Priority Marketing’s April 2024 Client Headlines Report recaps news stories that you should read, watch or hear before the month ends.
The firm’s award-winning Public Relations Team helps clients and partners earn media coverage in newspapers and magazines, on television and radio, and on blogs, social media and websites. At the end of each month, the PR Team combs through hundreds of local, national and international news headlines to create its informative Client Headlines Report.
Below are just some of the many important stories that were published or aired in April 2024.
BOOKMARK IT: Client News Feed
A new place to watch flicks, socialize
Texas-based theater chain Alamo Drafthouse Cinema partnered with Priority Marketing to announce its first Florida location, Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Naples. The venue also includes Alamo’s first mini golf course with the opening of HappyLand Movie Miniature Golf.
Priority Marketing helped announce the opening date and hiring opportunities, as well as execute a grand opening event, media preview tours and interviews, VIP mixer and film screenings. The firm also provided social media support.
ABC7: More Explores: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
Naples Daily News: New movie theater replaces Silverspot in Mercato
1428 Elm: A new Alamo Drafthouse Cinema is opening in Naples, Florida, and it comes complete with Mini-Golf!
Box Office Pro: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema to open First Florida location on April 29th
WINK: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema to open April 29 in Naples
Florida Weekly: Tickets on sale for theater’s opening week
Gulfshore Business: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema hiring positions for new Naples cinema-eatery
Business Observer: Alamo Drafthouse looks to hire 45 people for new Naples location
B103.9: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in Naples sets opening date
Naples Daily News: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema opens at Mercato
Florida Weekly: Society: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema hosts Movies on the Lawn series at Mercato
New locations debut at home, abroad
Several Priority Marketing clients celebrated new beginnings in recent weeks, including:
Wickies Lighthouse Restaurant is now open on Sanibel Island and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner along with a full bar and signature drinks. The new establishment is a partnership formed between the owners of the iconic Island Cow and Mad Hatter restaurants. Wickies, the nickname given to lighthouse keepers, has a fresh menu and décor that is casual and approachable, yet also elegant. Wickies is adjacent to Magic Bus Ice Cream & Caffeine, a vintage VW-inspired ice cream shop and candy store that also offers modern coffee beverages, refresher drinks and baked goods.
The News-Press: Restaurant openings: Wickies Lighthouse Restaurant
FOX4: Double celebrations: Two more Sanibel restaurants open for business
Santiva Chronicle: SanCap Chamber cuts ribbons at two restaurants in one day
Gulfshore Business: Wickies Lighthouse Restaurant opens on the east end of Sanibel
Call It Closed International Realty, the only international, cloud-based, 100% commission brokerage with a multi-tiered revenue sharing platform, opened a new London location that provides prospective British buyers with access to a robust network of several hundred Call It Closed agents and brokers across the country. The office serves U.S. vacation-home buyers from abroad.
Business Observer: Naples real estate brokerage, already in 18 states, expands to UK
SWFL Business Today: Call It Closed International Realty expands to U.K.
Estate Agent Today: US agency crosses the pond to target British buyers
The Sanibel Captiva Trust Company continued its expansion across Florida’s west coast with the opening of its seventh office, a two-story office building at Bell Tower in Fort Myers with plenty of room for growth. The 10,520-square-foot office building is convenient for the firm’s growing base of clients in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Estero and Bonita Springs. Meanwhile, the firm hosted a grand opening of its newly renovated office on Sanibel.
SWFL Business Today: Sanibel Captiva Trust Company opens its seventh office
Santiva Chronicle: Trust Company hosts grand opening for new Sanibel office
Naples-based First US Warranty, which provides customized finance and insurance programs, administration and training to the automotive industry, has launched nationwide. The business offers vehicle service contracts, limited warranties, gap insurance, pre-paid maintenance, tire and wheel protection, appearance protection, dent and ding protection, key replacement, windshield protection, bundle programs, excess wear and tear, theft deterrents, and virtual finance and insurance (F & I) offering.
Above Board Chamber: Naples-based First US Warranty launches nationwide
Guadalupe Center and Collier Community Foundation joined leaders from social services agencies, government organizations and local businesses to dedicate the new Guadalupe Center Resource Hub, a centrally located storage and distribution center to support families in need.
NBC2: Guadalupe Center opens warehouse to support underprivileged families in Immokalee
Noticias WINK: Nuevo almacén de donaciones de Guadalupe Center en Immokalee
A ‘Wonder-ful’ agreement for historic attraction
The City of Bonita Springs approved a renewable public-private partnership operating agreement with the Wonder Gardens for a period of 10 years. The City, which owns the 3.5 acres that house the historic attraction, will receive $50,000 a year in rent and the Wonder Gardens will provide capital improvements of $3 million or more over the 10-year term. Additionally, any naming rights, subleases and property improvements will require City approval.
WINK: Wonder Gardens and Bonita Springs sign 10-year partnership
The News-Press: Wonder Gardens signs 10-year agreement to run, update ‘community treasure’ in Bonita Springs
Florida Weekly: Wonder Gardens solidifies partnership with City of Bonita Springs
Hole-in-one nets golfer a sweet ride
The Bobby Nichols Fiddlesticks Charity Foundation generated a fundraising record of nearly $1.8 million at the 22nd annual Nichols Cup Pro-Am Golf Tournament, but local children’s charities were not the only ones celebrating.
