JENNIFER DEAN

Advocate for Childhood Sexual Assault Survivors and Pediatric Mental Health Services
Philantropist

Jennifer Dean is a philanthropist, mother, and an advocate for childhood sexual assault survivors and pediatric mental health services in Southwest Florida. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio she moved to Naples, Florida 17 years ago. Prior to moving to Southwest Florida, Jennifer’s professional background was in the pharmacy benefit management and prescription drug discount card sector. In 1998, she helped her stepfather launch MemberHealth, a PBM company that started out giving prescription drug discounts to senior citizens, that eventually evolved into the fourth largest Medicare Part D provider in the country.

Since moving to Naples, Jennifer has been heavily involved with supporting local philanthropic organizations, mostly focusing on children’s charities. In 2016, Jennifer became a board member for the Lee Health Foundation, which is one of Florida’s largest public health systems. In 2019, she became an officer and trustee, and served as Secretary of the board. Jennifer’s primary focus has been advocating for pediatric mental health services and resources for the program Kids Minds Matter through Lee Healths Golisano Children’s Hospital. Her efforts have been directed at cultivating philanthropic support and speaking to the residents of Southwest Florida on the lack of mental health services and programs for children in the region.

In the fall of 2023, Jennifer alongside her now husband Ira, a country musician, formed “Boots on the Sand” , a Hurricane Ian Benefit Relief Concert. In September of 2023, Southwest Florida and its residents were devastated by a category 4 hurricane. Together with their friends, the December 1st sold out concert was planned in 45 days and drew more than 7,000 attendees. The benefit concert raised $1.5 million dollars and the funds were distributed to volunteerFlorida and The Community Foundation of Collier, Lee and Charlotte counties.

Over the last few years, Jennifer has been an advocate for legislative change in Florida law as it relates to sexual violence restraining orders for minor victims. She helped draft and coauthor “Serena’s Law”, a bill that focused on closing a profound legal loophole in Florida law that kept perpetrators names concealed in sexual violence injunctions from public view and in background checks. In 2021, alongside her daughter who is the namesake of the bill, the legislation passed through the Florida House and Senate unanimously. The bill went into effect on July 1, 2021 after Governor Ron Desantis signed it into Florida law. Currently, Serena’s Law is back in the House and Senate with additional amendments to strengthen the law.

Jennifer has two children – Serena, 24 years old and Sonny, age 22. She currently shares her time between residences in Naples and Nashville with her husband.