Ken Washuta elected to Charitable Foundation board, will chair Class of 2025 leadership program

April 18, 2024 (SANIBEL ISLAND, FL )-- Ken Washuta of Sanibel, one of 13 members of the Leadership Sanibel Captiva Class of 2024, will lead the team that will design the program for the Class of 2025. He also has been elected to serve a one-year term on the Charitable Foundation of the Islands’ (CFI) board as the Chair of the Leadership Sanibel Captiva Program

The CFI Leadership Class of 2024, made up of individuals identified as potential future leaders for the islands’ nonprofits, recently completed a 5-day curriculum over two months during which they met with current leaders to gain a better understanding of the islands,  values and culture.

As chair for next year’s class, Mr. Washuta will oversee the planning committee and work with Kim Kouril, CFI Director of Operations, as well as the Class of 2024 participants, to design the Class of 2025’s experience.

Having completed the course himself, he will bring a deeper understanding of the islands to the next class as well as his volunteer work.

“The program changed my perspective on several things,” he said. “I didn’t know what CFI was and now I’m a walking billboard for the organization and the Leadership Program!”

“I didn’t realize how interconnected all of the nonprofit organizations on the island are, or how big the role is that CFI plays in making all the nonprofits better. I learned about resources I didn’t even know existed.”

“While I loved our islands before the program, I now have a greater appreciation for why (and how) our islands are so special.”

Mr. Washuta had a distinguished career in information technology, serving as a senior executive with major corporations. He recently retired and lives in Sanibel and Orono, Minnesota with his wife Nadine.

During the past 6 years, the Washutas have been part of a fundraising effort for a Minnesota group that helps break cycles of abuse, poverty, alcoholism, poor nutrition and illiteracy in Guatemala. They have also organized the local HeadStrong charity lacrosse tournaments that generated money for cancer awareness and research.

His previous experience with nonprofits and his recent participation in the 2024 program will no doubt contribute significantly to his role as chair of the 2025 leadership program.

CFI Executive Director Dolly Farrell said, “The committee of volunteers who will work with Mr. Washuta will also be members of the 2024 class and will be assisted by program staff, board, and alumni, providing a variety of perspectives.”

About Charitable Foundation of the Islands: (MyCFI.org)

The mission of the Charitable Foundation of the Islands (CFI) is 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/leadership.

For more information, contact:

Dolly Farrell, Executive Director

dfarrell@sancapcfi.org

(239) 322-3818