Leading Ladies
“I AM FOCUSING ON MY THREE MOST IMPORTANT ENDEAVORS OF ALL—WHAT IS REALLY AFFECTING THE LIVES OF NOT JUST OUR COMMUNITY BUT OUR COUNTRY.”
SUSAN STIELOW
She snow skis, burns up the dance floor, golfs, and plays bridge. She begins each year with plans to learn something new or travel to a bucket-list destination. There’s little that philanthropist Susan Stielow can’t or won’t tackle.
Stielow serves as a trustee of the Naples Children & Education Foundation, which raises funds through the Naples Winter Wine Festival; she’s also a member of the Naples Botanical Garden’s Sustaining Leadership Council and an ardent supporter of the David Lawrence Center. For her latest project, she’s working with Naples landscape designer Ellin Goetz to create a children’s garden at Trinity-by-the-Cove Episcopal Church.
Children’s development, the environment, drug addiction, and mental health issues are on the forefront locally and nationally, she says. “I am focusing on my three most important endeavors of all—what is really affecting the lives of not just our community but our country. It’s important to focus where I put my time to be most effective.”
The garden’s Sustaining Leadership Council is responsible for planning major fundraisers and events, such as Hats in the Garden and
