32 Island Businesses Awarded Hurricane Relief thanks to Generous Donors to the Sanibel-Captiva Hurricane Recovery Fund

SANIBEL, Fla. [February 16, 2025]—Thirty-two independently owned businesses on the islands have received grants of up to $10,000 each for post-hurricane recovery, the Charitable Foundation of the Islands (CFI) announced this month. This program is in addition to the low-interest loan program CFI launched in 2024 in partnership with the Sanibel Captiva Community Bank. 

CFI reactivated the Sanibel-Captiva Recovery Fund last fall in the wake of hurricanes Helene and Milton. The foundation thanks the community for committing more than $266,000 for the fund led by a $125,000 match challenge by an anonymous donor. 

“We are overwhelmed with gratitude for every donor who stepped up to help us meet this ambitious matching gift challenge,” said Dolly Farrell, Executive Director of CFI. “These funds will have a transformative impact on our local businesses, ensuring they have the resources they need to recover and thrive.” 

The grant program is administered by FISH of SanCap with staff assistance from the Sanibel Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce. With the triple whammy of hurricanes Ian, Helene and Milton impacting small businesses the most, these grants are crucial for recovery. FISH of SanCap Executive Director Maria Espinoza noted, “We at FISH know all too well the barriers to recovery people are facing. This program also allows us to share information about individual assistance available to business employees. It’s been a win-win.”