COMMUNITY

“From our hearts, through our hands”

The Thomas Riley Artisans’ Guild family is committed to giving back to our local community and to those in need. Here you will find highlights of our commitment to the community in which we are fortunate to live and work. From mentoring local youth and teaching them our trade, to creating furniture masterpieces for auction at the Naples Winter Wine Festival to benefit the NCEF, to helping our friends in the neighboring impoverished community of Immokalee build a sanctuary and community center, our team consistently shares time, talents and treasures with the less fortunate. If you have a need or a non-profit organization that you think may fit within our outreach guidelines, please contact our Community Liaison, Danielle Poff, at danielle-poff@thomasriley.net for consideration.

In this section, we also showcase noteworthy highlights from internal happenings at Thomas Riley Artisans’ Guild such as newly finished projects, editorial coverage, employee anniversaries, and other significant events.

Champions For Learning Announces Tom Riley as 2017-2018 Heart of the Apple Recipient →

(November 9, 2017 – Naples, FL) Champions For Learning is proud to announce that Tom Riley has been named the 2017-2018 Heart of the Apple Award recipient for the significant impact he has made in Collier County. Riley is Founder & Chairman of Thomas Riley Artisans’ Guild – a fine interior woodworking company that has been committed to local youth and education since its inception.

Each year, Champions For Learning awards a Heart of the Apple in recognition of sustained and committed leadership in support of building the culture of learning in our community through the mission of Champions For Learning.

Riley’s commitment to “nothing less than monumental” in every endeavor, includes his dedication to education in the community. He has provided internships and opened his workshop to thousands of students through programs that demonstrate the importance of hard work, respect and passion. Riley has also supported the Golden Apple program by donating his and his team’s time and talent to create the hand-carved lecterns and stage setting that is used at the annual event to this day. Over the years, Riley has contributed the work of his team of artisans to support the Champions For Learning mission.

Susan McManus, President, Champions For Learning, says, “We are proud to honor Tom who has had a lasting commitment to our educators and students. He has shown great support of education through his involvement with Golden Apple. Tom’s passion to help support local teachers and students truly embodies the Heart of the Apple Award.”

Thank you to Tom Riley for helping to connect students to their future.

The Heart of the Apple and the Golden Apple recipients will be honored at the 28th Annual Golden Apple Celebration of Teachers Dinner presented by Suncoast Credit Union on April 16, 2018, at the Naples Grande Beach Resort. Opportunities to sponsor a school to attend the event are available. For more information on event sponsorships and ticket sales go to www.ChampionsForLearning.org/GA

About Champions For Learning™

Champions For Learning™, the education foundation in Collier County is an independent, community-based, non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization that makes it possible for our community to impact lives by enriching the environment for student learning through educators and directly with students. The organization has been awarded a four star rating for sound fiscal management and commitment to accountability and transparency by Charity Navigator. The Education Foundation of Collier County (Champions For Learning) has been ranked among one of the top 25 education foundations in a national study. Become a Champion for Learning and visit www.ChampionsForLearning.org.

Educational Programs

July 1, 2017

Our artisans created beautiful hand-carved art nouveau lecterns for the Champions for Learning’s Golden Apple teacher recognition awards ceremony. We expanded this donation to also include a stage set and pedestal for the event as well as Leave a Legacy recognition boards for their lobby. In addition to our involvement with the foundation, we also regularly open our doors to local elementary, middle and high school students. These students receive hands-on training or warehouse tours from Thomas Riley Artisans’ Guild master artisans. Our educational programs are designed to demonstrate the importance of hard work, respect, precision to detail, and passion for one’s craft. Such programs have made an overwhelmingly positive impact on students and on our staff, and we are humbled by the vast local and state recognition that we have received for our efforts.

Immokalee Church of the Nazarene Announces Building Dedication

February 19, 2017

Immokalee, FL— March 1, 2017 — Immokalee Church of the Nazarene (ICN) held an official dedication at worship services on Sunday, February 19, 2017. The church dedicated the 7800 square foot facility with over two hundred church members, guests and financial supporters in attendance.

