FORT MYERS, Fla. (Feb. 4, 2026) – HM Restaurant Group, which manages Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille, Dixie Fish Company and Bonita Fish Company, is supporting Captains For Clean Water as the Caloosahatchee sponsor of the nonprofit’s Restore gala on Friday, Feb. 20. The restaurant group donated
$6,000 to the event, which also marks the organization’s 10-year anniversary.
“HM Restaurant Group supports Captains For Clean Water’s mission of improving the health of
our local waterways,” said Joe Harrity, a partner with HM Restaurant Group. “We’re happy to support the organization and raise awareness of the water quality issues we face here in Southwest Florida.”
HM Restaurant Group recently donated $7,725 to Captains For Clean Water in honor of Storm
Smart, supporting the nonprofit’s mission to raise awareness and drive meaningful changes to improve
Florida’s water quality. Introduced in May 2024, the Send It South cocktail was created as a fundraiser for
Captains For Clean Water, with $1 from every drink sold at Doc Ford’s locations and Dixie Fish
Company donated to the organization. The specialty drink program has raised a cumulative $11,072 since
its introduction in April 2024.
A grassroots organization that has become a nationally recognized force for clean water and
Everglades restoration, Captains For Clean Water was founded in 2016 by fishing guides concerned about
Florida’s poor water management practices and the devastating impact on estuaries. The group works to
advance science-based solutions through efforts focused on awareness and education, empowering local
citizens to speak up for water quality and hold elected officials accountable. For more information, visit
captainsforcleanwater.org.
As a locally owned company, HM Restaurant Group has a long history of philanthropy and
community outreach, assisting local charitable groups 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.
Renowned for its legendary guest experience, Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille and Dixie Fish
Company is open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Doc Ford’s 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 No. 1 restaurant for Best of the Best
Restaurants for Everyday Eats in 2023.
Named a 2023 Yelp Top 100 Florida Restaurant and ranked Tripadvisor’s No. 1 restaurant in the
Fort Myers area, Dixie Fish Company is revered for delicious fresh food in an ideal location
complemented by a beach atmosphere, complete with live music and picturesque views overlooking
scenic Matanzas Pass. An original Florida fishhouse, the restaurant’s origins date back to 1937 when it
was a fish market.
HM Restaurant Group also recently opened Bonita Fish Company on Fort Myers Beach.
Blending the area’s rich coastal heritage with a contemporary dining experience, the restaurant features
local seafood, creative dishes and the warm hospitality the group is known for.
Contact:
Jennifer Hamilton, Gravina, Smith, Matte & Arnold Marketing and Public Relations, 239-275-5758,
[email protected]