David Lawrence Center Hope and Healing

David Lawrence Center (DLC), Collier County’s leading non-profit mental health and addiction recovery treatment center serving children and adults, will honor three individuals and businesses for their contributions to support the advancement of DLC’s comprehensive treatment services.

The 2nd Annual Celebration Reception, will be held later this Fall at the Naples Historical Society’s Historic Palm Cottage and will honor The Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation (RMSFF), Jerry Nichols and First Florida Integrity Bank for their investment in providing hope and healing to those in need.

#StandUp Award

The Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation will be honored with the #StandUpAward for their significant investments in the Center’s expansion in the areas of children, adults and family crisis support. RMSFF provided grant funding for the expansion of the Children’s Crisis Stabilization Unit and the construction of the new Children’s Outpatient Building. Additional grants funded triage and referral managers in the Access Center and the Immokalee satellite office, a nurse navigator to work with children and families as well as additional staff time for the supervising physician and emergency services clinician in Acute Care services to enhance the individualized clinical time focused on each person’s unique treatment and support needs.

RMSFF was created by Best Buy founder, Dick Schulze, to give back to the communities where Dick and his family grew up— in Minnesota, where he built Best Buy to become the world’s largest consumer electronics retailer and in Florida, where he now maintains a permanent residence. The Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation creates grant partnerships with organizations that generate transformational results in human and social services, education, health and medicine.

Jerry Nichols

Advocate of the Year

Naples-based philanthropist, Jerry F. Nichols, a senior vice president for Brown & Brown Benefits and a wealth management advisor with Northwestern Mutual, will be named Advocate of the Year for his four decades of steadfast support of many local nonprofit organizations focused in the areas of education, children and veteran services.

Nichols’s advocacy efforts, specifically in the areas of children’s services, have helped shape the Collier County community. At David Lawrence Center, his generosity assisted in funding the new Children’s Outpatient Building, aptly named the Jerry F. Nichols Building, and expanding the Children’s Crisis Stabilization Unit.

In addition to his personal donations, Nichols has also been instrumental in securing corporate philanthropic support from his employer, Brown & Brown Benefits, by sponsoring DLC fundraising events.

arrett Richter, President
and CEO of First Florida
Integrity Bank

Partner of the Year

First Florida Integrity Bank, a community bank headquartered in Naples, will be named Partner of the Year for their commitment to shaping Southwest Florida neighborhoods and engaging with neighbors through community giving and action.

Through the bank’s Charitable Foundation, they fund locally-based organizations focused on children’s education, health and wellbeing.Through Project Donation, the bank also matches employee’s personal contributions to assist local families facing overwhelming circumstances or hardships. In addition, the bank provides substantial support to local nonprofits through event sponsorships, donations and volunteer efforts.

First Florida Integrity Bank has sponsored DLC’s Sound Minds Mental Health Symposium, Gala and Young Executives events for many years.

Mary Beth Geier, Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation Florida Director

“The foundation and board understand the challenges that people (especially children and their families) with mental health issues face. We are proud of our relationship with DLC and the opportunity to help both DLC and the community grow stronger. We are honored to accept this recognition as we truly value the work DLC is doing in Collier County.”

Celebration Receptions sponsors to date include Healthcare Network of SWFL, Brown and Brown Insurance and Cigna, PK Studios and Studio+, and Park Royal Hospital.

For more information, visit DavidLawrenceCenter.org or contact DLC at 239-354-1445 or donorcare@dlcmhc.com.