News Briefs

Southwest Florida Grads Trunk Fest this weekend

Together on Purpose, a nonprofit organization based in Naples dedicated to helping under-resourced youth going to college, trades and transitioning into adulthood, will have its fourth annual Southwest Florida Grads Trunk Fest hosted by South Florida Tournament of Champions, on July 20 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Ritz Carlton Tiburon.

TOPS invites Southwest Florida community leaders, businesses and organizations to join in filling 50 bins for firsttime college students. You can donate to fill a bin full of dorm room necessities such as sheets, blankets, towels, detergent, gift cards and school supplies, or you can donate $380 to TOPS, enabling them to purchase and distribute these materials to under-resourced Southwest Florida graduates heading off to college in 2025.

Following the event, an elegant 14th Florida All-White Summer Grove Fundraiser Dinner presented by Frater’s Group International will be held to commemorate the day at Aqua Seafood, Steaks, & Raw Bar in Bonita Springs from 6 to 11 p.m. Everyone is welcome free of charge. There will be raffle tickets sold, and you can win cash and gift prizes. Half of the proceeds from the raffle will go to the winner, while the other half will be donated to TOPS, Inc. and South Florida Tournament of Champions to help support their mission. Additionally, Aqua Seafood, Steaks, & Raw Bar will be donating a percentage of dinner sales to TOPS. For more, visit togetheronpurpose@topinc.org .

Southwest Florida Grads Trunk Fest this weekend

Denise Brown to be keynote speaker at The Shelter’s fundraiser

The Shelter for Abused Women & Children announced that Denise Brown, sister of Nicole Brown Simpson, will be the keynote speaker for the 25th Anniversary Mending Broken Hearts with Hope Luncheon, Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at The Ritz-Carlton Tiburon.

Over the past quarter century, this luncheon has been the major fundraiser for The Shelter, raising awareness and funding to support two emergency shelters, nine Transitional Living cottages and over 30 programs and services for survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking.

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Denise Brown has been a national speaker on domestic violence since the high-profile murder of her sister and a friend, Ron Goldman, in 1994. Nicole’s ex-husband, O.J. Simpson, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the stabbing deaths; however, he was acquitted after a lengthy trial in October 1995. On the 30th anniversary of Nicole’s death, Denise and her sisters were featured in a new Lifetime documentary, “The Life and Murder of Nicole Brown Simpson,” which premiered in June 2024.

In 1995, Denise lobbied for the Violence Against Women Act before the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee. She has also visited universities, prisons, churches and other venues to speak out against domestic violence.

“We look forward to having Denise as part of our milestone anniversary luncheon,” said Shelter CEO Linda Oberhaus. “She has a powerful story and compelling mission to educate others on how to recognize and respond to domestic violence in our community.”

FSW launches new social media program

Tickets and sponsorships are currently available for the 25th Anniversary Mending Broken Hearts with Hope Luncheon. For more information, visit naplesshelter.org/mbh or call The Shelter at (239) 775-3862.

FSW launches new social media program

Florida SouthWestern State College will launch a new Social Media Communication College Credit Certificate (CCC) beginning this Fall 2024 semester.

The program is tailored for those eager to master media communication, marketing and public relations across diverse platforms, including print, television, the internet and social media.

The Social Media Communication CCC at FSW offers students a comprehensive understanding of media literacy, writing and composition, technical communication, web design basics, communication studies, social media management, digital marketing, search engine optimization (SEO) and public relations.

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“This certificate program is ideal for anyone passionate about social media, content creation, SEO or digital marketing,” said Dr. Jennifer Summary, FSW communication studies professor. “Our curriculum is crafted to meet the demands of today’s digital age, preparing students to thrive in roles across various industries.”

For more information, visit www.fsw.edu/soas.

Moorings Park to host job fair

Moorings Park Communities is hosting a job fair on Wednesday, July 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Moorings Park, 120 Moorings Park Drive, Naples, FL 34105.

Featured opportunities include home health aides, CNAs, LPNs, RNs and much more. Moorings Park offers employees free health and dental, free telemedicine, life insurance, tuition reimbursement, childcare assistance, retirement savings contributions, generous PTO and more.

Ag Expo accepting inquiries for vendors

The Southwest Florida Agriculture Exposition is now accepting inquiries for indoor and outdoor vendors/concessionaires for the 2025 Southwest Florida Ag Expo.

The event will be hosted at the Lee County Civic Center Complex Thursday, Feb. 27, through Sunday, March 9, 2025. All inquiries must be submitted by Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024.

For more, visit www.swflagexpo.com .

Skin Care Academy launches new courses

The Skin Care Academy of Florida, Bonita Springs’ newest beauty school, is announced the launch of its Advanced Facial Specialty training program and the introduction of a new comprehensive

Massage Therapy training program.

Enrollment is currently open for both programs with classes starting on July 29, 2024.

The new program offers an extensive range of skills, including Dermaplaning,

Lash Lifting, Brow Laminations, Facials, Hair Removal, Microdermabrasion, Chemical Peels, LED Therapy, Skin Tightening Treatments and Aromatherapy. In four months, students develop essential skills to excel in the skin care industry.

The newly launched Massage Therapy program covers a variety of techniques such as Swedish Massage, Deep Tissue and Sports Massage, Energy Work, Reflexology, Body Treatments, Gua Sha, Prenatal Massage and more. This comprehensive program spans six months and prepares students for a rewarding career in massage therapy.

“We are so excited to introduce these new courses into our robust curriculum because they are designed to prepare our students for successful careers in the beauty and wellness industry,” said Laura Lorusso, founder of The Skin Care Academy of Florida. “We are invested in helping our students achieve their goals and providing them with resources to thrive long after they graduate.”

For more info, visit www.skincareacademyflorida.com or call 239.249.0021. ¦

The post News Briefs first appeared on Bonita Springs Florida Weekly .