Board Launches $3.5 Million Community House Campaign

Marge Meek, president of the

Sanibel Community Association,

has announced the launch of a

$3.5 million capital campaign to preserve,

renovate and modernize The

Community House.

“Terry Igo, the president of the Sanibel

Captiva Trust Company and past SCA

board member, has enthusiastically

accepted the position as chairperson for

the campaign. Already he has enlisted the

help of over 75 islanders to move this fundraising

phase into high gear,” Meek said.

“The Community House embodies the

spirit of Sanibel and the broad range of

people volunteering to help this campaign

reinforces how islanders come together for

a cause.”

“The Community House is a historical

gem and this campaign, by thoroughly

upgrading the building and grounds, will

restore it to the center of community life,”

said Igo. “It is our largest gathering place

on the islands and it’s very important that

it fully serve today’s residents and visitors.

In choosing a campaign logo that simply

states 1927 Capital Campaign, we honor

our long-standing place in the community

while reaffirming our ongoing commitment

to providing for the current and

future needs of our islands.”

The Community House was built in

1927 on donated land and by the islanders,

who worked side by side to construct

the building and turn it into their social

gathering place. Over the decades generations

of islanders have met there for every

conceivable civic, educational and social

event, including its signature Shell Fair and

Show that has attracted shell enthusiasts

from around the world for 75 years. The

passage of time, however, has taken its

toll on the original historic building and its

two additions.

“Since the 1990s there have been a

series of plans drawn up to rebuild The

Community House, but now our time has

come,” said Meek. “For over three years

the board has developed the strategy, the

vision, the passion, which have culminated

in the current schematic plans. We

thought of only one person to run the

capital campaign and we are delighted

Terry accepted the position. He has a

proven success record of leading capital

campaigns, including one for The Sanibel

School, and is the right person to get

people engaged and united for our common

goal.”

There will be a series of social events

held through the fall and winter to promote

the campaign and get islanders’

input. A kick-off party on November 9

will feature a dinner and homespun stories

by honorary co-chairs Francis Bailey

and Porter Goss and other islanders. It

will be an evening to celebrate what The

Community House has meant to this community

and what the future holds.

The architectural site plan and artistic

rendering of the grounds are on display

in the lobby as well as on www.sanibelcommunityhouse.

net and in a soon-to-be

released brochure