The Charitable Foundation of the Islands (CFI) hosted its inaugural Generosity Breakfast at the Sundial Beach Resort & Spa, bringing together more than 175 island residents, nonprofit partners, and community leaders to celebrate National Philanthropy Day and honor those who embody the true spirit of giving through their time, talent, and treasure.
Hosted by the CFI Board of Directors, the breakfast was a heartfelt celebration of the people and organizations who make Sanibel and Captiva such special places to live and serve. The program featured welcoming remarks from Lisa Riordan, Board Chair, and Dolly Farrell, Executive Director, along with a community reflection from Chip Roach, Immediate Past Chair, highlighting the continued strength and generosity of the islands.
Honoring the Generosity Champions
The highlight of the morning was the presentation of the Generosity Champion Awards, honoring those whose philanthropy, leadership, and collaboration have made a lasting difference across the islands. The entire CFI Board of Directors participated in presenting the awards and recognizing the following honorees:
- Bridge Builder Award: Mark Bole, FGCU Ain Design & Technology Hub
- Mangrove Award: Tommy Williams
- Periwinkle Award: Ginny Stringer
- Sand Dollar Award: Jason Halliburton
- Lighthouse Keeper Award: Bill and Laurie Harkey
- Junonia Award: ‘Tween Waters Island Inn and Marina
Following the awards presentation, the honorees joined a Generosity Champions Panel, moderated by CFI Board Members Rachel Pierce and Eric Pfeifer, who led an inspiring discussion on how giving back—through leadership, service, and philanthropy—has shaped their personal stories and strengthened the fabric of the island community.
“Generosity takes many forms,” said CFI Executive Director Dolly Farrell. “Some give their time, others share their talent, and many contribute their treasure—but all are essential to the continued recovery and vitality of our islands.”
A Celebration of Collaboration
CFI expressed heartfelt appreciation to its Exclusive Presenting Sponsor, Sanibel Captiva Community Bank, for making the event possible.
“Sanibel and Captiva have always been defined by generosity and by the way our community shows up for each other. We’re proud to support the Generosity Breakfast and partner with CFI as we honor the individuals, businesses, and nonprofits who are building a stronger future for our islands,” said Kyle DeCicco, President & CEO of Sanibel Captiva Community Bank.
Additional gratitude was shared for Sundial Beach Resort & Spa (Venue Partner), Rachel Pierce Art Gallery (Awards Artwork & Design), Odessa Gallery and Ilie Ruby (Giving Tree Ornaments), Sanibel Carts (Transportation Partner), and the Sanibel Captiva Rotary Club for volunteer support.
The Foundation also thanked the many table sponsors whose generosity brought the morning to life, including Florida Trust Wealth Management, Florida Gulf Coast University’s AIN Design & Technology Hub, Chip and Nancy Roach, Shell Point Retirement Community, Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF), Sanibel Historical Museum and Village, the Rist Family Foundation, and Bob and Kathy Wiesemann.
“Events like this remind us how much can be achieved when we share our time, our talent, and our treasure,” said Dolly Farrell, CFI Executive Director. “That generosity is the heartbeat of Sanibel and Captiva—it’s what keeps our islands strong.”
The event recording is available at www.MyCFI.org.
Looking Ahead
The Generosity Breakfast also previewed CFI’s upcoming initiatives, including the 100+ Women Who Care informational gathering on December 2, 2025, and the Volunteer Expo & Directory on January 28, 2026, at the Sanibel Community House—where more than 50 nonprofits will be represented and $8,000 in mini-grants will be awarded thanks to Lake Michigan Credit Union.
To learn more about CFI or to get involved, visit www.charitablefoundationsanibel.org or contact [email protected].
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.
About Sanibel Captiva Community Bank (SanCapBank.com)
Founded in 2003, Sanibel Captiva Community Bank has nine locations throughout Lee County. In Fort Myers, the bank’s McGregor Branch, located at 15975 McGregor Blvd., has temporarily closed to allow for final construction on a new permanent building expected to open later this summer. On Fort Myers Beach, the bank is operating a temporary office open on Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., while its permanent full-service branch is under development.
Sanibel Captiva Community Bank is nationally ranked as a top-performing community bank by S&P Global Market Intelligence and is consistently rated a 4- to 5-star institution by Bauer Financial, a trusted independent bank rating firm. With more than $1 billion in total assets, the bank is well-capitalized and generates one of the highest returns on equity of all Florida banks. The bank employs more than 120 employees, with over 60% as current shareholders. Since 2003, the bank has contributed more than $5 million to over 400 local charitable causes, and employees volunteer nearly 1,000 hours annually.
Sanibel Captiva Community Bank’s team members provide customized individual and business banking services and specialize in residential and commercial lending. The bank offers personal and business checking, residential and commercial lending services, instant issue debit cards, and a full array of digital banking products and services, including mobile banking apps, Card Hub, online bill pay, Zelle®, Positive Pay, and ACH Manager. To learn more, visit sancapbank.com.
