FORT MYERS, Fla. - TelAve -- Dr. Ramon Gil recently turned his birthday celebration into a grassroots event raising awareness and financial support for A.N.A.'s Friends, a nonprofit serving Southwest Florida children and teens who have been abused, neglected and abandoned.

Gil, a Port Charlotte-based neurologist, hosted the event at his home in Charlotte County, where a curated guest list of 40 friends, colleagues and family members celebrated the doctor's 67^th birthday. Guests learned about the difficult circumstances that youth in foster care experience daily and how "friends" like them can enhance programs and services that help children heal, grow and thrive.

"Our 'friends' include generous, compassionate individuals like Dr. Gil, as well as businesses, foundations and nonprofits that recognize there are thousands of vulnerable children in Southwest Florida who need our help," said A.N.A.'s Friends CEO Jessica Stanfield. "A lot of nonprofits in our region, including A.N.A.'s Friends, do not have the luxury of hosting million-dollar galas to support their mission, but grassroots events like this go a long way in helping further our goal of providing stability and comfort to children whose lives are filled with change and uncertainty."

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A.N.A.'s Friends aims to create a sense of normalcy for children in the dependency court system. One of nonprofits' largest programs, the Children's Needs Program, is a request-based initiative that supports immediate and long-term needs, covering the costs of clothing, tutoring, prom, graduation, therapies and other expenses. A.N.A.'s Comfort Closet supplies tangible needs like diapers, hygiene supplies, toys, books, clothing items, beds and more. Heartfelt Hangouts are group outings positioned to give children and teens fond memories of their childhood while connecting with peers in similar circumstances.

Gil, an honorary board member of A.N.A.'s Friends, leads the Parkinson's Disease Treatment Center of Southwest Florida, a practice based in Port Charlotte that supports patients with Parkinson's and other neurological disorders. Gil's birthday celebration raised $19,300 to support A.N.A.'s Friends.

To learn more about opportunities to support vulnerable children and teens in Southwest Florida, please call 239-245-7787 or visit ANAsfriends.org.

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About A.N.A.'s Friends

A.N.A.'s Friends is a nonprofit organization that provides programs and services to vulnerable Southwest Florida children and teens who have been Abused, Neglected and Abandoned (A.N.A.). "Friends" of the organization includes individuals, businesses, foundations and nonprofits that collaborate through partnerships that provide a safer, more nurturing environment allowing youth to heal, grow and thrive. Originally founded in 1984, A.N.A.'s Friends is a United Way Partner Agency that serves youth in the dependency court system across Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades counties. For more information, please visit ANAsfriends.org or call 239-245-7787.