She’s probably best known for making the Virginia B. Andes Volunteer Community Clinic possible. That clinic stands as a lifeline for people without insurance, offering free and affordable healthcare to those who need it most. To Andes, access to care wasn’t supposed to be a privilege. It was a right.

But there’s more to her story. Quietly and without fanfare, Andes made a series of anonymous donations to the Charlotte Community Foundation. Those gifts helped launch the foundation’s very first office. She never sought recognition. Her focus stayed on strengthening the foundation’s roots, making sure it would keep serving the community long after she was gone.

Andes brought the same determination to her career. She started at IBM in 1944, right in the thick of World War II, and spent 31 years there as a systems engineer. After retiring, she moved to Naples, where she gave her time to the University of Florida’s Extension Homemakers program.

In 1991, she landed in Fort Myers and volunteered at Southwest Regional Hospital. Four years later, she settled in Port Charlotte and never stopped giving back. Volunteering, supporting causes, she made it her life’s work.

This mural is more than a painting on a wall. It’s a tribute, a way to keep Andes’ legacy alive and spark conversations about what she stood for. It’s a reminder of how one person’s commitment can shape a community for decades. Her story belongs to Charlotte County, Collier County, and the Charlotte Community Foundation.

The mural unveiling is scheduled for Thursday, January 22, 2026, from 4:30 to 6:30 PM at 227 Sullivan Street, Punta Gorda, FL 33950 or charlottecf.org.

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Applicants have until 4:59 p.m. December 31, 2025, to apply online at charlottecf.org/scholarships. One application covers all available awards. Scholarships range from $1,000 to $6,000, and a total of $263,000 will be distributed for the 2026–27 academic year.

A significant portion of the scholarships is designated for working adults. CCF leaders say this focus supports Charlotte County’s economic development by helping residents upgrade their skills for the changing job market.

CCF Board Member Deelynn Bennett, a 40-year veteran of Charlotte County Public Schools, chairs the Scholarship Committee and works alongside CCF Scholarship Coordinator Carolyn Gorton. Nearly half of all scholarships support health care studies, and CCF is seeking additional volunteer reviewers with health care experience. Interested community members can email scholarships@charlottecf.org. Volunteer service begins in mid-January 2026.

Scholarships Honor Community Donors

Many scholarship funds honor local residents. The largest is the Brooks Scholarships Fund, established in memory of Betty Conley Brooks and Robert Charles Brooks. It provides 30 awards to students pursuing technical certificates, two-year degrees, and four-year university degrees.

The CCF Scholarship Fund for Charlotte County: Supporting Future Local Leaders Like Leo Wotitzky serves as the foundation’s general scholarship fund. It accepts gifts of any amount to expand support for Charlotte County Public Schools graduates who demonstrate hard work, service, and commitment to the community, reflecting the leadership of CCF’s founding member and first chairman.

More information about applications and giving opportunities is available at charlottecf.org, including details on contributing to “The CCF Scholarship Fund: Supporting Future Leaders for Charlotte County like Leo Wotitzky.”

The Charlotte Community Foundation is a philanthropic organization dedicated to improving quality of life in Charlotte County. Supported by volunteers and a small professional staff, the foundation connects donors, community needs, and long-term charitable funds. Now under new leadership, CCF continues its mission to foster philanthropy across Charlotte County to strengthen the community for generations.

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The initiative, launched in partnership with Charlotte County Public Schools, gave each participating student a free ticket to the air show and a full morning of interactive STEM and aviation learning.

Led by Deelynn Bennett, retired Charlotte County educator and Innovator STEM Program Director for the Air Show, the event’s Innovators STEM Tent connected students with aviation and technology professionals for hands-on demonstrations and career exploration.

Participating organizations included Simpilot/Alex Rodriquez, Flybright/Austin Pulliam, Charlotte Technical College programs in aviation maintenance, IT, automotive, and electricity, Aviation Start/Jamail Larkins, Career Source Southwest Florida, Women in Aviation – Southwest Florida Chapter, Charlotte County Public Works, and Suncoast Bi-Planes, among others.

“This is what education looks like when you put real opportunity in front of kids,” Bennett said. “When students meet real pilots, engineers, and innovators, the idea of a future in aviation becomes real. They realize these careers are within reach.”

A highlight of the program was AviationStart Founder Jamail Larkins, who earned his pilot’s license at 14 and is now a national aviation ambassador. Larkins visited Charlotte County middle schools before the air show to speak about aviation career paths, STEM learning, and goal setting.

The Charlotte Community Foundation funded the initiative, marking the first time a community-backed STEM education program of this size has been featured at the Air Show.

“We are committed to opening doors for the next generation,” said the Florida International Air Show president. “This partnership strengthened our community, expanded access, and gave students the chance to see themselves in high-skill, high-opportunity careers. We look forward to building on this success in future years.”

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