of Cape Coral had worked as an eighth grade science teacher in Lee County, cleaned AirBnbs, and rented out her garage as storage space. She has even sold plasma to earn extra cash.

“I was the queen of side hustles for a while,” she said. “You go in with those degrees and you think you are going to make a lot of money, but the only way to survive is to do overtime or side jobs,”

Then she discovered another way to earn money and spend more time with her three children. Deal started her own business called Cape Credit Repair LLC.

“I do credit repair and business funding,” Deal explained. “I have helped over 200 moms in the area qualify for zero down houses and mortgages. It is a very lucrative job.”

Deal said this was not the way she thought her life would go. 

“I had my masters in psychology and I couldn’t afford to live here,” she said. “I was very good at credit repair and I tripled my salary from teaching. Everybody wants to be able to afford a house. Teaching was rewarding, but this is definitely rewarding too.”

Elise Friedson of Naples also found success by starting her own business. The stay-at-home mom knew she needed some work, but also had a young child to care for. She started renting baby equipment to visitors to SWFL. She uses BabyQuip as a platform to secure the insurance and marketing, which takes a portion of her profits, but Friedson says the business is hers so she can work as much or as little as she wants. She began by renting items her 3-year-old daughter had outgrown and then started buying additional items, and now rents everything from cribs and highchairs to beach wagons and beach chairs.

“Everything is very expensive,” she said. “We wanted to have that extra money on the side.” 

Friedson feels it is beneficial for her daughter to see her work, and her child can even help. “I wanted her to see that work ethic. She helps me at home with cleaning and carrying things. She is very excited to help.”

Be Selective

Gina A. Tran, associate professor of marketing at FGCU, stresses that parents need to be cautious and pick the right jobs.

“There are side hustle gigs that sound like a wonderful opportunity for families that need that additional income.” But she warns that some of them are too good to be true and can end up costing more money than earned.

“If this wonderful opportunity asks you to pay money in advance, be very careful,” she warned, and added that job seekers should be wary of unsolicited offers.

Ask questions about salary and upfront costs and requirements, she advised, and check out the company on the Better Business Bureau website.

“If it is too good to be true, it probably is,” she said.

“People think it is legitimate because it is through a [Facebook] group. They are in need of extra income and they are vulnerable … so they unfortunately fall for it,” Tran said.

“There are a lot of people that are struggling to make ends meet with the rising costs. It is hard. Some are doing these side hustles to save up and some are doing it more as a survival thing. We are hearing more and more of these kinds of stories.” 

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The organization is excited to announce its 10-year anniversary and continue to tell the story about its significant impact on young women in Southwest Florida. Neapolitan Family had the opportunity to talk with Robertson, Wheeler and Brooke Spencer, executive director, about how Wellfit Girls started, and how it has changed over the years to adapt to the unique needs of today’s young women.

Q: Why Wellfit Girls?

Robertson: We want to care for and mentor middle and high school young women. It’s rewarding and exciting to tell these girls’ stories – and to empower them to tell their own stories. When they get home from culminating trips, they’re so excited and empowered. Plus, it’s been so cool to see the difference Wellfit Girls has made in young women’s lives three or four years out from their participation in the program.

Q: What was the inspiration for founding the organization:

Wheeler: When I moved to SWFL with a toddler and an infant in 2007, I missed my outdoor adventurous lifestyle in Colorado. There weren’t many outlets for teen girls to get out of their comfort zones and challenge themselves in the outdoors. I wanted to bring my passion for the outdoors and leadership education to our community to show the world that teen girls can do hard things and serve themselves and others. It started with a documentary and a well-trained for adventure to Peru. Ten years later, we offer programming 6-8 months out of the year, including a summer camp that empowers girls as young as middle school in the Wellfit ways of sisterhood, service, teamwork, and healthy interpersonal communication. I am proud to see our leadership team, board, and programs increase and evolve each year.

Q: Tell us about the program. Who do you serve?

Spencer: Each year, we serve up to 17 girls in our high school program, which consists of an intentional small group program from January through June. This includes twice-weekly meetings. One day is devoted to leadership development and one day is devoted to fitness. The program culminates with a trip in June. Our desire is to develop high quality, deep, trusting relationships within the small group of girls. In 2019, we started a summer camp for middle school girls, which consists of two weeks of training in Naples and one week in Georgia. We wanted to reach girls at an earlier age so that by the time they get to high school, they know about the Wellfit Girls program.

