Sanibel-Captiva Recovery Fund Activated Ahead of Hurricane Milton

Sanibel-Captiva Recovery Fund Activated Ahead of Hurricane Milton

The Charitable Foundation of the Islands (CFI) has activated the Sanibel-Captiva Recovery Fund ahead of Hurricane Milton to support the recovery and rebuild efforts on Sanibel and Captiva islands.

Featured Topics

• A Note of Gratitude: Chip Roach, Chair, Lisa Riordan, Vice Chair, Dolly Farrell, Executive Director

• Special Announcement in Support of SanCap Economic Revitalization Fund

• CFI, Sanibel Captiva Community Bank Offer Small Business Loans

• FISH of SANCAP Featured Article: You Can Help TODAY - by Maria Espinoza, Executive Director

Featured Topics

• Shady Rest Foundation's $50,000 Donation Will Benefit Older Adults

• Charitable Foundation of the Islands Welcomes Melissa Halliburton to Board

• New Nonprofits Added to Directory!

• Halfway to the New Year Webinar

• Let Giving be About You, Not the Holiday Rush

• 2024 Q2 CFI Business Climate Survey

• What People Are Saying

  • Hear From James Evans, CEO of SCCF

  • Dana Souza, City Manager of Sanibel Talks About Planning, People and Progress

• The City of Sanibel Kicks Off Year-Long Celebration of the City’s 50th Anniversary in November 2024!!!

Regional Economic Research Institute Florida Gulf Coast University

The CFI Business Climate Survey was distributed to 318 email addresses provided by the Charitable Foundation of the Islands (CFI) and the SanCap Chamber of Commerce on November 15th, 2023. The survey remained open until December 22nd, 2023, during which two reminder emails were sent out. Both the CFI and SanCap Chamber provided support in reaching out to various members to encourage participation. The survey received 92 full and partial responses, giving the survey a response rate of 29 percent.

Melissa Halliburton and her family have lived in several parts of the country. In January 2021, about halfway through a month-long COVID-19 “workation” on Sanibel, “we decided we didn’t want to leave,” Ms. Halliburton says.

They bought a house, sight unseen, and moved in May so their son could start sixth grade at The Sanibel School that fall.

 “Best decision we ever made,” she says.

I don’t know about you but every time I feel pressure, I don’t make the best decisions. Or maybe I do but the pressure of making the decision leaves me in doubt. When was the last time you bought a car at the end of the month for example?

June 1, 2024 (SANIBEL, FL) -- Older adults living or working on Sanibel and Captiva Islands will benefit from the generosity of Shady Rest Foundation, which recently established a fund through the Charitable Foundation of the Islands (CFI).

Chip Roach, named 2024 Volunteer of the Year

Learn how volunteerism and community involvement shaped his life, career and the many people and organizations that he’s helped.

• Chamber awards CFI, Board Chair for making an impact

• Volunteer of the Year learned about serving from examples set by his engaged family

• Ken Washuta elected to CFI board, will chair Class of 2025 leadership program

• Second SanCap Business Climate Survey Released

• Celebrating Sanibel’s 50th: Businesses, individuals invited to lend support

• Nonprofit Corner

• In The News

The Sanibel Captiva Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with Charitable Foundation of the Islands are proud to share the findings of the Economic Outlook performed by the FGCU Regional Economic Research Institute’s Dr. Amir Neto. This study was based on surveys of on island business members of the Chamber of Commerce, to determine timing of return of our business community.

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

Brian Rist is the former executive chairman of The Smart Companies, of which Storm Smart is the largest subsidiary. After 26 years of growing Storm Smart into the largest U.S. manufacturer of storm protection products, he now focuses on philanthropy with his wife and is the chairman of the Rist Family Foundation.

Featured Topics

• R.T. Rybak brings Minneapolis Foundation perspective, expertise to Islands’ renewal

• CFI hosts Community Conversation on March 11th

• CFI Leadership Programs Concluded With Arts & Culture

• A Heartfelt Thank You to Tony Lapi and Tween Waters for Their Generosity

• Featured Slideshows

• Press & Media Coverage

I was fortunate enough to be part of the CFI Leadership class of 2024, and I had no idea prior to the program how fortunate indeed I was.  Before going into any detail I do want to commend CFI for its foresight in creating the Leadership Program.  While in times of relative calm, it is a good idea; in times such as post Ian, it is a great idea. 

As our program draws to a close, I find myself reflecting on the incredible journey we’ve embarked upon together. These past few months have been nothing short of enlightening, and I am very grateful for the opportunity to be part of this exceptional group. Our class has delved into the heart of Sanibel and Captiva, unearthing hidden gems and peeling back the many layers of our community. As someone who grew up on Sanibel island, I was able to gain a lot of knowledge and I think many will see the value in this program and how special it is!

The desire to restore Sanibel and Captiva islands to their former splendor remains strong some 18 months into recovery from devastating Hurricane Ian.

Realizing that a fresh perspective can inject energy and possibilities into the process, the Charitable Foundation of the Islands, led by CFI’s Economic Revitalization Committee, recently welcomed R.T. Rybak and his wife, Meagan, for two in-depth conversations with island leaders on Tuesday, Feb. 26, about what comes next. The visit is the culmination of several meetings that began last year arranged by Minneapolis and Sanibel resident and CFI Board member Susan “Sam” Boren King.

Island hospitality businesses have benefited from more than $1 million in grants in the past year from the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association’s Hospitality Cares Fund. SanCap Chamber CEO John Lai recently announced this milestone at the January 29th State of the Islands Breakfast.

Featured Topics

• Happy Valentine’s Day from the Charitable Foundation of the Islands!

• CFI Hosts First Donor Appreciation Reception

• Donor Appreciation Reception Slideshow and Photo Gallery

• CFI honors leadership donors with Francis Bailey Society membership

• Love Your Neighbors by Opening a Donor-Advised Fund with CFI

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Featured Topics

• CFI’s Leadership Class of 2024 Off to an Enthusiastic Start

• Charitable Foundation of the Islands Announces Changes to Leadership

• Kim Kouril Joins CFI - New Director of Operations

• CFI Grant Yields 10 Times its Value in Matter of Months

• CFI Year In Review

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The 2024 Leadership Sanibel-Captiva Program kicked off January 18 with an upbeat and informative session during which this year’s class members were welcomed and special guests Porter and Chauncey Goss offered insightful information about the islands.

This is the second class of its kind sponsored by the Charitable Foundation of the Islands (CFI). The inaugural group participated in 2022, but Hurricane Ian caused a one-year hiatus.