Bank of the Islands to sponsor the 2025 Opening and Closing Sessions Of the CFI Leadership Sanibel-Captiva Program
/Charitable Foundation of the Islands (CFI) announces that Bank of the Islands has been named the sponsor for the Opening and Closing Sessions of the 2025 Leadership Sanibel-Captiva Program.
“The Bank of the Islands is thrilled to sponsor the Opening and Closing Sessions for the Leadership Sanibel-Captiva Program,” says Robbie Roepstorff, President of Bank of the Islands. “Our community’s success hinges upon our engagement with these emerging leaders. The CFI Leadership Program does just that, and it also helps keep the island's history alive and share the community values we all treasure.”
The invitation-only Opening Session will take place on January 7 at the Sanibel Community House, with special guests and presenters Porter Goss and Chauncey Goss. The 15 members of the Leadership Sanibel-Captiva Class of 2025, the program’s 2022 and 2024 alumni, the CFI Board of Directors, and community advisors will attend. The Closing Session is set for April 29.
The Opening Session will feature City of Sanibel’s first mayor, Porter Goss, in a question-and-answer dialogue with his son and CFI Board member Chauncey Goss.
“The goal of the CFI Leadership Program is to engage passionate individuals and nurture their understanding of the Islands,” says Dolly Farrell, CFI Executive Director. “CFI helps them identify volunteer positions in the community that interest them so they can step into high-leadership roles and serve on nonprofit and community boards.”
CFI launched the program in 2021, and it has already shown results. Twenty-four members have completed the program, and more than 1/2 now serve in leadership roles in local nonprofit organizations and civic groups.
The class will participate in six immersion days to gain in-depth knowledge of how the Islands function. The program culminates on April 29 with a “graduation” celebratory reception and feedback session. Learn more about CFI’s Leadership Class of 2025 at mycfi.org/leadership.
About Bank of the Islands
Bank of the Islands, the oldest locally owned and managed community bank in Lee County, is the proud winner of more than 50 “Best of the Islands” awards, including “Best Island Bank.” It continues to be ranked in the top five among all banks chartered in Florida by Bank Performance Report. It is at 1699 Periwinkle Way, on Sanibel. The Captiva office is at 14812 Captiva Drive. For details, visit www.bankoftheislands.com
About Charitable Foundation of the Islands
Charitable Foundation of the Islands (CFI) strives to inspire philanthropy, leadership, and collaboration for the vitality of the Island community. CFI has served the Sanibel and Captiva communities since the 1990s through the Francis Bailey Society and was officially incorporated as a 501(c)(3) organization in 2011. For more details, visit MyCFI.org.
Picture:
President of Bank of the Islands and Edison National Bank Robbie Roepstorff (second from right) presents a check for $5,000 to the Charitable Foundation of the Islands Board of Directors for sponsoring the Leadership Sanibel-Captiva Program’s opening and closing sessions.
Pictured (L to R) are CFI Leadership John Morse, Brian Rist, Lisa Riordan, David Lowden (Bank of the Islands), Dolly Farrell, Robbie Roepstorff (Bank of the Islands), and Chip Roach.
