Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille’s two Southwest Florida locations are gold sponsors of Wines in the Wild, the sold-out January gala benefiting the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation. The event raises money for SCCF’s mission of protecting and preserving the region’s coastal ecosystems through science, education and advocacy.
“Protecting our coastal communities is an important part of who we are as a company and as a community partner,” said Joe Harrity, a partner with HM Restaurant Group, the parent company of Doc Ford’s. “We are a long-time supporter of the conservation foundation and the work it does. Southwest Florida’s unique coastal ecosystems are what make this area so special for residents and visitors alike.”
The Sanibel Island and Fort Myers Beach restaurants donated $2,500 to Wines in the Wild, an evening at the Bailey Homestead Preserve. The event started in 2008 as a welcome-back party kicking off the winter season, where guests stroll the preserve’s grounds while sipping specially selected wines paired with cuisine prepared by top local chefs.
The foundation’s environmental and conservation efforts include wildlife and water quality monitoring, land preservation and research programs for sea turtles, shorebirds and aquatic wildlife. It also manages over 2,100 acres including critical wildlife habitats and eight miles of public trails.
Doc Ford’s, founded on Sanibel Island in 2003, and HM Restaurant Group support a number of nonprofit organizations dedicated to the environment, conservation and community.
Since its inception in 2012, the annual “Ding” Darling & Doc Ford’s Tarpon Tournament has raised $1.3 million for conservation and water-quality research at the island’s J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge. The 13th annual tournament is May 9, 2025.
The restaurants also support SanCap Cares and FISH of SANCAP and raise money for children’s hospitals in Fort Myers and St. Petersburg and Captains For Clean Water’s water quality initiatives through sales of specialty cocktails at Doc Ford’s.
Renowned for its legendary guest experience, Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille is open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. with two additional locations on the St. Petersburg Pier and Jungle Terrace in St. Petersburg.
Owned and operated by HM Restaurant Group, award-winning Doc Ford’s offers food with a unique balance of flavors inspired by the Caribbean Rim. Revered for its sauces, spices and signature Yucatan shrimp served daily, it’s highly regarded by locals and visitors as a spectacular seafood restaurant. Doc Ford’s is a perennial Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice winner. The Pier restaurant was named the county’s No. 1 Best of the Best Restaurants for Everyday Eats in 2023.
Doc Ford’s also offers live music most nights at its Fort Myers Beach, Jungle Terrace and St. Petersburg Pier locations.
