Naples Senior Center Welcomes Community Leaders to its Board of Trustees

Naples Senior Center, a nonprofit organization that provides comprehensive programs and social services for local seniors and their families, announced that it has further broadened its experienced leadership with the appointment of supporters Thomas P. Felke, Ph.D., MSW and Karen Heithoff to its Board of Trustees.

“The addition of these two dedicated individuals to our board adds to the depth of professional expertise and community support on our board,” said Dr. Jaclynn Faffer, President/CEO of the Naples Senior Center. “Their service and guidance will help ensure that Naples Senior Center remains the leading advocate for seniors in our community.”

Felke is Associate Dean for Academics in the Marieb College of Health & Human Services at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU). Felke has research interests in health disparities among minority populations; food instability and insecurity issues; and international social welfare, among many others. He has been with FGCU since 2014, focusing on social work research and ethics and social welfare policy and planning.

Felke earned both his Doctor of Philosophy and his Master of Social Work from the University of Connecticut School of Social Work in West Hartford, Connecticut. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary and Special Education from Providence College in Providence, Rhode Island. Felke has been honored with numerous awards and recognitions, including, most recently, the FGCU Chair Excellence Award in 2021.

Heithoff is an active community leader and a strong arts advocate in Naples and Minneapolis. A seasonal resident of Minneapolis, Heithoff was the owner of a fashion design store there for 25 years. She and her husband, Ken, have been avid collectors of contemporary art for three decades. Among the other community organizations in which Heithoff actively serves on the boards are Artis-Naples; the Walker Art Center; Midway Contemporary Art; and the human services agency Perspectives. She also has supported the Telluride Film Festival and the Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival.

Naples Senior Center is the only human services agency of its kind, providing “one-stop shop” services addressing the emotional and social needs of seniors in Collier and southern Lee counties. Since opening its doors in January 2014, the organization has seen a surge in the depth and scope of need for comprehensive senior services in this region.

All programs and services are provided by licensed and credentialed professionals. These include Structured Dementia Respite Support; Geriatric Case Management and Senior Outreach Programs; and Emotional Support Services as well as a “choice” Food Pantry.

An average of 40 different social, educational and wellness programs also are offered each week thanks to a dedicated corps of more than 200 trained and vetted volunteers. Among these social programs are classes in art, music and film; brain fitness and educational seminars; courses in technology and computer science; physical well-being; and interest groups. The center serves everyone regardless of backgrounds and beliefs.

To accommodate future growth, Naples Senior Center has broken ground on a new permanent home on Autumn Oaks Lane, just a block south of Immokalee Road. This site will enable seniors to benefit from a nurturing, natural setting that offers outdoor space for walking, quiet contemplation and low-impact exercise programs such as tai chi. The new facility will be funded through a capital campaign that was launched in 2019 and has been accelerated by a $5-million commitment from philanthropists Patty and Jay Baker.

For additional information on the Naples Senior Center and its comprehensive programs and social services for area seniors and their families, visit www.NaplesSeniorCenter.org.