CHARLOTTE WITH SPEAKER KAESTNER OF A.N.A.’S FRIENDS
Gateway Women’s Club members learned how A.N.A.’s Friends is bringing hope and stability to vulnerable children across Southwest Florida when they welcomed CEO, Jessica Stanfield Kaestner to their meeting.
The mission of A.N.A.’s Friends is to ensure the voices of children are heard and that their best interests are represented in the legal and social system. The group supports vulnerable children and teens who have experienced abuse, neglect, or abandonment across Southwest Florida. Programs include Beds for Kids, Comfort Closet, Sports Equipment, Happier Birthdays and others. A.N.A.’s Friends (formerly the Guardian ad Litem Foundation — 20th Judicial Circuit Inc.) is a Fort Myers-based nonprofit. Kaestner reported, “98 cents of every dollar raised goes to our programs.”
The inspiration for Ana’s Friends comes from children entering foster care, often during one of the most confusing and difficult moments of their lives. Ana is not one child. She represents the hundreds of thousands of abused, neglected and abandoned children across our country whose lives are changed overnight and who must navigate seemingly insurmountable uncertainty they did not choose. When a child is removed from their home, their life often becomes a whirlwind of change and uncertainty. They may bounce between relatives’ homes, experience different foster placements, switch schools frequently, interact with various case managers from the Department of Children and Families, and engage with multiple attorneys throughout the process. This constant upheaval creates significant stress and insecurity for the child. During this turbulent phase in a child’s life it becomes crucial to strive for a semblance of normalcy to alleviate anxiety and nurture their confidence.
Kaestner is a dynamic young development professional with demonstrable successes in relationship cultivation and management, development operations, event planning and outreach. Kaestner strongly believes in the philosophy: “Don’t Limit your Challenges. Challenge YOUR Limit.”
She recalled, “Whether serving vulnerable children, building partnerships, leading through uncertainty, or taking on something that felt impossible at the start, I’ve learned our limits are usually much further away than we think. Challenges will come. We don’t always get to choose them, but what we do get to choose is whether they define us or develop us.”
Under her leadership, A.N.A.’s Friends has experienced significant and sustained growth, expanding offerings, deepening community partnerships, and dramatically increasing its impact for vulnerable children. What began as a small organization over forty years ago has grown into a trusted, mission-driven presence across the region, supported by a growing community of Friends who believe in helping children heal, grow, and thrive. There are many Friends already, and there is always room for more.
She also published a children’s book titled Ana’s Friends in mid-2026. Olivia Daley is the illustrator. Proceeds directly benefit local foster care programs. The book received 5 rating stars on Amazon and is available in paperback and e-book formats for children ages 6-10.
Her path to this work began with a deep interest in people, systems, and justice. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Skidmore College, with a focus on social work and social justice. Her work has been recognized through multiple forty-under-forty awards. At the heart of her work is a commitment to instilling hope. Every day, Kaestner witnesses how consistency, kindness, and presence can help children move from surviving to healing, from healing to growing, and from growing to thriving. Kaestner lives in Florida with her husband and their two children. When she isn’t working, which is rare, she can usually be found reading on the lanai or convincing herself that she is finally going to finish the sewing project sitting in her closet.
Kaestner’s presentation offered members a powerful reminder of the difference a caring community can make in the life of a vulnerable child.
Volunteers are at the heart of everything A.N.A.’s Friends does. To learn more, contact A.N.A.’s Friends at 239-245-7787, http://www.anasfriends.org or visit them at 8270 College Parkway, Suite 205.
