GATEWAY WOMEN’S CLUB RECENTLY WELCOMED JOE BRAUN, THE COLLABORATORY’S CPO
STEPHANIE MENA
By definition, collaboration is a partnership, the act of producing an outcome greater than one would develop alone. The Collaboratory was originally founded as the Southwest Florida Community Foundation in 1976. Building on a legacy of service, the evolved mission is to facilitate and support our community. As a result, The Collaboratory has distributed more than $120M throughout Southwest Florida communities.
Joe Braun is the Chief Philanthropy Officer at The Collaboratory. He brings along with him 22 years of experience in the nonprofit industry. Working with donors and community partners, The Collaboratory connects and leverages our region’s resources to address ongoing social problems by upskilling our workforce, increasing access to affordable housing and enhancing health and wellness for all. Braun believes that by working together, we can move the needle and make a difference in many lives. Eric Lane, Senior Philanthropy Advisor of Southwest Florida’s Community Foundation, spoke about supporting local nonprofits and local charities, addressing common community needs.
The Collaboratory’s focus includes grantmaking, fund development and management, community leadership, capacity building, and more. The Collaboratory granted $1,257,470 and 174 scholarships to local high school seniors, undergraduate, graduate students and adult learners from Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry and Lee counties. The Collaboratory’s Future Makers Coalition in Fort Myers helps adults in Hendry County and across Southwest Florida overcome obstacles to pursue higher education and secure well-paying jobs.
The Collaboratory believes there is nothing more powerful than women supporting other women. In Southwest Florida more than 50% of the population is female. One of The Collaboratory’s objectives is to ignite women’s potential, transforming futures. The Women’s Legacy Fund has three goals:
1) Amplify the power women possess to strengthen their communities through philanthropic giving.
2) Educate women and the community on current issues and philanthropic strategies. 3) Inspire women to become leaders in philanthropy.
BROADWAY PALM DINNER THEATRE
MARY MILLS
On October 3, a group sponsored by Gateway Women’s Club enjoyed an evening of dining and a wonderful production of the play Chicago. Chicago is a 1975 American musical with music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, and book by Ebb and Bob Fosse. Set in Chicago in the jazz age, the musical is based on a 1926 play of the same title by Maurine Dallas Watkins about actual criminals and crimes on which she reported. The story is a satire on corruption in the administration of criminal justice and the concept of the “celebrity criminal.”With an eye on the future, The Collaboratory’s next focus is on creating two coalitions for environments – natural ecosystems and our built environment. The Collaboratory is located at 2031 Jackson Street, Fort Myers, 33901, (239) 274-5900. You can learn more by visiting their website https://collaboratory.org.
DINING OUT
SUSAN ROBERTS
OPA! This familiar Greek expression evokes the joy and enthusiasm of feasting with family and friends. Embracing this Greek vibe, Gateway Women’s Club recently celebrated the magic of the Mediterranean at Mythos Authentic Greek Cuisine. Mythos is a family-owned and operated restaurant located in the McGregor Point Shopping Center of Fort Myers. Owners Georgia Tsagkaris and Kostantinos Siskamanis proudly share their rich heritage from the picturesque island of Kalymnos. Passing down recipes from generations, Mythos pays tribute to its Greek roots. Each dish “transports you to the sun-kissed landscapes and warm hospitality of our beloved island,” says Manager (and daughter) Margieta Siskamani. Greek cuisine is a magnificent marriage between vibrant flavors and timeless tradition. Mythos does not cut short on either. Gateway Women’s Club members and guests enjoyed old-world classic dishes infused with an array of savory blends of citruses, oils, herbs, cheeses, and grilled meat. GWC’s feast began with a variety of starters including Greek salad, egg lemon soup, hummus, dolmathes (stuffed grape leaves), saganaki, and pita. Saganaki is cheese flambéed at the table with showy flames accompanied by shouts of “OPA!” (According to legend, “flaming saganaki” originated in 1968 in Chicago’s Greektown.) The culinary journey continued with tasty entrees, including souvlaki, moussaka, pastichio, and gyros. The evening concluded with GWC members and guests indulging in Mythos’ irresistible homemade baklava. The evening was complete with Gateway Women’s Club members, family and friends creating memorable moments and diners exclaimed, “You feta believe that we will be returning soon!”
SIT AND STITCH
ELEANOR STUART
The next Sit and Stitch meeting will be hosted by Laurel Borgia on November 11 at 1 p.m. Please contact Laurel if you plan to attend. Her information can be found in the GWC Directory. The group includes many GWC members working on different projects. The members are still working on projects for Hospice and scarves for college-attending students who were in foster care. Any GWC member is welcome to join.
BRIDGE
LAUREL BORGIA
Bridge 101 will meet on November 5 and 19 at Hampton Park Amenity Center at 10 a.m. Please contact Susie Kravetz by phone or email, (her information is in the GWC Directory) to let her know if you are attending. The group needs a number count and names of attendees so you can get in the gate. They welcome anyone who plays bridge.
BOOK CLUB
BARBARA HANLIN
The GWC Book Club plans to meet on Tuesday, November 12 at 7 p.m. at the home of Laurel Borgia. Sandy Schwartz will lead the discussion of The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray.
Jan Hartzell will be the co-hostess. R.S.V.P. to Laurel by November 10. Her contact information is in the GWC Directory. The Personal Librarian tells the intriguing tale of Belle de Costa Greene, a black woman who lived a double life as a white person and became the personal librarian to J.P. Morgan, one of the wealthiest men in America during the early 20th century.
SPECIAL EVENT
KATHY FLAHERTY
The Gateway Women’s Group recently went to List Distillery – Mr. Tom’s Spirits. The Distillery was founded in 2015 by Austrian Tom List. It is a small artisan distillery on Evans Avenue in Fort Myers. Marcell, the tour guide, showed the attendees around the distillery explaining how various types of liquor were made. They saw the bottling and how they checked it. Their products include Vodka, Gin, Rum, Bourbon, Whiskey, and Cream Liqueurs. They personalize liquor bottles by engraving them. You can buy the bottles with or without liquor. The following people attended this very informative and exciting tour: Mary Mills, Janet and Tom, Wanda and Joel Davies, Eleanor and Randy Stuart, Kathy and Jeff fabisiak, Glenda and Art Ziegler, Dorothy and Kenneth Freida,
