Press Release

Naples, Fl (April 21, 2023). Youth Haven, Inc. is pleased to welcome two new members to its Board of Directors.

Brenda Ruth Blickenstaff – A Florida real estate agent for nearly two decades, Brenda is currently a sales associate with Premier Sotheby’s International Realty’s Broad Avenue office and a member of the Naples Area Board of REALTORS®. Originally from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, she has lived and worked in Naples for 25 years.

Derace Schaffer, MD  – Dr. Schaffer has founded or co-founded more than 30 public and private companies and sat on numerous hospital, health care systems, and health insurance company boards. He completed his postgraduate medical training at the Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, where he was Chief Resident. Dr. Schaffer has been a Professor at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and the Cornell School of Medicine. He is a member of Alpha Omega Alpha, the National Medical Honor Society.

“Youth Haven is honored that Brenda Ruth Blickenstaff and Derace Schaffer, MD have joined our Board of Directors,” said Linda Goldfield, Youth Haven’s CEO. “Brenda and Derace will be valuable assets to our board, each bringing a wealth of knowledge. We’re grateful their guidance will help us provide home, hope, and healing to abused and neglected children and teens in Southwest Florida.”

Youth Haven 2022 – 2023 Board of Directors

Denise Murphy – President, Christina Linaberry – 1st Vice President, Jennifer Porter – 2nd Vice President, Lynda Waterhouse – Treasurer, Trina Mostyn – Secretary, Gregg Agens, Ingrid Aielli, Colonel Jim Bloom, Sue Brousseau, Robert Kiffney, Pamela Lundborg, Jen Mitchell, Amy Novakovich, Andres Paz, Michael Prioletti.

Honorary Lifetime Trustees 

Youth Haven’s Honorary Lifetime Trustees consist of Carol Boyd, Lamar Gable, Lavern N. Gaynor⁺, Frances Pew Hayes, and Sheriff Kevin Rambosk.

 For media inquiries, please contact Laura Lafakis, Youth Haven Director of Development, at 239-687-5175 or Laura.Lafakis@youthhavenswfl.org.

About Youth Haven, Inc.
Youth Haven, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit agency, is Collier County’s only emergency and residential emergency shelter for children and teens ages 10 – 19 removed from their homes due to abuse, neglect, or abandonment. In continuous operation since 1972, Youth Haven’s therapeutic campus, located in Naples, Florida, houses 70 youth with a waking staff system that allows for around-the-clock specialized care. Youth Haven provides programs that create transformational change in its youth. Youth Haven is a COA nationally accredited organization, a member agency of the United Way of Collier and the Keys, and a Naples Children & Education Foundation grant recipient. It also holds a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator. Its mission is “To provide Home, Hope, and Healing to abused and neglected children and teens in Southwest Florida.” For more information, please visit youthhavenswfl.org or call 239-774-2904. Follow Youth Haven on social media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Naples, Fl (April 1, 2023). On March 28, 2023, the Board of County Commissioners of Collier County, Florida, proclaimed April 2023 as Child Abuse Prevention Month in Collier County. Linda Goldfield, Youth Haven Chief Executive Officer and Denise Murphy, President – Youth Haven Board of Directors accepted the proclamation.

The proclamation, submitted by Youth Haven, Inc. states that children are key to our community’s future success, prosperity and quality of life; and

• WHEREAS, Children have a right to thrive, learn and grow in a safe and loving environment; and
• WHEREAS, Child abuse and neglect is a serious problem in Collier County, the State of Florida, and across our nation; and
• WhEREAS, Child abuse prevention is a community responsibility and finding solutions depends on involvement among all people; and
• WHEREAS, Communities must make every effort to promote programs and support organizations that benefit children and teens and become more aware of child abuse prevention and the resources available to keep children safe;
• WHEREAS, Effective programs that are dedicated to keeping children and teens in the community safe and free from abuse succeed because of partnerships among agencies, schools, religious organizations, law enforcement agencies, and the business community; and
• WHEREAS, Youth Haven is dedicated to raising awareness about and preventing child abuse.

All of the children & teens that come to Youth Haven have been abused, abandoned, neglected or are homeless. Founded in 1972 and in continuous operation for over 50 years, Youth Haven was established to fulfill an immediate need for emergency shelter for children who had been removed suddenly from a traumatic home situation. Our 18.5-acre therapeutic campus houses 70 youth with a waking staff system that allows for around-the-clock specialized care. Youth Haven views challenges as opportunities in helping each child gain confidence, independence and success as they continue to strengthen the community they serve; laying the foundation for children and teens to have hope for a brighter, better future.

