Youth-focused nonprofit adds two board members

FORT MYERS — Two elected officials have been added to the board of directors of the Uncommon Friends Foundation. Fort Myers Ward 4 Councilman Kevin Anderson and Lee County School Board member Melisa Giovannelli have joined the leadership of the 26-year-old nonprofit dedicated to character-building of youth and business leaders, according to a statement. 

After a 24-year career with the Fort Myers Police Department, Anderson is a senior support operations manager at Chico’s FAS. As a police officer, he was one of the first assigned to FMPD’s School Resource Officer program. He also served three years in the US Army. In addition to serving on the school board, Giovannelli is a life-long Lee County resident and a Realtor with Riverside Realty Group, the release states. 

In addition to its character development mission, Uncommon Friends Foundation oversees historic preservation of the Burroughs Home and Gardens in downtown Fort Myers and the James Newton Archives.