NAPLES, FL (October 9, 2024) – Youth Haven, Inc., Southwest Florida’s only emergency and residential shelter for children and teens ages 6 to 20, is proud to announce a $15,000 grant awarded by the Collier Community Foundation. This funding will bolster Youth Haven’s essential Food & Nutrition Program, which provides more than 25,000 home-cooked meals annually to help its residents heal and thrive.
Youth Haven ensures each child receives a healthy breakfast, lunch, and after-school snack, meeting their nutritional needs year-round. Proper nutrition is a cornerstone of the healing process, particularly for children who arrive at Youth Haven after experiencing food insecurity, malnutrition, or obesity. These challenges often lead to health and developmental issues such as anxiety, depression, and failure to thrive.
The Food & Nutrition Program addresses these critical needs by fostering long-term healthy habits, enabling children and teens to rebuild their lives in a nurturing and supportive environment.
Linda Goldfield, Chief Executive Officer of Youth Haven, shared her gratitude:
“We are deeply grateful to the Collier Community Foundation for their generous support. This grant ensures we can continue to provide the nutritional care our children and teens need to recover, thrive, and build brighter futures.”
For more than five decades, Youth Haven has provided Home, Hope, and Healing to Southwest Florida’s most vulnerable children and teens. The organization remains committed to offering a safe haven where young lives can heal, grow, and thrive.
About the Collier Community Foundation
Collier Community Foundation® is a tax-exempt, public, charitable organization established in 1985 to increase and focus on local private philanthropy. Today, the Collier Community Foundation manages over 850 funds, works with hundreds of nonprofits, and has granted over $362 million to nonprofit organizations, community programs, and scholarships. Informed giving. Powerful results®. Learn more at colliercf.org or call 239-649-5000.
About Youth Haven, Inc.
Youth Haven, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, was established in 1972 and provides Home, Hope, and Healing to abused and neglected children and teens, ages 6 – 20, in SWFL. Its 18.5-acre therapeutic campus in Naples, FL, offers the only Emergency shelter in Collier County for youth removed from their homes. Youth Haven offers a Residential/At-Risk care facility where individuals can stay for an average of 270 days. Additionally, they operate a shelter specifically for homeless, unaccompanied teens, helping them make a successful transition to adulthood. With beds for up to 70 youth, Youth Haven provides around-the-clock specialized care in a home-like environment, counseling to begin their healing process, educational support, and a robust enrichment program. Youth Haven is accredited by the nationally recognized Council on Accreditation, licensed by the Florida Department of Children and Families, and is a partner of Children’s Network of Southwest Florida. Rated 4-star (excellent) by Charity Navigator and Platinum by Candid/Guidestar, Youth Haven is a beneficiary of Naples Children & Education Foundation. For more info or to schedule a tour, please visit youthhavenswfl.org or call 239-774-2904. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
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