As we all know, Hurricane Ian had a devastating effect on Sanibel and Captiva. The storm surge and
wind destroyed or severely damaged most buildings, causing many businesses to curtail operations.
This affected many employees as well as business owners. The slow recovery has resulted in a
drastically reduced number of potential clients, both residents and visitors, which also has hampered
the reopening of many establishments.
The resultant loss of business and employment has many people thinking that they may need to
consider a different career. For many this may mean that they need to receive additional training or
certification. However, the loss in income has made it difficult for many to afford this education or
training.
Many organizations offer scholarship programs for post secondar education. Most of these programs
are aimed at recent high school graduates that will be attending college. For many years the Sanibel
Captiva Lions Club has offered Francis Bailey Scholarships which are aimed at this population.
In seeing the need for a different kind of educational financial assistance, we have created a new
program, Ian Educational Grants. These grants are aimed at those who are suffering from Ian and see a
need to try to switch to a new career. The grants are available to people who, currently or previously,
live or work on Sanibel or Captiva. There is not a fixed number of grants, nor a fixed amount. Rather
the grants will be made on a case-by-case basis until the funding for the program has been exhausted.
The Scholarship Committee of the Lions Club will assess the applications and make decisions on the
grants. To get additional information about the program and to get an application please go to the
Sanibel Captiva Lions Club website, sanibelcaptivalionsclub.com, and click on the Ian Education Grants
tab. You can download the instructions and the application form by clicking on the appropriate buttons.
The Sanibel Captiva Lions Club has been serving the Sanibel and Captiva Communities for over 50 years.
While the Lions Club is best known for their effort to eliminate preventable blindness, the club serves
citizens of the Islands and greater Southwest Florida in a variety of ways. The local club is part of Lions
Club International, the largest service organization in the world with over 1.4 million members in
chapters in over 200 countries.
Individuals interested in community service are invited to visit a club meeting to learn more. For more
information on the Sanibel Captiva Lions Club or to arrange a visit please contact Membership Chair,
Lion Steven Schulz at PO Box 391, Sanibel, FL 33957, or 239-233-6261, or visit our website at
www.sanibelcaptivalionsclub.com