SANIBEL, Fla. (Nov. 10, 2025) – Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille on Sanibel Island is a returning sponsor
for Wines in the Wild benefitting the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation. The restaurant donated
$2,000 as the valet sponsor for the annual event, which raises funds supporting SCCF’s commitment to
caring for and protecting the area’s unique coastal ecosystems.
“As a company that champions Southwest Florida’s natural environment, we are big supporters of
the conservation foundation and its vital mission,” said Joe Harrity, a partner with HM Restaurant Group, the parent company of Doc Ford’s. “We are excited to once again sponsor Wines in the Wild. The entire region, our residents and visitors benefit from SCCF’s impact over the decades and today.”
Now in its 16th year, Wines in the Wild attracts over 250 guests who stroll the grounds of the
Bailey Homestead Preserve while sampling wine and food pairings. This year’s sold-out fundraiser takes
place Friday, Nov. 14.
SCCF, the largest private landowner on Sanibel Island, manages more than 1,800 acres, plus over
300 addition acres on surrounding islands, South Fort Myers and Cape Coral. Founded in 1967, the
organization protects and cares for coastal ecosystems through a focus on conservation and ecosystem
restoration, water quality research, policy and advocacy, sea turtles and shorebirds, native landscaping,
habitat and wildlife management and environmental education. To learn more about SCCF, visit sccf.org.
Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille, founded on Sanibel in 2003, and HM Restaurant Group, a Gulfshore Business 2025 best place to work, have a long history of philanthropy and community outreach, assisting local nonprofit organizations committed to conservation, community, education and the environment. Since 2012, the annual “Ding” Darling Doc Ford’s Tarpon Tournament has raised over $1.57 million for conservation and water-quality research at Sanibel’s J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge. The 14th annual tournament is May 15, 2026.
With additional locations on Fort Myers Beach, Jungle Terrace in St. Petersburg and the St.
Petersburg Pier, Doc Ford’s has raised over $133,000 for the Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest
Florida in Fort Myers and John Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg through $1 donations
from the sale of select cocktails.
The award-winning restaurant offers food with a unique balance of flavors inspired by the
Caribbean Rim. Beloved for its sauces, spices and signature Yucatán shrimp served daily, Doc Ford’s is
highly regarded by locals and visitors alike as a spectacular seafood restaurant. The restaurant is a
perennial TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice winner. The St. Petersburg Pier location was named the country’s
No. 1 restaurant for Best of the Best Restaurants for Everyday Eats in 2023.
Renowned for its guest experience, Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille is open daily from 11 a.m. to
10 p.m.
Contact:
Jennifer Hamilton, Gravina, Smith, Matte & Arnold Marketing and Public Relations, 239-275-5758,
[email protected]
the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation.