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Fun Time earns support from prestigious donors “Employers know
EXPANDING such as the Naples Winter Wine Festival, the that when their
Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation, the employees have
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES Collier Community Foundation and Christ safe, quality
Child of Naples. Other support comes from childcare, they
community pillars such as Arthrex, Golisano have more satisfied
Children’s Museum of Naples (CMON), employees with less stress
United Way, Books for Collier Kids, Early about their children.”
Pfaehler offers kudos to Campbell, whose
Learning Coalition of Southwest Florida,
Time United Arts Collier and Future Ready Collier, included teacher, principal, virtual school founder
prior Collier County Public Schools positions
a community vision project affirming affordable,
Fun quality early childhood programs are a pressing civic and reading/math coach. “Her passion to serve low-
need.
income families in Naples continues to be an inspiration
Jonathan Forester, CMON’s CEO, values the for me and so many others,” he says.
collaboration. “We partner with Fun Time to bring some of our Campbell is motivated by her own background – being born
play-based kindergarten readiness programs to their students to and raised in poverty. Alongside two diplomas from Florida Gulf
help supplement their strong curriculum,” he says. “It's a partnership Coast University, she displays an Abraham Lincoln tribute titled
we really cherish.” “Persistence” on an office wall.
“What continues to inspire me is the joy I see in the faces of the “I want awareness,” she says. “People don’t know there are
children and staff whenever I am at any of the three locations,” says working families that can hardly get by. They need access to
Fun Time Chairman Kris Pfaehler. “I am also inspired by the peace affordable early childhood programs.”
and comfort felt by the parents who know that their children are Next up: A Fun Time master plan, for more access -- and
being provided with the highest quality education and care during sustainability.
a full-day, 50-week-per-year schedule, while they are working to For information on volunteering and donating, contact Fun Time
support their families.” at 261-8284 or moreinfo@funtime.org.
It's a quality of life issue, he says, that exerts a ripple effect:

NOVEMBER 26 19 th ANNUAL
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by Jeff Lytle
ne sign of a devoted non-profit Fun Time has come a long way since starting as a nursery –
organization is a passion to expand a first in the minority community in a yellow trailer in River Park 7 AM - 1:30 PM
Orather than ration services. in 1961. One of today’s teachers, Cester Williams, started there
Central Naples’ Fun Time Early 39 years ago, and alumni now enroll their own kids and grandkids.
Childhood Academy is expanding its Today’s 8,000 square foot base of operations was built in 2009
high-quality, affordable and accredited next to the former Naples Daily News site on Central Avenue – now
programs off campus to Poinciana Elementary condominiums -- and the Neighborhood Health Clinic.
School and Golden Gate High School. The The need is clear. Collier County has an estimated 15,000 children
move is prompted by Fun Time’s headquarters under age 5, statistics show, and only 1,000 of them attend pre-school. IT’S A CYCLING TRADITION
operating near capacity with 96 students ages 2 through VPK – “We're more than just a childcare center,” Fun Time Executive
most of them minorities and all of them poor. Director Jessica Campbell says. “We are a beacon of hope and a
The Poinciana program is set up for toddlers through age 4, catalyst for change.
WALK
while Golden Gate’s Teenage Parenting Program serves newborns “Our vision is to create a world where every child can thrive, PRESENTED BY and WALK
through voluntary pre-kindergarten (VPK) so mothers can stay in regardless of their circumstances.” and
school. Fun Time’s plate is full. “We provide a wide array of services, from
Both sites also serve children of the schools’ employees. early identification of hearing, vision or dental concerns to wholesome DISTANCES SCHEDULE
INCLUDES
Lisa Morse, Collier County Public Schools senior director of meals, swim lessons, enriching art and theater experiences, and a 5, 10, 20, 40 and 62 Miles INCLUDES 7:00 am �������������� Registration
Strategic Engagement and Initiatives, says: “We firmly believe robust STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) Lunch, Beer, Music 8:00 am ����������������������62 mile
that high-quality early learning plays a crucial role in preparing education,” she explains. START LOCATION 8:30 am ����������������������40 mile
FUN
students for academic success. By also focusing on supporting Students’ skills are tested and tracked for progress toward readiness Eagle Lakes Community Park FUN 9:30 am ����������������������20 mile
CCPS employees, ensuring they can be fully engaged in schools for kindergarten. Campbell gives credit for success to small class sizes 11565 Tamiami Trail East For All Ages! 10:00 am �������������� 5 & 10 mile
and provide optimal support to K-12 students, this partnership and good teachers who are paid well and get benefits. Naples, FL 34113 10:00 am ��� 2�5 or 5 Mile Walk
truly benefits children throughout the entire district.” Parents are enlisted as partners via events such as picnics and 11:00 am ��������������� After Party
nutrition classes. Parents must be employed, and they pay an average PEDAL ASSIST E-BIKES WELCOME
of $60 per week for programs that cost five times as much to provide, Shirts guaranteed for the first 300 to register
consuming 83 percent of Fun Time’s annual budget of nearly $2.5
million. Helped by a four-star rating on Charity Navigator, Register today: https://bit.ly/IJTR2023

42 Life in Naples | November 2023 Life in Naples | November 2023 43