Project Help – Recognizes 30 Years of Helping the Community

PROJECT HELP STAFF MEMBERS IN 1997 INCLUDED (LEFT TO RIGHT): LILIANA GONZALEZ, JUNE BOTICH, TRISH WEATHER, SANDY MUMMERT AND BETH KNAKE.

There are many services available in Collier County, but sometimes people don’t know about them until they need them. Project HELP likely falls into that category, though the nonprofit celebrates its 30th anniversary this year.

The organization is our county’s only state-certified rape recovery and victim services center. It provides free and confidential
services to victims of sexual assault, human trafficking, sudden loss and other violent crime. These services include an in-house forensic facility, individual and group counseling, court advocacy and victim compensation assistance, a 24/7 hotline 239.262.7227, and 24-hour-a-day response with the Collier County Sheriff ’s Office to make sudden death notifications.

“We start people on their healing journey and support them as they take back control over their lives,” says Michelle English,
executive director. “They feel empowered rather than victimized.”

During 2015, Project HELP assisted 4,974 new clients through 2,919 counseling hours and over 2,000 responses and advocacy assistance.

Project HELP was started in 1986 by Beth Knake, a pioneer in the industry who helped create the Florida Council Against Sexual
Violence and was instrumental in Project HELP becoming one of the first rape crisis centers certified in the state in August 1995.

PROJECT HELP FOUNDER BETH KNAKE (THIRD FROM LEFT) AND VOLUNTEERS
PARTICIPATED IN THE 1997 FOURTH OF JULY PARADE TO RAISE AWARENESS
ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION.

“Our organization and the community owe a debt of gratitude to Beth and all of our founders, who had the forethought to create
Project HELP when the topic of sexual assault was even more sensitive than it is now. We are lucky that so many of our former
board members, employees and volunteers remain in Collier County and continue to support us. And, we thank all of our donors for ensuring our clients receive the services they need.”

To learn more, visit ProjectHelpNaples.org, send an email to info@projecthelpnaples.org, call the office at 239.649.1404, or call the 24/7 hotline at 239.262.7227.

30TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY AND ENDOWMENT CAMPAIGN

Project HELP is hosting a free celebration from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 7 at Design Studio by Raymond, 990 1st Ave. North, Naples. Light refreshments will be served.

County Commissioner Donna Fiala, former Senator and former Project HELP inaugural board member Burt Saunders, and NCH Health System CEO Dr. Allen Weiss are serving as Honorary Co-chairs.

To celebrate the 30-year milestone, the non-profit is establishing the “Project HELP Endowment Fund” at the Community
Foundation of Collier County.

At Home Health Care and Florida Community Bank have each pledged to match up to $2,500 in donations from the general
public, so all contributions up to $5,000 will be doubled.

To invest in Project HELP’s future by contributing to the endowment, donate at ProjectHelpNaples.org or send a check payable to “Project HELP” to: Project HELP Endowment, 3123 Terrace Avenue, Naples, FL 34104. To pay by credit card, please call 239.649.1404.