A Best Christmas Ever, Right at Home

New Horizons Of SWFL — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 17:04:18 +0000

A Best Christmas Ever, Right at Home

This past December, one of our New Horizons families was selected to receive a Best Christmas Ever, and the celebration brought joy and hope right into their home.

Through Best Christmas Ever, families are nominated by local organizations and selected to receive a meaningful, in-home Christmas experience. This year, Edwin’s family was chosen in recognition of their resilience and perseverance.

Eleven-year-old Edwin has been part of New Horizons since first grade. When he first joined our program, he spoke very little and struggled academically, especially in third grade. With consistency and support, Edwin has grown in confidence. Today, he is engaged, friendly, and eager to connect with others. His progress academically, socially, and emotionally reflects both his perseverance and the impact of steady encouragement.

Edwin lives under the care of his grandparents, who have stepped in to provide the stability he needs. They are deeply committed to raising him with intention and consistency, making sacrifices to ensure he has a supportive home environment. Edwin also receives weekly in-home therapy to support his growth, and his grandparents remain closely involved every step of the way.

This past year included challenging moments for the family, which required them to lean on one another even more. Reuniting as a household later in the year was a meaningful moment that reinforced the importance of their shared support and connection.

The Best Christmas Ever celebration brought a special moment of encouragement into their home. It was a reminder that the family is seen and supported by a wider community.

We are grateful to Best Christmas Ever, a faith-based nonprofit that partners with local leaders to bless families facing difficult circumstances. Their mission closely aligns with New Horizons’ commitment to serving families with care and respect.

A special thank you to Gene Bradley, his family, and their team for selecting Edwin’s family and creating a Christmas they will remember.

The post A Best Christmas Ever, Right at Home first appeared on New Horizons of Southwest Florida.

💙 Community Partners Who Made a Difference

New Horizons Of SWFL — Fri, 01 Aug 2025 14:31:54 +0000

Celebrating the Community That Made Summer Shine ☀️

This summer was unforgettable for our Super Kids and Super Teens, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the support, generosity, and heart of our incredible community partners.

From donated meals and school supplies to inspiring guest visits and volunteer led activities, our students experienced the strength of a united community that came together to support their growth, joy, and success.

As in years past, our summer programming centered around two impactful camps: the Super Kids Reading Camp, focused on literacy, creativity, and confidence building for our younger students, and the Super Teens Leadership Camp, where teens explored leadership development through activities like team building, mentorship, and community service projects.

Essential Support

Laces of Love provided brand new shoes to every student in our summer camps. The smiles on our students’ faces said it all, this generous gift will help them walk into the new school year with confidence and comfort.
Estero Church, a long time site partner, donated backpacks filled with essential school supplies to students in the Estero Super Kids Reading Camp. Their continued support means so much to our students and their families.
Summer Meals Program, administered by Lee County Schools through Florida’s Summer BreakSpot, ensured every student received free breakfast and lunch daily, keeping them nourished and ready to thrive.
Bonita Bay Presbyterian Church donated additional backpacks, helping ensure more students had what they needed to begin the school year fully equipped.
West Bay Community Charitable Foundation and Pelican Sound Charitable Foundation helped make Super Kids Reading Camp possible through their generous grant support.

Learning & Enrichment Experiences

Bonita Arts Program brought creative energy and hands on learning opportunities to our Super Kids Reading Camp.
Captain Tom visited and shared his knowledge about fishing and the environment, engaging Super Kids in a fun and educational way.
Bonita Fire Department welcomed our students to their station and gave them an inside look at fire safety and the important work of first responders. Our students even got to live the experience of being a firefighter for a day!
Bonita Springs Assistance Office, our next-door neighbors, spoke with students about their community work and also hosted our Super Teens weekly as part of their summer service project.

Mutual Service & Giving

Gulf Coast Humane Society and Café of Life were recipients of Super Teens’ summer service projects and also took the time to visit and speak to students about their missions, creating powerful moments of mutual impact.
Topgolf and SunSplash helped make summer extra fun by offering discounted experiences that our students enjoyed.

To every individual, organization, and volunteer who poured into our students this summer: thank you. Your kindness, presence, and generosity made this season not just successful, but deeply meaningful. Because of you, our Super Kids and Super Teens are more confident, more prepared, and more inspired to shine. You are the heroes behind this summer’s success.. Your kindness, time, and generosity lit the way for our super students to grow, lead, and shine.

Want to get involved and support our mission? Learn how you can help here.

The post 💙 Community Partners Who Made a Difference first appeared on New Horizons of Southwest Florida.

Community Partners - New Horizons of Southwest Florida

A Best Christmas Ever, Right at Home​