The 49th annual Naples St. Patrick’s Day Parade has tapped Warrior Homes of Collier founder and president Dale Mullin as grand marshal for the 2025 event. 

A Vietnam War veteran and retired Fortune 500 executive, Mullin founded the nonprofit a decade ago with a mission of ensuring that no Collier County veteran in need is left behind. In the past five years, the organization has opened six homes for veterans in Naples, with 39 available beds serving a total of 87  residents ranging in age from 33 to 91. 

The parade will take place on Saturday, March 15, at 11 a.m. in downtown Naples, preceded by a 9:30 a.m. flag-raising at Crayton Cove to honor local members of the military, veterans and public safety personnel. For more information, visit https://www.naplesparade.com/. 

“As an event with a long history of supporting those who served our country with duty and honor, the parade considers Warrior Homes of Collier an ideal partner,” said Patrick Kirk, chief parade marhal of The Naples St. Patrick Foundation, Inc., the parade’s nonprofit organizer. “We look forward to working together to help spread the word about this life-changing organization as it strives to end veteran homelessness in our community.” 

After nearly a half-century, the Naples parade draws over 40,000 people each year to celebrate Irish heritage and culture, making it the largest privately-funded parade in the state – and rivaling larger events in places like Boston, Chicago and New York with its community focus. In recent years, the parade foundation has donated over $200,000 to local high school bands and scholarships. 

Warrior Homes of Collier currently operates six residences for local veterans: Alpha House, a short-term, transitional home for those in recovery from substance use disorders; Bravo and Charlie Houses, which serve seniors on fixed incomes who receive rent subsidies (known as supportive housing); Delta House, a supportive housing complex with 10 apartments for up to 20 veterans, both men and women; and Echo and Fox Trot Houses, a pair of neighboring single-family homes leased from Collier County that also provide supportive housing. 

Beyond providing a roof over their heads, Warrior Homes of Collier also connects veterans with support services such as mental health counseling and peer support, as well as educational opportunities, including college scholarships, and employment. Residents pay rent on a sliding scale, but never more than 30% of their income. 

Warrior Homes of Collier’s footprint could potentially expand even further in 2025, Mullin noted, with Collier County seeking a $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) dedicated to housing veterans. A decision on that grant application could be made as soon as this spring.