Collaboratory presented Gail Markham, founding partner of Markham Norton Mosteller Wright & Co., with the prestigious John W. Sheppard Award.
“I cannot think of someone more deserving of this award,” said Dawn Belamarich, president and CEO of Collaboratory. “She is the true definition of servant leadership. Her commitment to philanthropy in our community will leave a legacy that will have ripple effects for generations to come.”
Named after a founder of the Southwest Florida Community Foundation, the John W. Sheppard Award is given to outstanding trustees who have given selfless dedication to humanity and made significant contributions to the foundation. Past recipients include John Sheppard, David Lucas, Peter Kleist, Arnold Sarlo, Frank Bireley, Jim Nathan, Sam Galloway, Jr., Tom Smoot, David G. Robinson, Bill Frey, Gene Solomon, Dawn-Marie Driscoll, Jay Brett and Patricia Dobbins.
“I am grateful and humbled by this award,” Markham said. “I have always been a fan of Johnny Sheppard and his selfless dedication to humanity, as well as our Southwest Florida Community Foundation, and then Collaboratory. I am proud to be recognized in association with his legacy.”
Markham currently serves as Collaboratory Board Chair and has participated on the board since 2016. She has been recognized for being an outstanding community leader on many occasions. Her accounting firm, which she began as a sole practitioner in 1979, has consistently ranked as one of Florida’s best companies to work for by Florida Trend magazine.
She is the founder and former chair of the Lee County PACE Center for Girls; sits on the FGCU Foundation Board of Directors and Finance committee and is chair/advisory board member of the Lee County Industrial Development Authority.
ABOUT COLLABORATORY
Collaboratory is a regional community foundation with an evolved mission committed to coordinating the solving of Southwest Florida’s major social problems by 2040. Not alone, but with everyone—the entire community working together across all five counties: Lee, Hendry, Glades, Charlotte and Collier.
Collaboratory provides community leadership, raises and coordinates funding, and disburses funds to organizations that are helping solve the problems our donors and the community have identified as priorities. Collaboratory also provides capacity building with training and resources for regional partners. Given the complexities of the social challenges in our region, Collaboratory ensures we are all working together and that every generous donor achieves the biggest impact with their funds. By using and sharing data to track progress, we ensure that donor dollars are best invested to move the needle on improving social issues.
Connection and collaboration are at the heart of our mission. Since 1976, we have made over $130 million in grants to individuals and organizations across the region to enhance the quality of life for current and future generations. It is upon that legacy of a commitment to community we will collectively achieve our 2040 goal. To learn more and get involved, call 239-274-5900 or visit www.collaboratory.org.
