The Charitable Foundation of the Islands, better known as CFI's strives to identify community needs and collaborative opportunities that empower organizations to affect real change; support those in need, and build and distribute resources that contribute to the vitality and health of the Sanibel and Captiva community and its residents.
For many years, CFI's partnership with the Sanctuary Golf Club raised awareness via the Sanctuary Charity Classic together raising and distributing millions in grants and scholarships since 2000.
In April 0f 2019, CFI announced their renewed commitment to serve as community leaders, advocates, and facilitators for local issues and needs. CFI's Board of Directors due to their vast experience with nearly every Sanibel and Captiva Island Non-profit are uniquely positioned to help other non-profits build capacity and foster collaboration. CFI's new vision helps assure a vibrant, healthy community where every Sanibel and Captiva resident enjoys a beautiful and productive quality of life.
In 2021 CFI developed the Leadership Class, a group of Sanibel & Captiva residents who have the personality and interest in leadership roles to learn about the organizations and non-profits that make our islands unique. Their inaugural leadership class learned about Sanibel's incorporation from one of the City's founders and first Mayor Porter Goss Sr. The rigorous timeline immersed students in all things Sanibel.
In 2022, Hurricane Ian's devastation presented unique challenges to many community organizations and CFI recognized the need to have a collaborative effort to pull everyone together to help non-profits, service organizations, businesses and residents. CFI's first ever Volunteer Expo in 2023 was an incredible success as it helped channel folks with time and means to organizations with challenges and needs.
CFI's Impact Since Hurricane Ian Includes:
- Over $1,000,000 distributed by Donor_Advised Fund parthers and the Sanibel-Captiva Recovery Fund
- 17 Island Nonprofits engaged with grant-making, education, and collaborative efforts. From donation software to encouraging the use of the POINT APP to streamline volunteering.
- $189,000 in Emergency assistance grants awarded to 76 nonprofit employees.
- Launched the 1st Business Climate Study for Islands and formed the Economic Revitalization Committee
- Over $600,000 in grants secured for Island businesses by CFI funded Chamber of Commerce employee
- Vetted candidates and selected 14 Islanders for the 2024 Sanibel Captiva Leadership Class
CFI's 2024 Leadership Class:
The Leadership program planning committee is proud to announce the members of the Class of 2024 who will experience five-day-long, deep-dive sessions ranging from government to arts and culture with the rare opportunity to go “behind the scenes” to explore the resources and issues affecting Sanibel and Captiva’s quality of life and future.
2024 Class Members:
MARVELL BRADLEY, Real Estate Agent Marvell Bradley is an island native who attended the Sanibel School. He works in real estate after years in pharmaceuticals. He is a member of the J.N Ding Darling Outreach Committee and a former youth minister at Saint Michael’s and All Angels’ Episcopal Church.
KYLE DeCICCO, President/CEO, Sanibel Captiva Community Bank Kyle DeCicco is the President and CEO of Sanibel Captiva Community Bank. In 2021, at the age of thirty-six, he was named Bank President and a member of the Board of Directors. In 2023, he became President and Chief Executive Officer making him only the second CEO since the institution was created in 2003. Kyle is a graduate of the Florida Bankers Association Florida School of Banking and the American Bankers Association Stonier Graduate School of Banking at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He is on the board of directors for The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools and serves as treasurer and on the Grant Selection Committee.
NANCY ELTING, Educator A lifelong educator, Nancy Elting was a teacher and administrator at The Spence School, an independent K-12 girls’ school in New York City. She served as interim head of the school and of a South Bronx charter school before retiring. She and her husband split their time between Millerton, New York and Sanibel. She has been a Northeast Community Center board member for 8 years.
PAULA FRIEDMAN, Molecular Biologist/Art Gallery Owner Molecular biologist Paula Friedman worked as a research scientist for 30 years in the fields of molecular oncology and pharmacogenomics. She completed her undergraduate work at Dartmouth College and earned her doctoral degree at Columbia University. She worked at Abbott Laboratories on molecular oncology products, as Associate Director of the Center for Personalized Therapeutics at the University of Chicago, and as a senior research scientist for Northwestern University’s Center for Pharmacogenomics. She owns Bernay Fine Art, a public art gallery in the Berkshires. She has been a Sanibel resident since 2016, belongs to Zonta and volunteers for F.I.S.H. and Community Housing & Resources.
MELISSA HALLIBURTON, Founder & CEO, BringFido Melissa Halliburton is the founder and CEO of BringFido, the world’s largest pet-friendly travel website. Originally from California, Melissa spent 9 years in Massachusetts and 12 years in South Carolina. She and her family moved to Sanibel in 2021 after a monthlong “workcation” turned into a permanent vacation.
