COURTESY OF NAPLES BEACH CABANAS
INSIDER
RECREATION
A Hassle-free BEACH DAY
BUILDING STRONGER MINDS TOGETHER Since its inception in 1968, David Lawrence Centers for Behavioral Health (DLC) has been providing life-changing and lifesaving programs and services to adults and children with mental health and substance abuse challenges in Collier County. Following an explosion in population, two devastating hurricanes, the COVID pandemic, an opioid epidemic, and a suicide crisis, the number of people requiring mental health care within the county has risen exponentially. The level of need, a shortage of affordable mental health services, and a limited number of trained and experienced staff led leadership at DLC to acknowledge that a significant investment in capital improvements and professional staff was required. Their solution was a $144 million collaboration between DLC, Collier County, entrepreneurs, and private philanthropists—an initiative that would include renovating old buildings and adding new ones, expanding vital clinical services, and employing trained practitioners. More than
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$70 million in funding has already been secured (including $44 million through a one-cent sales tax) to build the Collier County Behavioral Health Center, which DLC will operate. A transformative gift of $10 million from the Bill and Julia Van Domelen Foundation—the single largest philanthropic gift in DLC’s history—was announced earlier this year. This leadership gift will support professional recruitment and retention of trained and experienced staff, as well as the new Van Domelen Children’s Center for Excellence, a customized healing space for children. After learning about the mental health crisis in Collier County and how DLC had plans to address it, “we were convinced that investing in the Hope for Collier initiative at this critical time was a significant priority for our foundation,” says Julia Van Domelen. (dlcenters.org) –G.S.
If you are on vacation in Naples and you flew in from a northern climate, you most likely didn’t pack your own beach chairs and towels. If you live locally and decide to spend an afternoon at the beach, you know how much of a pain lugging the day’s necessities can be. Frank Scerbo, a Naples resident of more than 20 years, was inspired by his travels to other beach destinations where luxury beach clubs offer day passes so visitors can enjoy lavish amenities without having to lift a finger. He decided to start a concierge beach cabana service catering to both locals and guests who aren’t staying at a beachfront resort. For a tailored cabana setup ready and waiting at a choice of local public beaches, Scerbo has made the process simple. Beachgoers visit the Naples Beach Cabanas website and choose their package (all include a private lounge space, chairs and towels, a cooler and ice, water, a Bluetooth speaker, a table, insulated tumblers, a lockbox, sunscreen, and a mini trash bin), as well as a day and time. The next step is easy: just show up and relax. Cleanup and breakdown are included in the service. Packages start at $299 for a fivehour rental with the option to extend for additional hours until sunset. (naplesbeach cabanas.com) –G.S.
NAPLES ILLUSTRATED
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