provided to The Santiva Chronicle
More than 180 participants heard the mission of 16 local non-profit organizations at the June 9 Annual Nonprofit Luncheon jointly hosted by the SanCap Chamber and Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce (GFMCC) at the DoubleTree by Hilton Fort Myers at Bell Tower Shops. The missions ranged from feeding the hungry and turning kids into conservationists to providing sensory inclusion recreation and providing hope and healing to young sex-trafficking victims.
“We all, at one time or another, need help, and these nonprofits, they build the fabric of our community,” said Jen Whyte, chair of GFMCC, at the meeting. “They are 1,000 percent part of why Southwest Florida is the best place to live, work, and operate a business and grow a family. Thank you for adding so much, so much to this community.”
The nonprofits staffed tables around the room prior to the meeting, handing out information and gifts and greeting guests. Representatives from each organization received a three-minute slot to introduce their work, accomplishments, events, and news.
Doug Dailey with the Miracle League of Southwest Florida delivered news of “something truly historic that is about to happen in our region.” With its mission to give every individual the opportunity to play baseball, the Miracle League, in partnership with the Lee County Board of Commissioners, is building a multimillion-dollar Miracle League sensory field at Wa-Ke-Hatchee Community Park in South Fort Myers to accommodate people with autism, sensory processing differences, and physical disabilities – the first of its kind in the region.
Other participating sponsor non-profits included A.N.A’s Friends, Charitable Foundation of the Islands (CFI), “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society, Family Initiative, Florida Repertory Theatre, GiGi’s Playhouse, Gulf Coast Humane Society, Keep Lee County Beautiful, LARC Inc., Midwest Food Bank, Our Mother’s Home, PACE Center for Girls, Path2Freedom, Let’s Pink Out Sanibel Captiva, and Trailways Camp. HBKS Wealth Advisors also sponsored the event.
“We’re all facing a shortage of money,” said CFI executive director Dolly Farrell. “Well, you know what we don’t have a shortage of is good people who want to give back [through volunteering]. They want to give their time, they want to help us get on board, and this is an opportunity that we can do that, especially with so many new people moving to our region.”
“We, as nonprofits and not-for-profit leaders, come together, and we help each other, and we support each other…. I want to talk about the kindness when we partner together, when we collaborate,” said Tricia Montgomery with the Humane Society. “And I think this is such an incredible journey that we’re on, from Sanibel and Fort Myers coming together, and showcasing that when you partner together, when you move together, so much can be accomplished.”
“We heard a lot about collaboration today between the nonprofits. We’re, of course, proud of the collaboration that we’re doing. I mean, the SanCap and Greater Fort Myers Chambers of Commerce…,” said Whyte. “If one of these nonprofits or multiple of these non-profits inspired you today, please connect with them to give time, talent, and or treasure.”
“The record-breaking participation for this year’s Nonprofit Luncheon clearly demonstrates the value of joining forces with the two chambers,” said John Lai, chambers president and executive director. “It was heartwarming to see the cooperation and camaraderie building between nonprofits, businesses, and members across the board.”
The next joint meeting of the SanCap Chamber and GFMCC spotlights the State of Workforce Development. It takes place Wednesday, July 15, at Sanibel Harbour Marriott Resort & Spa in Fort Myers, featuring senior business developer with Lee County Economic Development Office Tatum Walker as moderator and a panel consisting of Heights Foundation, Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida SouthWestern State College, and Fort Myers Technical College. Anyone interested in sponsoring the meeting should contact Aaron Walton at aaron@sanibel-captiva.org or 239-472-8759.
ABOUT SANCAP CHAMBER
The SanCap Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to promoting the prosperity of its members and preserving the quality of life of our community. The Chamber plays a key role in facilitating communication and cooperation between business, residents, and government to enhance the economic health of the islands. Its website, sanibel-captiva.org, receives over 1.3 million visits per year. For more information about the chamber, visit sanibel-captiva.org or contact John Lai, president and CEO, at 239-472-2348 or John@sanibel-captiva.org.
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