Latchkey league – stages guys and dolls benefit

Roger and Paula Baker, Tina and Jack Nicholson

Fundraising efforts for the proposed Salvation Army Youth  Center in East Naples continued in February with a spectacular Guys and Dolls Gala at Quail West Golf and Country Club. The benefit was part of a series of fundraisers expected to raise more than $100,000+ for the planned youth center this season. The fundraisers are sponsored by the Latchkey League, the volunteer support group for the youth center, which now has more than 400 members.

“It was a wonderful event that displayed the generous spirit and creativity of our wonderful volunteers, who have joined together for this important cause,” said Myra Janco Daniels, capital campaign chairman for the youth center.

Daniels founded the Latchkey League last year as the fundraising arm for the youth center, which will provide opportunities for some of the 10,000+ latchkey children in Collier County to participate in sports, the arts, computer science and basic studies. The planned 22,000-square-foot facility on Airport Road will include a gymnasium, arts venues, a computer lab and classrooms.

“Children will sing, they’ll dance, they’ll play, they’ll learn, they’ll dream,” Daniels said. There are still naming opportunities available for the center, she added.

The project is being designed by renowned architect Eugene Aubry, who was also the architect behind the Philharmonic Center for the Arts (now Artis-Naples), which Daniels founded and where she served as CEO for most of its existence.

The February 24 Guys and Dolls Gala drew more than 140 guests and featured a silent auction, dancing, selections from Guys and Dolls performed by TheatreZone’s Jim Corsica, Kara Konkey, John McKerrow and Mark Vanagass and modern and classical musical selections by Ruben Celiberti and Steve Banyea.

Tina Nicholson chaired the Guys and Dolls Gala. Peggy Coppola is president of the Latchkey League. Generous sponsors of the Guys and Dolls Gala included DeBeers Diamond Jewelers, Arthrex, Martha Wintermeyer, WAVV 101.1 FM, Wilma Boyd and Preferred Travel of Naples and Houchin Construction. The Salvation Army Youth Center is expected to open late this year.

For further information on the Latchkey League, the youth center orfuture fundraising events, please call 239.435.3819239.435.3819.