GALA DETAILS

Suzanne Fruendt and Valarie DeHooghe, Event Chairs

Freedom Waters Foundation is celebrating 19 years! Over these years the organization has been dedicated to enhancing the lives of individuals with disabilities and veterans by providing therapeutic boat experiences.

Over the last few years, we both came to know Freedom Waters Foundation through friends. We love and appreciate the incredible changes that occur for all who have the opportunity to experience the natural healing that happens by simply being near and on the water!

Ko’Olina, the Polynesian word for, A Place of Joy, our theme for the 11th Annual Kind Mariners Ball, encapsulates perfectly the spirit of Freedom Waters Foundation.

None of this would be possible without the hard work from the staff, volunteers, and the funds raised from the Kind Mariners Ball to keep it going. We are all truly blessed to live or spend time in such a special place like Naples. There is water all around us, as well as so many individuals in need that can benefit from what the Freedom Waters Foundation does.

We ask that you find it in your hearts to donate generously to this year’s Kind Mariners Ball. Whether it be in auction items, paddle raises, or private donations to this impactful charity. We can assure you that every dollar counts towards the lives that are forever changed through Freedom Waters Foundation.

We are blessed to be a part of such a joyful charity and truly appreciate your generosity to this year’s Ko’Olina, A Place of Joy.

Suzanne Fruendt and Valarie DeHooghe

2024 Well Dunn Award Recipients

David and Linda Ramos

David Ramos, is a First Sergeant of the Army with 41 years of military service (6 active duty and the remainder in the Army’s National Guard). David is extremely respected in the veteran community. He performs Military Honors with a local VFW, here in Naples, which he also did throughout his last 10 years in the service. After retiring from the Army, he spent over 30 years between General Motors and American Airlines.

David came to Freedom Waters Foundation with his incredible wife as a participant, years ago. Soon after, he became one of our Lead volunteers.

And, Linda, oh, Linda… As David got more involved with Freedom Waters Foundation, he whispered to me to get his wife involved. And, I am so grateful we have. Linda is Freedom Waters Foundation’s much appreciated, unpaid employee.

Linda graduated from St. John’s University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Logistics Management and worked in that field for over 38 years, retiring from Unilever.

Linda spends a couple of days a week in our office. She knows our database system better than I do and even helped train our staff and other volunteers on how to use it.

David and Linda have been volunteering for us since 2017, over 7 years now. And, have even, at their own expense, travelled to our Weller Day Boat Outings in Georgia and Indiana to help us there too, in the last three years.

When asking them about Freedom Waters Foundation, they respond, “it has become part of our lives and we enjoy the satisfaction of contributing to the mission, serving children with special needs, veterans, and their families.