Employees of Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille’s Fort Myers Beach restaurant recently volunteered at Track to Trail Thoroughbreds. The group helped the nonprofit agency by spending time with the horses and doing manual labor around the ranch and barns.
It was the first time team members volunteered at Track to Trail Thoroughbreds, and they plan to volunteer again.
“The team really enjoys taking the time out of their day and giving back to the local community,” said Joe Harrity, a partner with HM Restaurant Group, the parent company of Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille. “Giving back has fostered team-building within our organization. We are always looking for new ways and organizations to give back, too.”
Doc Ford’s team members frequently donate their time at Lakes Park, recently building and installing a miniature version of the Fort Myers Beach restaurant as part of the popular Lakes Park and Gulf Railroad train ride which winds around lakes and small villages. The team also helped install Halloween decorations and participated in this year’s Scarecrows in the Park contest.
Track to Trail Thoroughbreds, is a volunteer organization in Naples that rehabilitates injured racehorses, mostly from Gulf Stream Race Track in Hallandale near Miami. For more information, visit tracktotrailthoroughbreds.org.
Renowned for its legendary guest experience, Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille is open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. with locations on Sanibel Island, Fort Myers Beach, 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. Beloved for its sauces, spices and signature Yucatan shrimp served daily, it’s highly regarded by locals and visitors alike as a spectacular seafood restaurant. Established on Sanibel in 2003, 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.
Philanthropy and community outreach are engrained in HM Restaurant Group’s company philosophy. Proceeds from specialty cocktails at Doc Ford’s raise money to support 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 $1.3 million for Sanibel’s J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge since 2012. The 13th annual tournament will be held May 9, 2025.
