News Article

SWFL Children’s Charities Presents $100,000 to FSW’s School of Health Professions

Jun 29, 2015

SWFL Children’s Charities Inc., organizer of the Southwest Florida Wine &Food Fest, presented a generous gift of $100,000 to the School of Health Professions at Florida SouthWestern State College (FSW) on June 22.

SWFL Children’s Charities President Elaine Hawkins and Vice President Dorothy Fitzgerald presented the check –a portion of the wine fest’s 2015 proceeds– to FSW President Jeff Allbritten and Vice President of Institutional Advancement Lou Traina.

Hawkins and Fitzgerald later toured FSW’s Respiratory Care Lab and Dental Hygiene Clinic to see the impact last year’s gift had on students and the two high-tech programs.

“Florida SouthWestern State College is a most deserving beneficiary of the efforts of our trustees and all the people who support the Wine Fest. The college has outstanding nursing and pediatric dental programs with phenomenal success rates,” said Hawkins.

“Our board and trustees believe in our community-education system, and this investment serves the entire community. Helping FSW enhance its training and the ability of its students to fill positions in our healthcare system is a win-win for everyone,” said Fitzgerald.

Besides providing $25,000 in student scholarships the last academic year, FSW also invested in a V60 pediatric respirator and a panograph X-Ray machine to diagnose dental disease in children. The Dental Hygiene Clinic provides preventive dental care to 2,000 local children and adults each year.

“Thank you to SWFL Children’s Charities for providing our hardworking students with the funds to complete their degrees without the burden of debt and for equipping the School of Health Professions with state-of-the-art technology,” said Traina. “Our graduates receive superb training at FSW and enter the Southwest Florida workforce ready to improve the lives of children.”

“Our healthcare programs are outperforming others across the country,” said President Allbritten. “For example, our dental hygiene program has boasted a 100 percent pass rate on the National Dental Hygiene Board Exam for 20 years. We are happy to provide our students with the means to achieve greatness.”

The FSW School of Health Professions offers two bachelor’s degrees, 11 associate’s degrees, and six certificate programs, preparing local students with the credentials to work in nearly every health-related field.

SWFL Children’s Charities raised $3.4 million in 2015, funds that benefitted The Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida, Music Therapy Program at Florida Gulf Coast University, and Pediatric Nursing Program at Florida SouthWestern State College.

About the FSW Foundation:

Since 1966, the Florida SouthWestern State College Foundation has been enhancing the quality of higher education for FSW students and faculty. On average, the FSW Foundation has awarded more than $1.2 million for student scholarships and $700,000 in academic support to the college annually since 2011. The Foundation’s focus is attracting and managing private contributions from individuals, organizations, businesses and other private foundations to support the college’s mission. To learn more about the non-profit, tax-exempt FSW Foundation or to make a gift, visit www.FSW.edu/foundation.

About SWFL Children’s Charities Inc.

The Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest is the signature event of the SWFL Children’s Charities Inc. and has raised nearly $15 million in the past seven years, making it the most successful fundraising event in Lee County and one of the top-grossing wine fests in the country. Wine Spectator ranked the event No. 6 on its list of Top 10 U.S. Charity Wine Auctions of 2014. The 2016 Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest is scheduled for Feb. 26 and 27. To learn more, log onto www.swflwinefest.org.

About FSW

Florida SouthWestern State College is Southwest Florida’s largest and one of the most affordable institutions of higher education. Annually serving more than 22,000 students globally, FSW offers a variety of nationally-ranked, career-focused academic programs with two- and four-year degrees, and professional certifications. Students are also active in clubs and programs catered to their interests. FSW will debut its intercollegiate athletics program in the fall 2015. Visit www.FSW.edu for more information.

Last Updated: May 26, 2020