Established in 1983, Child Abuse Prevention Month is an annual observance every April in the United States dedicated to raising awareness and preventing child abuse. “More than 1 million children are victims of child abuse and neglect each year, according to state child protective service agencies. Many victims don’t receive help because they are not reported to the system. These abused and neglected children span all ages, races, religions and socio-economic backgrounds. Child maltreatment includes actions that result in imminent risk of serious harm, death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation of a child under age 18 by a parent or caretaker. Everyone, including professionally mandatory reporters, should contact the Florida Abuse Hotline when they know or have reasonable cause to suspect that a child or a vulnerable adult has been abused, abandoned, neglected, or exploited. The Abuse Hotline Counselor will determine if the information provided meets legal requirements to accept a report for investigation.”¹

There are four ways to make a report:

1. By Telephone 1-800-96ABUSE  800-962-2873
2. By Fax 800-914-0004
3. Florida Relay 711
4. By TTY 800-955-8771
5. Web Reporting https://reportabuse.dcf.state.fl.us

“It’s crucial that we continue to raise awareness for this important cause and for the safety of our children and teens. If you know of any child or teen has been abused, please report it,” said Linda Goldfield, Youth Haven CEO.

Please join Youth Haven in raising awareness for Child Abuse Prevention Month by wearing BLUE on Wednesday, April 26, 2023. Upload your photo to social media and tag #YouthHavenSWFL to share on our platforms.

For additional information on child abuse in Florida, please visit https://www.myflfamilies.com/services/child-family/child-and-family-well-being or https://www2.myflfamilies.com/service-programs/abuse-hotline/overview.shtml

For media inquiries, please contact Laura Lafakis, Youth Haven Director of Development, at 239-687-5175 or Laura.Lafakis@youthhavenswfl.org.

1. https://www2.myflfamilies.com/service-programs/abuse-hotline/overview.shtml

About Youth Haven, Inc.
Youth Haven, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit agency, is Collier County’s only emergency and residential emergency shelter for children and teens ages 10 – 19 removed from their homes due to abuse, neglect, or abandonment. In continuous operation since 1972, Youth Haven’s therapeutic campus, located in Naples, Florida, houses 70 youth with a waking staff system that allows for around-the-clock specialized care. Youth Haven provides programs that create transformational change in its youth. Youth Haven is a COA nationally accredited organization, a member agency of the United Way of Collier and the Keys, and a Naples Children & Education Foundation grant recipient. It also holds a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator. Its mission is “To provide Home, Hope, and Healing to abused and neglected children and teens in Southwest Florida.” For more information, please visit youthhavenswfl.org or call 239-774-2904. Follow Youth Haven on social media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Naples, Fl (January 31, 2023).

Youth Haven recently hosted its Cherish the Children luncheon benefit the children and teens of Youth Haven, on January 18, 2023, at The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburón.

Over $500,000 was raised to help the kids that rely on Youth Haven soar to a brighter future. Funding will support the boys and girls, ages 10 – 19, that have been removed from their homes due to traumatic situations and depend on Youth Haven for Home, Hope & Healing.

The luncheon featured Keynote Speaker and New York Times Bestselling Author Ashley Rhodes-Courter. Ashley shared her foster care story and the importance of a caring, supportive community. All sponsors were invited to a book signing, where they received a copy of her international bestseller “Three Little Words.”

“On behalf of Youth Haven, I am so grateful to everyone who helped make Cherish the Children a success. The outpouring of support we received will allow us to continue to provide life-changing programs to abused, neglected, and homeless Southwest Florida children and teens,” said Linda Goldfield, Youth Haven’s Chief Executive Officer.

A special thank you to our event co-chairs, Youth Haven board of directors Trina Mostyn and Jennifer Porter. We also extend our gratitude to our in-kind donors, vendors, attendees, volunteers, and sponsors:

Diamond Sponsors
Trina & Rick Mostyn
Jen & Dave Porter

Platinum Sponsors
Analog Devices
Fitzgerald Family Foundation
The James & Sunny Neff Foundation
Transcend Capital Advisors

Media Sponsor
Naples Illustrated

For the complete list of sponsors, please visit: https://cherish.youthhavenswfl.org/

Save the date for our upcoming Starry Nights Gala on Saturday, March 25, 2023! For details, tickets, and sponsorship opportunities, please visit https://starrynights.youthhavenswfl.org/ or contact Michele Rubin, Events Manager, at 239-774-2904 or Michele.Rubin@youthhavenswfl.org

About Youth Haven, Inc.
Youth Haven, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit agency, is Collier County’s only emergency and residential emergency shelter for children and teens ages 10 – 19 removed from their homes due to abuse, neglect, or abandonment. In continuous operation since 1972, Youth Haven’s therapeutic campus, located in Naples, Florida, houses 70 youth with a waking staff system that allows for around-the-clock specialized care. Youth Haven provides programs that create transformational change in its youth. Youth Haven is a COA nationally accredited organization, a member agency of the United Way of Collier and the Keys, and a Naples Children & Education Foundation grant recipient. It also holds a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator. Its mission is “To provide Home, Hope, and Healing to abused and neglected children and teens in Southwest Florida.” For more information, please visit youthhavenswfl.org or call 239-774-2904. Follow Youth Haven on social media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.