Presenters at the event shared Rev. Jean C. Paul’s “dream” to build a worship and outreach center in the rural town located in northeastern Collier County Florida. Reverend Paul has served the church since 1987 when just a few parishioners were in attendance. As the church grew in membership, so did the demand to expand to a bigger place of worship. In December of 2000, Tom Riley, founder of Thomas Riley Artisans’ Guild in Naples, visited the church and discussed Rev. Paul’s ambitions. In 2004, ICN purchased property with plans to renovate and expand a facility to become the home of ICN. For the next 12 years, church leaders and supporters raised funds and developed plans for the site. In September 2016, another location and opportunity presented itself and led to the now permanent home of ICN at 1207 Carson Road in Immokalee.

“It is an honor to see such a beautiful facility that allows the dream of my good friend Jean Paul to become a reality,” commented Tom Riley. Riley added, “The dream was to have a worship sanctuary, a fellowship hall, a kitchen, classrooms and a playground for the church’s youth. Although it took longer than we had hoped, and despite the long and difficult economic recession we’ve all been through, the dream has come true!”

Attendees at the event were served Haitian Creole food in fellowship hall and outside under a large tent. In the church sanctuary, church members shared stories, songs, and praises while visiting congregations also performed prearranged songs and messages. The district superintendent delivered his remarks and church leaders were also presented with recognition for their service over the years. Tom Riley, his family, and employees of Thomas Riley Artisans’ Guild were also commended for their years of support.

Immokalee Church of the Nazarene

Immokalee—located just 30 minutes from coastal Naples—is home to thousands of working poor who supply agricultural produce for much of the nation. The Immokalee Church of the Nazarene (ICN) is a haven for many families in Immokalee. The growing ICN congregation, who has very little, has raised a substantial amount of funds for the building of a new ICN sanctuary and community outreach center. Tom Riley is committed to helping raise the remaining funds needed to fulfill this dream for ICN and the people of Immokalee. Thomas Riley Artisans’ Guild annually supports this less fortunate community. For eight years, the company and employees have purchased turkeys and donated funds through the “Turkey Time” program in November. Numerous toys, books, stuffed animals and bicycles have been purchased for and distributed to our Immokalee friends over the last 11 years during the December holiday season.

United Arts Council Stars in the Arts

February 2, 2017

Moe's Run

Since 2014, Thomas Riley Artisans’ Guild has participated in the annual Greater Naples Moe’s corporate fundraiser that benefits the Shelter for Abused Women in Naples, Florida. Businesses and participants donate funds and run/walk the three mile course. The festivities conclude with dinner at Moe’s. For more information about the fundraiser, visit http://gcrunner.org/MoesCorporate.html and to learn more about the shelter, please go to https://naplesshelter.org.

Thank you, Paul Francioli

July 1, 2016

After nearly 25 years of unwavering commitment to Thomas Riley Artisans’ Guild as director of our finishing team, Paul Francioli and his family are relocating. It would be impossible to adequately describe Paul’s importance in the success of Thomas Riley Artisans’ Guild, both in the quality of product created under Paul’s supervision and the culture in which this work has been performed. As a family and a company, we are extremely appreciative for Paul and wish him and his family the best is this next chapter of their lives.

An interesting fact, Paul is the oldest nephew of Tom Riley and cousin to Matt and Ben Riley

Naples Winter Wine Festival

January 30, 2016

The Naples Winter Wine Festival is an annual charity auction which benefits the Naples Children & Educations Foundation. Each year, Thomas Riley Artisans’ Guild contributes to the auction by donating a one-of-a-kind furniture piece. This year, we created a beautiful, custom standing bar height table in collaboration with Opus One. The table features a solid slab of Tasmanian Rose Mytle with solid Walnut inlays and a polished stainless steel base with the iconic Opus One logo silhouette. See more photos here…