CHARITABLE FOUNDATION OF THE ISLANDS

CFI, TRUST COMPANY SEMINAR ONLINE

In collaboration with The Sanibel Captiva Trust Company, the Charitable Foundation of the Islands held a Giving Strategies Program on July 24 to support local nonprofits.

CFI reported that the in-person seminar served as a platform to unite island nonprofits, offering invaluable insights and resources to propel their missions forward. It emphasized the importance of strategic giving and innovative approaches to philanthropy in today’s ever-evolving landscape.

In addition, the trust company’s team discussed timely tips and strategies on how to make year-end giving smooth and stress free.

A similar program was offered online to the community on July 26.

SOUTH SEAS Scott McGregor

To view the webinar and slides, visit MyCFI.org.

CHR RECOGNIZED WITH AWARD

Community Housing & Resources on Sanibel reported that it won the Florida Housing Coalition’s “Storytellers Award.”

The award is being bestowed to highlight CHR’s impactful storytelling efforts in advocating for affordable housing solutions.

CHR will receive the award at the coalition’s 37th Annual Statewide Affordable Housing Conference on Aug. 26-28 in Orlando.

PHOTO PROVIDED Anna Turner

In addition, the CHR team, Carmella Cioffi of MHK architecture and Sanibel City Councilmember Holly Smith will present at the conference.

The Florida Housing Coalition is dedicated to empowering communities through the promotion of affordable housing initiatives.

BIG ARTS AWARDED FOR CONCERT

BIG ARTS on Sanibel announced that it was recognized by Florida Weekly’s Nancy Awards for the 2023-2024 season.

It received the “Funk It Up Award” for last year’s concert featuring Grammy Award-winning vocalist Judith Hill and her band. Florida Weekly described the event as “a powerhouse of funk and soul.”

The Nancy Awards recognize the best arts and entertainment from the past year.

SOUTH SEAS WELCOMES NEW DIRECTOR

South Seas on Captiva announced Scott McGregor as director of food & beverage.

He will oversee the development and opening of four new restaurants launching in the months ahead. McGregor’s oversight currently includes Starbucks, Provisions, The Tarpon Bar, Island Tacos food truck and Shell City Burgers food truck.

Beginning his career with Sage Hospitality as director of food & beverage, he later became director of food & beverage at Sheraton Hotels & Resorts and then led hotel management for Hilton Phoenix/Mesa. McGregor also spent time with Topgolf, Aramark and Palmas Restaurant Group at Walt Disney World. Most recently, he served as executive director of food & beverage for Crescent Hotels & Resorts.

VIP REALTY WELCOMES NEW AGENT

VIP Realty Sanibel and Captiva recently announce the addition of Anna Turner as a Realtor.

She first fell in love with Sanibel when her parents relocated from Richmond, Virginia, in the 1980s. After vacationing here each year to visit family, Turner and her husband left corporate life in 2001 to experience island living for themselves and raise their family.

She earned her first real estate license in North Carolina in 1988. During the process of corporate relocation, Turner and her husband worked in career opportunities in Charlotte, North Carolina; Chicago, Illinois; and in Seattle, Washington.

After earning her Florida real estate license in 2011, she worked on Sanibel as a licensed real estate assistant and then a showing agent, before becoming a full-time agent. Turner holds the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Specialist designation.

She knows from personal experience how beneficial it is to partner with real estate professionals who not only know the real estate market, but who also know the community and lifestyle to help her customers integrate into their new home.

ISLANDER NOMINATED FOR VMAS

Producer and director Whitney Wolanin, of Sanibel, has two videos nominated for the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs).

She was the producer for “Mustang” by Kings of Leon, which is a nominee for “Best Rock,” and one of the producers for “In Your Love” by Tyler Childers, which is a nominee for “Video for Good.”

Wolanin attended The Sanibel School, Fort Myers High and Vanderbilt University.

Also a recording artist, her Billboard hits include “Never Said No” (2017), “Forever” (2014), “Silver Bells” (2013), “Wrong Guy (I Did It This Time)” (2013), “Run, Run Rudolph (Up Tempo Mix)” (2013), “Honesty” (2012) and “Frosty the Snowman” (2012).

The VMAs will take place on Sept. 11 at 8 p.m. at the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York.