{"id":343724,"date":"2026-07-17T18:50:11","date_gmt":"2026-07-17T18:50:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/343724\/"},"modified":"2026-07-17T18:50:11","modified_gmt":"2026-07-17T18:50:11","slug":"chamber-luncheon-draws-nonprofits-participants-sanibel-captiva","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/343724\/","title":{"rendered":"Chamber luncheon draws nonprofits, participants – SANIBEL-CAPTIVA"},"content":{"rendered":"


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SANCAP CHAMBER
\nNonprofit representatives had the opportunity to address attendees at the Annual Nonprofit Luncheon on June 9 in Fort Myers, hosted by the SanCap Chamber and Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce (GFMCC).<\/p>\n

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SANCAP CHAMBER
\nSixteen nonprofit organizations participated in the meet-and-greet component of the event.<\/p>\n

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More than 180 participants heard the mission of 16 local organizations at the Annual Nonprofit Luncheon on June 9 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Fort Myers in Fort Myers, hosted by the SanCap Chamber and Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce (GFMCC).<\/p>\n

The missions ranged from feeding the hungry and turning kids into conservationists, to providing sensory inclusion recreation and providing hope and healing to young sex-trafficking victims.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe all, at one time or another, need help, and these nonprofits, they build the fabric of our community,\u201d GFMCC Chair Jen Whyte said. \u201cThey are 1,000% part of why Southwest Florida is the best place to live, work and operate a business and grow a family. Thank you for adding so much, so much to this community.\u201d<\/p>\n

The nonprofits staffed tables around the room prior to the meeting, handing out information and gifts and greeting attendees. Representatives from each organization received a three-minute slot to introduce their work, accomplishments, events and news.<\/p>\n

Doug Dailey, with the Miracle League of Southwest Florida, delivered news of \u201csomething truly historic\u201d about to happen. With its mission to give every individual the opportunity to play baseball, the league, in partnership with the Lee County Commission, is building a multimillion-dollar Miracle League sensory field at Wa-Ke-Hatchee Community Park in South Fort Myers to accommodate people with autism, sensory processing differences and physical disabilities \u2014 the first of its kind locally.<\/p>\n

Other participating sponsor nonprofits included A.N.A\u2019s Friends, Charitable Foundation of the Islands (CFI), \u201cDing\u201d Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge, Family Initiative, Florida Repertory Theatre, GiGi\u2019s Playhouse, Gulf Coast Humane Society, Keep Lee County Beautiful, LARC, Midwest Food Bank, Our Mother\u2019s Home, PACE Center for Girls, Path2Freedom, Let\u2019s Pink Out Sanibel Captiva, and Trailways Camp. HBKS Wealth Advisors also sponsored the event.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re all facing a shortage of money,\u201d CFI Executive Director Dolly Farrell said. \u201cWell, you know what we don\u2019t have a shortage of is good people who want to give back (through volunteering). They want to give their time, they want to help us get on board, and this is an opportunity that we can do that, especially with so many new people moving to our region.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe, as nonprofits and not-for-profit leaders, come together, and we help each other, and we support each other \u2026 I want to talk about the kindness when we partner together, when we collaborate,\u201d Humane Society Development Director Tricia Montgomery said. \u201cAnd I think this is such an incredible journey that we\u2019re on, from Sanibel and Fort Myers coming together, and showcasing that when you partner together, when you move together, so much can be accomplished.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe record-breaking participation for this year\u2019s Nonprofit Luncheon clearly demonstrates the value of joining forces with the two chambers,\u201d chambers President and Executive Officer John Lai said. \u201cIt was heartwarming to see the cooperation and camaraderie building between nonprofits, businesses and members across the board.\u201d<\/p>\n


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