Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille recently donated $5,000 to Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation Cause for the Campus event. The Cause for the Campus event raised $450,000 and all of the proceeds went toward the rebuilding of Sanibel Sea School, which was destroyed during Hurricane Ian.
A part of the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation family since 2020, the Sea School fully embraces its mission to protect and care for Southwest Florida’s coastal ecosystems.
“We dealt with our own level of Hurricane Ian damage so we were happy to contribute to such a worthy cause on the islands,” said Joe Harrity, a partner with HM Restaurant Group, the parent company of Doc Ford’s and Dixie Fish Company. “It was a great night to give back to our community.”
HM Restaurant Group owns and operates Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille and Dixie Fish Company. Open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., the restaurants are renowned for delivering a legendary guest experience.
Award-winning Doc Ford’s offers food with a unique balance of flavors inspired by the Caribbean Rim. Known for its sauces, spices and passion, Doc Ford’s is a local and visitor favorite for spectacular seafood. Established on Sanibel in 2003, the restaurant has expanded from its original location to three others: Fort Myers Beach and two in St. Petersburg – on the St. Petersburg Pier and in Jungle Terrace. A perennial Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice winner, the pier restaurant was named the No. 1 Best of the Best Restaurants for Everyday Eats in 2023.
Philanthropy and community outreach are engrained in HM Restaurant Group’s company philosophy. Proceeds from specialty cocktails at Doc Ford’s raise money for children’s hospitals and water quality issues. HM Restaurant Group also supports local nonprofits dedicated to conservation, community and the environment. The “Ding” Darling Doc Ford’s Tarpon Tournament has raised nearly $1.2 million for Sanibel’s J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge since 2012.
