Collier Children’s Advocacy Center Hosts ‘Pinwheels at the Pier’

The Collier Children’s Advocacy Center (Collier CAC) will host its annual “Pinwheels at the Pier” event Friday, April 3, at 8 a.m., at Lowdermilk Park, 1301 Gulf Shore Blvd. North, Naples. The event marks National Child Abuse Prevention Month and is free and open to the public.

Community members are invited to participate by purchasing a pinwheel in honor of a child. Pinwheels may be purchased in advance online at caccollier.org/patp, with proceeds supporting Collier CAC’s trauma-informed programs and services. Attendees may also help place pinwheels in the sand the morning of the event.

Traditionally held at the Naples Pier, this year’s event will take place at Lowdermilk Park as the Pier undergoes rebuilding. The shoreline setting continues the event’s long-standing tradition of placing pinwheels directly on the beach, where the visual impact is both striking and symbolic.

Collier CAC staff and volunteers will place more than 1,400 pinwheels in the sand as a symbol and visible reminder that child abuse happens here in Collier County and that prevention requires community awareness and action. Now in its 10th year, the event has become the largest pinwheel display in the U.S. and the only one held directly on the beach.

Each year, the pinwheels are arranged in a unique design, symbolizing hope, healing, and the resilience of the children served by Collier CAC.

“Pinwheels are a powerful symbol of the childhood every child deserves,” said Jackie Stephens, CEO of Collier CAC. “This display reflects what is possible when a community comes together to advocate for safer environments and brighter futures for children.”

Collier CAC volunteers will be available on the beach to answer questions about the organization’s services, which include forensic interviews, medical evaluations, therapy, court advocacy, and parent education, all provided free of charge.