Women’s Foundation awards $25,000 grant for Shelly Stayer Shelter

To serve the current and changing needs of women and girls in Collier County, The Women’s Foundation of Collier County, a Fund at the Community Foundation of Collier County, recently awarded a grant of $25,000 to underwrite the reception area of the Shelly Stayer Shelter for Victims of Human Trafficking & Domestic Violence.

In October 2016, Shelly Stayer provided a $3 million lead gift to establish this 21,000-square-foot, 32-bed shelter to be constructed on 5.6 acres of property in Immokalee, FL. The facility will feature three main areas: a section to accommodate the long-term therapeutic needs of victims of human trafficking; a section to shelter victims of domestic abuse; and a section dedicated to Immokalee outreach.

“It is fitting that the Women’s Foundation chose the receiving area of this new shelter for their grant,” says Shelter CEO Linda Oberhaus, “The receiving area is the public’s first stop in raising community awareness for emergency and outreach services. We are tremendously grateful to the Women’s Foundation for this grant and for their partnership.”

With a focus on basic needs, teen and elderly women, the Women’s Foundation of Collier County supports changes to the policies and systems that shape women’s opportunities in society and invests in women who are poor and pushed to the margins. The WFCC kick-starts many new community organizations and projects by building the leadership, skills and influence of their grantee partners.