Chamber luncheon draws nonprofits, participants
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).
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.
“We all, at one time or another, need help, and these nonprofits, they build the fabric of our community,” GFMCC Chair Jen Whyte said. “They 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.”
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.
Doug Dailey, with the Miracle League of Southwest Florida, delivered news of “something truly historic” 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 — the first of its kind locally.
Other participating sponsor nonprofits included A.N.A’s Friends, Charitable Foundation of the Islands (CFI), “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge, Family Initiative, Florida Repertory Theatre, GiGi’s Playhouse, Gulf Coast Humane Society, Keep Lee County Beautiful, LARC, Midwest Food Bank, Our Mother’s Home, PACE Center for Girls, Path2Freedom, Let’s Pink Out Sanibel Captiva, and Trailways Camp. HBKS Wealth Advisors also sponsored the event.
“We’re all facing a shortage of money,” CFI Executive Director Dolly Farrell said. “Well, you know what we don’t 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.”
“We, as nonprofits and not-for-profit leaders, come together, and we help each other, and we support each other … I want to talk about the kindness when we partner together, when we collaborate,” Humane Society Development Director Tricia Montgomery said. “And I think this is such an incredible journey that we’re on, from Sanibel and Fort Myers coming together, and showcasing that when you partner together, when you move together, so much can be accomplished.”
“The record-breaking participation for this year’s Nonprofit Luncheon clearly demonstrates the value of joining forces with the two chambers,” chambers President and Executive Officer John Lai said. “It was heartwarming to see the cooperation and camaraderie building between nonprofits, businesses and members across the board.”