Valerie's House tells Fort Myers council it serves hundreds of local children and holds option to buy land in 2026

Angela Melvin, identified in the meeting agenda as founder and CEO of Valerie's House Inc., presented the organization's annual report to the City of Fort Myers City Council and outlined program growth and stewardship of donated land.

Melvin said the nonprofit opened a permanent facility in November 2019 on land donated under a 50-year lease for $1 per year and noted the group has an option to purchase that land in 2026 "for what it was worth at the time." She told the council Valerie's House now supports programs across the state and is "about a $3,000,000 organization now" including four locations. Melvin described the local facility as roughly 7,500 square feet with 21 rooms and said about "971 kids came through Valerie's House, just in Fort Myers in 2024." She added the organization has begun an in-house counseling arm with five licensed therapists and runs youth and young-adult grief groups at no cost to families.

The presentation stressed that Valerie's House remains largely privately funded, with one local grant partnership noted. Melvin framed the program as a preventive investment: without grief supports she said children are more likely to face long-term harms, including addiction or contact with juvenile services. "Without Valerie's house, kids and families are often left to grieve in silence like I was," she said.

Council members thanked Melvin for the report and noted history with the project's early pitch events. The mayor and council did not take a formal vote on the presentation, but council members asked staff to continue annual reporting as required under the city's municipal land-lease agreement.

The presentation materials included program metrics, a lease summary (50-year lease; option to purchase in 2026), service counts for 2024 and a statement that the organization is "100% privately funded" aside from the Lee County partnership grant referenced in the presentation.