Island residents establish $2M fund with CFI

Sanibel residents Laurie and Bill Harkey created a $2 million Donor Advised Fund with the Charitable Foundation of the Islands, as well as a legacy commitment by naming CFI as a successor trustee

“This is our home now,” Laurie Harkey said “We’re shifting our support and our interest here That was the catalyst We’ve been here almost four years We’ve been gone from Akron 35 years Now it’s time to shift our focus ”

The couple looked at various local organizations before establishing the fund with CFI

“We are so grateful to the Harkeys and all of our D A F ( D o n o r A d v is ed F u n d ) d o n o r s , ” Ex ecu tiv e Director Dolly Farrell said “DAFs are easy to set up and are tax-efficient ”

The CFI has offered DAFs to its donors since 2011

“CFI is still relatively young as an organization and needs to grow,” Bill Harkey said “I would encourage anyone within earshot that is looking for a philanthropic way of doing things to consider CFI as a very good place to start Donor Advised Funds help your money grow ”

The CFI works with a variety of island nonprofits that are important to the couple, including the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife, J.N. “Ding” Darling N a t i o n a l W i l d l i f e R e f u g e , F I S H o f S a n i b e lCaptiva, Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum and The Community House

“We wanted to do our philanthropy while we could see the impact,” he said “The need is great, and the need is now ”

From California, Bill Harkey spent almost 30 years in the U S Army, primarily in public affairs and instructing at the Army War College Originally from Akron, Laurie Harkey was a medical social worker Now full-time residents, they volunteer their time reg-

See FUND, page 9