Golfer Mary Ruth Geny only needed one shot to hole out on hole number 6, which was sponsored by Porsche Fort Myers as this year’s par 3 hole-in-one challenge. That meant for the first time in tournament history, a golfer would win the grand prize – a two-year lease to a 2024 Porsche Macan. Priority Marketing provided a two-phase approach to post-event public relations, first focusing on the fundraising impact of the event before shifting to feature coverage of the hole-in-one.
The News-Press: Driving in style: Golfer wins Porsche with hole-in-one on Fort Myers course
Above Board Chamber: Golfer wins new Porsche with hole-in-one at 22nd annual Nichols Cup Pro-Am Golf Tournament
Record donations lead to record distributions
The Naples Children & Education Foundation distributed a record $33.2 million to more than 50 nonprofit organizations following its 2024 Naples Winter Wine Festival. Among this year’s recipients were five clients of Priority Marketing, including Early Learning Coalition of SWFL, Healthcare Network, Golisano Children’s Hospital, NAMI Collier and Guadalupe Center.
Gulfshore Business: NCEF awards $33M in grants to more than 50 nonprofit groups
Florida Weekly: NCEF invests record $33.2M in local at-risk children organizations
Business Observer: Naples charity wine fest invests a record $33.2M in nonprofits
Haute Living: Naples Children & Education Foundation Invests a Record $33.2 Million
Grants bring life-saving devices to local classrooms
Child Care of Southwest Florida received two grants from the Claiborne and Ned Foulds Foundation and The Wawa Foundation to help install automated external defibrillator (AED) devices in all five of its early learning centers. Lee County Certs, in partnership with the American Heart Association, provided training on the AEDs. Priority Marketing’s PR team helped announce the grants through a news release and provided video for use by television media.
ABC7: Child Care of Southwest Florida installs AED devices in early learning centers
Cape Coral Breeze: Child Care of Southwest Florida receives grants to install AED devices at early learning centers
Success brings second day of second chances
Better Together’s Nationwide Day of Second Chances has grown so much that the nonprofit expanded the event to two days in multiple locations. The organization partnered with churches nationwide to host simultaneous job fairs dedicated to supporting job seekers who face employment barriers such as past incarceration, employment gaps or lack of childcare. Priority Marketing helped Better Together reach church and community partners through news releases, guest commentaries and media pitches.
The News-Press: Everyone deserves a second chance
The Christian Post: Churches host job fairs to help the formerly incarcerated get their ‘second chance’
The Christian Post: Criminal record, mental illness hindering job search? Second chance here
South Florida Sun Sentinel: Giving a second chance to neighbors who need it | Opinion
LEX18 (Kentucky): Job fair offers second chances, breaks down employment barriers
Hitting a seven-figure milestone in seven years
In 2017, Tommy Bohanon – a former NFL fullback and North Fort Myers High School graduate – started a foundation aimed at helping local youth reach their potential on and off the field. The initial goal was to raise $1 million in 10 years. Recently, the Tommy Bohanon Foundation celebrated early success, hitting that fundraising milestone in just seven years.
WINK: Tommy Bohanon Foundation reaches $1 million goal
North Fort Myers Neighbor: Tommy Bohanon Foundation reaches $1 million milestone
Awards and honors: Client recognitions
Priority Marketing helps clients share the good news when they win awards and accolades. Below are recent awards that caught our PR team’s attention:
- The Jewish Federation of Greater Naples honored local residents and organizations making a difference with its annual Power of Community awards. NAMI Collier was among this year’s honorees, winning the Human Needs Award, which acknowledges positive contributions of small nonprofit organizations serving severely means-limited disadvantaged populations.
- The University of Florida and its Alumni Association honored Elite Jets of Naples and alumnus Stephen Myers, Class of 1987, as one of the state’s fastest-growing, Gator-led businesses. The Gator 100 annually recognizes business owners, leaders and entrepreneurs who are successful University of Florida graduates.
- Pace Center for Girls, Lee named Constance White-Davis, Deanna Hansen and Fran Myers as honorees of its 2024 Grande Dames Tea, an event that honors women who exemplify the organization’s guiding principles and have made a significant impact through their roles in business, community and philanthropy.
- United Way of Lee, Hendry, and Glades is receiving the 2024 Public/Private Achievement Award for outstanding efforts serving the Southwest Florida community during Hurricane Ian and its aftermath. The Governor’s Hurricane Conference will present the award in May.
- At its annual Playmakers Tailgate Party, the Tommy Bohanon Foundation honored Mark and Mary Thomas with the 2024 Most Valuable Player Award and Off Duty Fishing Series with the 2024 Team Player of the Year Award.
New faces in new places: Promotions and appointments
Congratulations to the following individuals who were recently hired, promoted or awarded additional responsibilities by client partners that Priority Marketing serves:
- Clarity Wealth: Evan Jones, head of investment management.
- Better Together: Kayla Palacios, vice president of operations.
- Worthington Realty: Christine Shipman, property manager, and Laura Shipman, assistant property manager.
- Precision Healthcare Specialists: Dr. Todd Lindquist, otolaryngologist.
- The Sanibel Captiva Trust Company: Christopher D. Morgan, portfolio management team.
Do you need a Public Relations Team to help tell your story? Please give us a call today at 239-267-2638 or send an email to LetsTalk@PriorityMarketing.com.
