Making Naples a Better Place to Live Continues by Lois Bolin, Ph.D., Old Naples Historian

In 2013, Inc. magazine discussed why businesses should build a culture of giving back. The author wrote that making charitable donations isn’t simply a feelgood thing – it is a way to drive change in our communities and within our organizations.

If I didn’t know better, I’d say the author dove into the City of Naples archives and found ‘The Make Naples a Better Place to Live Plan’, which was later shortened to The Naples Plan. This plan not only drove change in 1948 – it solidified Naples’ culture of giving back.

“The Naples Plan” captured the attention of the Tampa Tribune’s editor, James Clendinen, who wrote about a unique community effort that showed American ingenuity at its best. “This story is about how the west coast town of Naples, 160 miles south of Tampa, pulled $250,000 in town improvements out of a hat.”

The hat, Mr. Clendinen referred to, was not a magician’s hat; but an ordinary one – like the ones that were passed around to take collections for office parties. He went on to say the only thing this innovative plan needed was “preferably a 10-gallon hat” and a number of “high-bracket” property owners with enough community interest to part with a wad of folding money when the hat was passed.

Luckily, the town of Naples had both.

On Jan. 9, 1948, just past Happy Hour, (at 8 p.m.), Mayor Roy Smith called a meeting to say that the IRS had approved their
unprecedented “pass-the-hat-plan” under IRS Code Section 28 as a contribution to a political subdivision. At that time in Florida,
100 percent of political contributions were tax-deductible. Perfect timing to pass the hat. The plan outlined several projects, including mosquito abatement; the construction jetties; sand dredging; and street paving from Gordon Pass to Gordon Drive to the Post Office to “First Street and the Street to the Pier.” The town’s leaders understood their community’s most precious resource was not necessarily its beaches as parks and playgrounds were listed as the No. 1 priority with no mention of drag shows. Cambier and Lowdermilk Park were completed in 1948 and 1950 respectively. Both were named after city employees.

Culture of Kindness

The culture of kindness took hold after WWII when the United States took the lead to rebuild a shattered world at home and for their former enemies.

Naples’ culture of giving back was founded upon this spirit and is alive and well today. Whether it’s donating money to charity,
volunteering, or helping a stranger, giving back is simply a way of life for our community.

In his 1901 Thanksgiving Proclamation, Theodore Roosevelt said, “Let us remember that, as much has been given us, much will
be expected from us; and that true homage comes from the heart as well as from the lips and shows itself in deeds. We can best prove our thankfulness to the Almighty by the way in which on this earth and at this time each of us does his duty to his fellow men.”

Thanksgiving for Vets and Pets

Each Thanksgiving I highlight community members who are known for doing their duty and there are many. This year there are two that captured my heart: Snip Collier and Tag a Pet for a Vet. Making life better for Veterans and rescues is the mission of Tag a Pet for a Vet, a 501c3 founded by USAF Veteran, Tina Clark (aka Chickabee), who has personally experienced the power of love
from rescue animals. To learn more, visit their FB page or tagapetforavet.org.

SNIP Collier is a “boots on the ground” 501c3 organization, who rescues abandoned and stray animals that are usually sick or injured. With over 20 years of experience in the Collier County rescue community, Tom Kepp, founded SNIP Collier in 2013. You can find Tom in the field rescuing both dogs and cats, educating pet owners, and working with our county to create better laws and enforcement for the sake of these animals.

To report an injured animal, please contact Tom at 239-825-5834. For more info visit snipcollier.org. To help these two groups, I think we need another “10 gallon hat” party so community minded individuals can part with a wad of folding money and good wishes.

Thank you, Chickabee and Tom, who unknowingly are paying homage to those pioneering families, who made Naples a better place
to live by carrying on the tradition.

Remember
November 11 Veteran Day
November 27 Thanksgiving Day