January 2023 Newsletter
/Leadership Sanibel-Captiva Program Inspires Community Engagement, Unity
Creating a leadership program for Sanibel and Captiva like those run by surrounding communities seemed like a great idea when leaders of Charitable Foundation of the Islands (CFI) conceived it a couple of years ago.
Engaging new leaders on sanibel and captiva.
Yet no one could have known just how valuable the 2022 Leadership Sanibel-Captiva Program would prove to be when, just six months after the session concluded, Hurricane Ian’s fury lashed the region, causing unprecedented destruction on the islands.
Now, as residents, businesses and nonprofit organizations work to restore and rebuild, members of the inaugural leadership class are among those taking the lead.
One of the goals of the program is to identify the next generation of leaders on the island.
Depth of talent and a volunteer culture exists on the islands.
Update: Nonprofit Employee Assistance Program Distributes $150K to 60 Employees ($50K to Come)
Employees of our nonprofit partners struggling to recover from Hurricane Ian are expected to receive $50,000 in grants in the coming weeks, adding to the $100,000 already awarded.
To date, more than 60 employees have received some $150,000 in grants, with the remainder expected to be distributed by March 1. Longstanding CFI partner, F.I.S.H. Social Services of SanCap, is administering the program.
The success of the Nonprofit Employee Assistance Program is due to the tremendous generosity of our donors. They are giving not just to this initiative but to many others with the goal of accelerating our Islands’ recovery. Thank you for your support!
Here’s What the Program Recipients are Saying:
“This will be a great start to recouping my losses. As a renter, my insurance did not cover much. Being able to focus my mind and energy toward the cleanup has been helping me cope. I’m single, and it has been difficult to replace what was lost.”
“This assistance will help us towards everything we lost in our home from clothes to appliances. We are rebuilding our lives from scratch and will need all the help we can get.”
“We are scrambling to fix up our home that was flooded while also grieving the loss of my only grandparent after she fell, endured multiple fractures, became septic and eventually lost the battle.I can help alleviate some of the heavy burden of repairs and funeral expenses.”
Thank You for Your Service!
Our Board of Directors Members give so much of their time, expertise, and heart to our causes. A special thank you goes out to these three members whose terms have ended in December 2022. Your contribution has made a difference!
Ralph Clark
Ralph served in multiple roles since the Foundation's inception including Board Secretary and most recently Chair of the Sanibel-Captiva Leadership Program.
Virginia Stringer
Virginia served as Grants Committee Chair overseeing the capacity building grants program. She also served as Vice Chair and most recently as Co-Chair of the Board.
Chris Heidrick
Chris most recently served as the Nominating and Governance Chair and played a major role in revising the organization's bylaws. During his tenure, Chris also participated in the grants committee.