provided to The Santiva Chronicle
SanCap Cares is pleased to announce that The Sanibel Captiva Trust Company has once again agreed to serve as Presenting Sponsor of the Island Celebration to benefit Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida. A live streamed virtual fundraising celebration is scheduled on March 28.
“We know this is a unique year, but we need to continue to support health care – especially children’s health care – in our community,” said Al Hanser, founder and chairman of The Sanibel Captiva Trust Company. “We are delighted to continue our support of this movement and event. While we may not be able to celebrate altogether in person, we can still do so much to give back to our children.”
“The Sanibel Captiva Trust Company has been a dedicated partner with us for many years. Their leadership in our community is a true model of engaged corporate stewardship,” said SanCap Cares Committee member Valerie Tutor. “We are so appreciative of Al Hanser and the whole team at The Sanibel Captiva Trust Company for their loyal support of such an important cause.”
For two decades, every spring, the Sanibel and Captiva communities have rallied to support the life changing work at Southwest Florida’s children’s hospital. In this year like no other, SanCap Cares will do that again, though in a social distanced way.
This gala is being billed as a virtual happy hour/cocktail party/celebration, with entertainment by The Modern Gentlemen, food, cocktails, and a few surprises. MudBugs, Sweet Melissa’s, Blue Giraffe, 400 Rabbits, Paper Fig, and the Sanctuary Golf Club are each preparing signature items for a tapas style menu that each supporter will receive to enjoy at home during the event. Cocktails are included with the tapas and we hope participants will gather with those in their “bubble” & make it a real party as they watch the virtual event on-line!
On the program for the celebration: entertainment, special appearances by hospital staff, the “give-to-give” online auction, a special live auction anniversary piece by Congress Jewelers, and a hospital tour by a special hostess, 11-year-old Heidi. While other details are still being finalized, it is shaping up to be a one-of-a-kind experience that all will remember. Get ready to see blasts from the past as well showcase friends and donors throughout the years.
This year, SanCap Cares funds will go to purchase a new pediatric and neonatal critical care ambulance. This specialized vehicle is used several times a day to bring young patients to receive the critical care provided by doctors and nurses at the hospital.
SanCap Cares donors contributed to an ambulance 8 years ago, and that unit is still in service. However, after almost 230,000 miles and well over 900 trips a year, the hospital needs a replacement.
“The legacy of giving that SanCap Cares has created and continues to foster is like nothing I’ve ever seen,” said Armando Llechu, chief officer of hospital operations and women and children’s services at Lee Health. “The fact that so many on the islands are generous to fulfill our request is amazing. The new ambulance will continue to help save lives and bring hundreds of children to the care they most desperately need.”
The first SanCap Cares in 2001 started a trend by creating a first-of-its-kind fundraising gala event on the island. It has been a favorite late season gathering for so many on the island. Organizers hope this year’s theme of “Resilience” will keep friends coming to this unique celebration – even virtually.
SanCap Cares began as a grass roots organization of islanders in 2001. Its mission is to raise money and awareness for Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida. To learn more about SanCap Cares, visit sancapcares.org. For more information on The Sanibel Captiva Trust Co., visit sancaptrustco.com.
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