Hilton Naples & Greater Marco Family YMCA to be recognized as Education Award Recipient

May 31, 2012 - PRLog -- Hilton Naples & Shula’s Steak House and the Greater Marco Family YMCA are being recognized as the 2012 Commissioner of Education’s Business Recognition Award (CBRA) for being an extraordinary and creative partner of education and supporter of student success in Collier County.

Hilton Naples & Shula’s Steak House is a business partner that is strongly committed to education and providing real-life experiences for students in Collier County.  As a strong corporate citizen, they understand that investing in education will help build the backbone for a strong economy and workforce and they work with a variety of organizations, including The Education Foundation of Collier County, Youth Leadership Collier through the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce, The Immokalee Foundation, and United Way, to provide those experiences.

The Greater Marco Family YMCA has made a significant difference to almost 600 students in South and East Naples schools by raising funds to provide summer camp and after-school opportunities for students who might not otherwise afford them.  In addition to the regular YMCA curriculum, they have created programming to include literacy and math components that are aligned with Collier County Public Schools’ curriculum to help students get the extra support they need to be successful in school, particularly combatting summer reading loss.  YMCA READS! is an additional after-school program that is designed to help K-3 students become better readers and engages community volunteers in working with the students.

Both Hilton Naples & Shula’s Steak House and Greater Marco Family YMCA will be recognized at the 25th Annual Commissioner’s Business Recognition Awards on June 14, 2012 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Tampa.

They will also be highlighted in a special recognition program locally at the June 5th Collier County School Board Workshop. “These business partners provide us with an excellent example of the community support received by our schools each day,” according to Dr. Kamela Patton, Superintendent of Collier County Public Schools.  “I view such support as one of this community’s greatest strengths.”

“We are grateful for the commitment, creativity and innovation that both partners bring to our community and schools,” states Susan McManus, President of The Education Foundation.  “Together, we can provide an environment in which all children can maximize their educational opportunities.”

ABOUT THE EDUCATION FOUNDATION OF COLLIER COUNTY
The Education Foundation of Collier County is a not-for-profit 501(c) (3) organization that brings our community together to invest in innovative practices that enrich the environment for student learning.  www.GetOnTheBusCollier.org.

ABOUT HILTON NAPLES
The Hilton Naples is a full service, four diamond luxury hotel in Naples Florida. Only 30 minutes from the Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW), the hotel is near shopping, dining, attractions and one-half mile from the beautiful beaches in Naples.  The Hilton Naples is a popular venue for both business and leisure travel, offering 18,000 square feet of corporate meeting space with a full conference, catering and audio-visual team. In addition to their 199 well-appointed guest rooms.  Guests of the Hilton Naples enjoy complimentary wireless high speed wireless internet access and public areas as well as free of charge, on-site garage parking. Hotel amenities include the award winning Shula’s Steak House, heated, tropical pool with waterfall, hot tub, 24-hour business center and fitness center. For more information visit http://www.hiltonnaples.com . Media can download images and access additional information at www.hiltonglobalmediacenter.com/naples .