Saturday, November 14, 2026
From left: Fred Wakelin (YMCA Board Member), Lucinda “Cindy” Love (YMCA President & CEO), Richard Tamer (YMCA Operations Director), Rebecca Battles, Agustina Buedo Castellanos (Regine Sixt Children's Aid Foundation DRYING LITTLE TEARS), Michael “Mick” Moore (YMCA Board Chair/CVO).
Michael "Mick" Moore, with the help of Lucinda "Cindy" Love-Abounader, cut the ceremonial ribbon to officially open the YMCA Playground.
Special recognition from the office of Rep. Byron Donalds. From left: Lucinda “Cindy” Love (YMCA President & CEO), Lara McKeever (Director of Community Relations, Office of Rep. Byron Donalds) Reilly Smith, Whitney Goodrich and Kyle Keith (YMCA team members).
Members of the North Naples Rotary Club laying down mulch on the new playground.
YMCA Board of Directors, YMCA President & CEO, present the “Above & Beyond Partner Award” to the Regine Sixt Children's Aid Foundation DRYING LITTLE TEARS. From left: Bill Gaston, Fred Wakelin, Mark Ryczek (YMCA Board Members), Lucinda “Cindy” Love (YMCA President & CEO), Agustina Buedo Castellanos and Rebecca Battles (Regine Sixt Children's Aid Foundation DRYING LITTLE TEARS), Michael “Mick” Moore (YMCA Board Chair/CVO).
Rebecca Battles (Regine Sixt Children's Aid Foundation DRYING LITTLE TEARS), Children from the Early Learning Center enjoying their new playground.
The YMCA of Collier County held a successful ribbon-cutting ceremony last month, marking the grand opening of their newly completed playground, surprising the children as they started their school day. Thanks to the generous donation of the Regine Sixt Children's Aid Foundation (RSCAF) “DRYING LITTLE TEARS,” and Naples North Rotary Club, this dream has become a reality.
Cindy Love-Abounader, President and CEO of the YMCA of Collier County said, “This newly constructed playground will offer children the opportunity to engage in physical activity, make cherished memories, and create lasting friendships while fostering a holistic development in children.” Love-Abounader went on to express her deep and sincere gratitude to the leaders of the RSCAF for the Foundation’s “generous contribution that gave life to the new playground.”
Mick Moore, the Chairman of the Board of the YMCA of Collier County praised the collaborative effort that produced such an amazing playground. “NCEF facilitated the connection between the RSCAF and the YMCA and members of the North Naples Rotary Club spent hours on a hot Saturday morning unloading and spreading 1,100 bags of mulch, that were specially treated for children’s playgrounds, placing the finishing touches on the playground. The effort of all three groups made this dream come true and now hundreds of children will enjoy the fruits of this remarkable and collaborative effort.”
During the ceremony, the YMCA was honored to receive special recognition from Congressman Byron Donalds. This acknowledgment further highlights the YMCA's dedication to making a positive impact on the lives of children and families in Collier County.
For more information about the YMCA and its programs, please contact please call 239-394-9622 or visit https://ymcacollier.org.
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