FISH Volunteer Mary Holden and Partner Community House Named Finalists for ENPY Awards

The Annual ENPYs – Excellence in Nonprofit Performance Yearly awards – will feature FISH volunteer Mary Holden, nominated for the Paul Sanborn Service Above Self Award and The Sanibel Community Association – the Community House — nominated for Business Impact Partner of the Year as a business who supports nonprofits and the community.  The awards, hosted by the Cape Coral Community Foundation (CCCF), recognize those doing work to better communities and chose 36 finalists out of the over 160 nominations received this year.

The Paul Sanborn Service Above Self Award is awarded to a southwest Florida citizen who exemplifies the spirit of ‘Service Above Self’ in memory of Paul Sanborn, one of Cape Coral’s earliest residents who passed away in July of 2017.  FISH nominated volunteer Mary Holden who has dedicated her talents to almost every service area FISH offers since 2018.   Mary, a retired nurse, is always willing to step in when needed and offers ideas on how to streamline processes to better serve our neighbors. She is passionate about helping residents of Sanibel and Captiva, especially the senior population and has dedicated an extraordinary amount of time to one elderly woman in particular.  Through her work with FISH, Mary touches the lives of many within the Sanibel and Captiva communities.  She is so well known to many that she is often requested as a delivery or well-check person by those FISH serves.  Her smile is infectious, her conversation engaging and stimulating – Mary is one that exemplifies the spirit of FISH’s ‘neighbors helping neighbors’ motto.  She is driven by her passion to help others is truly in service to the community as a whole.

The Sanibel Community Association, ‘The Community House’, is the islands’ “home” where friends and residents meet to socialize through education, culture, events, and programs presented by the Sanibel Community Association.  They have remained a steadfast partner of FISH and the island community who is committed to improving the lives of those living, visiting, and working on Sanibel and Captiva, in complete alignment with FISH’s mission. They have assisted FISH over the years by providing space for their annual 10K Race, annual meeting and volunteer recognition luncheon, community workshops and gatherings, and as the sole location for the pop-up COVID vaccination sites orchestrated by FISH.  The Community House continuously answers the call to support those in need and stands side by side with FISH to raise awareness within the community.  FISH is confident that they are not only a community hero to FISH, but that many other individuals, non-profits, and businesses feel the same.

“Both Mary and the Sanibel Community House played a crucial role in helping FISH distribute over 1000 doses of the COVID vaccine to island residents. They are committed to making a positive impact within the community through their acts of service,” says Maria Espinoza, Assistant Executive Director.  “We are honored to work with them in our efforts to assist our neighbors.”

The ENPY Awards highlighting the efforts of Southwest Florida nonprofits and the accomplishments of nonprofit leaders will collectively be recognized on a special live televised broadcast airing across Southwest Florida. Finalists and winners will be recognized during the televised event on Oct. 19, 2021 beginning at 7:30pm. Viewers may join the live event on CTN Television for Southwest Florida by live stream at CTNtelevision.com.

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