Robertson: Students can come back and go through the program as a mentor. It’s not necessarily a one-and-done program. The longer they stay involved, the better chance they have of staying on the right road. Every young woman is at risk of that one decision that would change the trajectory of their life. We’re not trying to get girls out of rehab or out of trouble – rather, we’re trying to reach the average girl. We want girls to see they’re capable of so much more. 

Q: How has the organization changed over the past 10 years?

Roberston: Ten years ago, we started with a fitness mindset; we wanted to get girls moving and out of their comfort zones. We used fitness as a way to create discomfort and encourage growth in mindset and confidence. Now, we see that every adolescent girl is at risk. Now, they’re already in discomfort. 

Ten years ago, there was not as much access to social media. Now, digital connection is overwhelming and anxiety is through the roof. So, we teach them about sleep, putting their phones down, showing up on time. We focus much more on basic skills. They are the most connected digitally and the most disconnected in terms of face-to-face relationships. Their desire to belong is so strong, but now we need to give them the necessary tools to form meaningful, in-person connections. 

Spencer: We’ve seen an increase in [mental health] diagnoses at younger and younger ages since 2014. All the talk around mental health feels new. COVID created a rhythm of disconnect. Yet, we’ve stayed committed to in-person meetings. It’s who we are and what we cultivate. 

Robertson: Another big change is that our expeditions are all domestic now; we’ve taken trips to Montana, Georgia, North Carolina, and New Hampshire in the recent past.

Q: What does the future hold for Wellfit Girls? 

Roberston: We talk a lot about our desire for Wellfit Girls to be in any community around the country. Any girl can benefit from the curriculum. We would love it to grow beyond Southwest Florida. We want Wellfit Girls to be automatic, sustainable, and replicable, and we believe this could be life-changing for our society.

Success Stories. Where are They Now?

Jordan Ferrel 

Originally from Fort Myers, Jordan graduated from University of Miami in 2022 and is now in her first year of Duke Law School. She completed the Wellfit Girls program in 2018. “Early on in Wellfit Girls, I was able to see myself take on something different and truly commit to it. With discipline, I proved to myself that I can do hard things and that there is something worthy on the other side. Now, I apply the lessons I learned to everything I do!”

Riley Zuccarello 

Riley completed the Wellfit Girls program in its first year – 2014. She graduated from Florida State University and now works as senior manager of Culture & Community at a tech company in New York City. In 2021, she founded the Wellfit Girls Alumni Advisory Council to increase alumni representation and offer leadership experience to the organization. “I reflect on my experience with Wellfit Girls often. The lessons I learned still serve me today. Wellfit Girls taught me both resiliency and the power of vulnerability. Every one of us in that first year came out with a different takeaway, a new realization about ourselves. We came from different backgrounds with different life experiences, fears, strengths, and aspirations but all left with a shared sense of empowerment and connection.”

Riley explained the value of close friendships and community: “I wasn’t really that into fitness (to be honest, I’m still not!), and I didn’t really have a close group of girlfriends at the time, so committing to an all-girls program with “fit” in the name was a little daunting. But it was one of the best decisions of my life!”

Riley explained, “Wellfit Girls was originally founded as a transformational leadership and fitness program for ‘at-risk teen girls.’ At the time, I didn’t identify with being ‘at-risk’ and refused to be labeled as such. But in reality, life wasn’t perfect. I was in survival mode for most of my childhood and was pushing past trauma related to my parents’ divorce and life at home. Growing up in a wealthy town like Naples, I also felt a deep insecurity around our financial and living situation. I spent a lot of my energy trying to fit a certain mold, out of fear of being confined to another. I was terrified of being viewed as ‘less than.’ Through Wellfit Girls, I grew to understand the power of embracing vulnerability and overcoming adversity. Through it all, I also learned the importance of healthy self-worth. Wellfit Girls empowered me to step into my authentic self — something for which I will always be thankful.”

Next Steps

Want to be involved? Wellfit Girls is accepting applications through Nov. 15 for its 2025 high school program. Additionally, the group is celebrating 10 years with a golf tournament at The Quarry in Naples on Oct. 11, with the goal of raising $100,000 toward program sustainability and growth. For more information, visit wellfitgirls.org. 

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