BAILIE FRANCIS JOHNSON, Owner/Operator, Bailey’s General Store A Florida native, Bailie is a fourth-generation owner-operator along with her family, of Bailey's General Store and the historic Island Store on Captiva. Bailie is responsible for the financial and administrative operations of the family businesses. She is a graduate of Florida Gulf Coast University’s Lutgert College of Business. She has volunteered for various island organizations, including Community Housing & Resources, and plays an active role in Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation’s Coastal Watch advisory committee.
DUDLEY MALONE, Investment Advisor Dudley Malone has spent time on Sanibel and Captiva every year since the early ’70s when his parents became part-time residents. It’s also where he honeymooned. Dudley worked in commercial real estate for 12 years, then 25-plus as an investment advisor with R. W. Baird in Chicago. He recently retired. In 2019, he and his wife purchased a house on Sanibel and have spent much of their time on the Islands since. Over the years, he has supported island organizations such as BIG ARTS, CROW, J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, and F.I.S.H.
SARAH McCLURE, City Commissioner/Mayor/Financial Consultant/Economics Instructor Sarah McClure served 14 years as a City Commissioner and three as Mayor of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, where she has lived for over 40 years. She previously was a financial consultant with Merrill Lynch and an adjunct Economics instructor. She and her family have owned on Captiva for over 24 years and currently have a private home within South Seas Resort. She earned her bachelor's degree in Economics and History from Cornell University and her MBA from the University of Michigan. She serves on the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum Board and the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy Board.
BRIAN RIST, Entrepreneur Brian Rist is the former executive chairman of The Smart Companies, of which Storm Smart is the largest subsidiary. After 26 years of growing Storm Smart into the largest U.S. manufacturer of storm protection products, he now focuses on philanthropy with his wife and is the chairman of the Rist Family Foundation.
JON ROSEN, Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP - Retired Jon was born and raised in Los Angeles. He earned a bachelor’s degree in accountancy from California State University, Northridge. He was a partner in the professional services firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for 25 years, retiring in 2007. His area of practice focused on public real estate companies. His not-for-profit experience includes involvement with the 1984 Los Angeles Citizens Olympic Organizing Committee, the Cleveland Opera, United Way of Chicago and Executive Service Corp. He has been a Captiva resident since 2020 and has visited the island since 2011.
AUDREY STEWART, Owner, Adventures in Paradise Outfitters Fort Myers native Audrey Stewart is a proud alumna of Florida Gulf Coast University, earning a communication degree with a focus on interdisciplinary studies. She has helped grow her family’s business, Adventures in Paradise Cruises, by bringing its marketing into the digital age. She and her husband operate Adventures in Paradise Outfitters, a local island boutique. Audrey volunteers for the Sanibel School PTA and The Sanibel School Fund and serves on the Children’s Education Center of the Islands Advisory Committee. She is a member of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee, and has volunteered for Sanibel Community Housing & Resources, the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum and as a Guardian Ad Litem for the 20th Judicial Circuit.
RACHEL TRITAIK, Physical Therapist/Massage Therapist, Island Therapy Center Rachel Tritaik and her family moved to Sanibel in 2008 from Florida’s east coast. She is a physical therapist and massage therapist with more than 25 years of experience. In 2009, she opened Island Therapy Center on Periwinkle Way. Since her clinic was destroyed by Hurricane Ian, she has relocated to south Fort Myers but hopes to reopen on the island. She has volunteered with F.I.S.H. and the Sanibel Captiva Rotary Club. She also belongs to the Sanibel Captiva Business Women’s Association and the American Physical Therapy Association.
KEN WASHUTA, Technology Executive Ken Washuta is a seasoned technology executive who has developed and executed strategic programs for organizations of all sizes. He held progressive technology leadership roles throughout his 40-plus-year career, with a focus on healthcare over the last 25 years. He retired from UnitedHealth Group in 2022, where he was the UnitedHealthcare Community & State (Medicaid) CIO for 10+ years. He lives in Sanibel with his wife and dogs.
CFI grant's and financial support are made possible by the generosity of individuals willing to open Donor Advised Funds. If you would like to nominate a member for the Leadership Class, call 239-322-3818 or email DFarrell@sancapcfi.org. To learn more about supporting CFI or Donor Advised Funds, visit: www.myCFI.org
On a personal level, CFI is near and dear to both Mary Ellen Pfeifer & Eric Pfeifer. Mary Ellen became a CFI Board member in 2016 and Eric was appointed to the CFI Board in 2023. "Collaboration is the key to success and great things happen when no one needs to take the credit. CFI is that collaborative glue that holds the warp of our community fabric together" ~ Mary Ellen Pfeifer
Pfeifer Realty Group is proud to announce that this year Marvell Bradley completed the CFI leadership class. It's an honor to be nominated for this intensive program and Bradley will be a true leader here on Sanibel & Captiva Islands.
