The Generous Many

Companies know they can do well by doing good. Philanthropy often leads to public relations and networking opportunities and helps shape communities in ways that create better business and employment environments. Then, of course, there's the benefit of simply doing good-of keeping a wilderness area wild, or bringing music to the masses, homes to the homeless and hope to the hopeless.

Some Gulfshore companies are ubiquitous in philanthropic circles-names like Northern Trust and Fifth Third banks, and the law firms Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt and Grant, Fridkin, Pearson, Athan & Crown. They appear on countless charity sponsorship rosters, and their executives and staff serve on many boards of directors or committees of charitable organizations.

But plenty of other Southwest Florida companies have a reputation for philanthropy. Here's a look at eight.

BROADWAY PALM DINNER THEATRE

Unlike nonprofit arts establishments and theaters that rely on donations, Broadway Palm is a self-sustaining, family-owned business-one with the independence and inclination to contribute its services. General manager Susan Johnson figures the business gives about $50,000 and 500 volunteer hours annually.

In addition to financial contributions and participation in Relay For Life for the American Cancer Society, Strides Against Breast Cancer and other events, the theater offers tickets to auctions, school groups, the Alliance for the Arts and children who couldn't afford to go to the theater otherwise. It also has committed a night's proceeds to the Alvin A. Dubin Alzheimer's Resource Center and other organizations. Big Brothers Big Sisters,

ECHO (Educational Concerns

for Hunger Organization),

Child Care of Southwest Florida, Alliance for the Arts, United Way of Lee County, YMCA and Quality Life Center are just a few that have benefited from the theater's generosity, and Johnson has a hefty file of requests. Sooner or later, she promises, they'll try to get to them all.

Owner and executive producer: Will Prather. Location: 1380 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers. In Fort Myers since: 1993. Web site: www.broadwaypalm.com. Employees: 125. Nature of business: Dinner theater.

CHICO'S

Chico's generosity goes beyond check writing. Peruse fund-raising sponsor lists and it's a good bet the clothing retailer is on them-and that community development manager Cole Peacock or another Chico's rep is also serving on the board or a committee. The company donated $100,000 to the American Red Cross to help Charlotte County rebuild after Hurricane Charley, having employees help drum up contributions from other companies. At Hope House, a shelter for teens and their babies in east Fort Myers, Chico's paid to replace a children's play set and other items.

The company is active in events for Habitat for Humanity and Relay For Life, sponsoring "Community Days" in which employees volunteer with a United Way agency. It's also a major sponsor (along with First Home Builders) of Lee County's Cattle Barons' Ball for the American Cancer Society, and it adopted Immokalee through the governor's Front Porch Program designed to help revitalize economically depressed areas. And the long list of projects and beneficiaries continues from there.

President and CEO: Scott Edmonds. Location: 11215 Metro Parkway, Fort Myers. Founded on Sanibel: 1983. Web site: www.chicos.com. Employees: More than 700 at the Fort Myers headquarters. Nature of business: Women's specialty clothing, includes Chico's, White House/Black Market and Soma by Chico's.

CULINARY CONCEPTS CHARITIES

Skip Quillen-owner of Pazzo! Italian Café, Chops City Grill restaurants in Naples and Bonita Springs, and Yabba Island Grill in Naples-created his foundation to help people. And under the name Karma Club, it does so with parties and a focus on fun.

Last year, it raised about $300,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. This year, the Shelter for Abused Women and Children, Candlelighters, Eden Florida, Ricky King Foundation, Matthew Corio Foundation and J. Timothy Hogan Foundation will share the wealth. Karma Club also offers a hand to individuals-such as the 17-year-old son of a single father who had to quit work when he was diagnosed with advanced Hodgkin's disease.

Proceeds from certain wine and cocktail purchases go to the charities, and the restaurants raise money through the Chops City Ball and Yabba Island Pirate Ball. The method is fun, but the focus never strays from the purpose.

Owner: Skip Quillen. Locations: Pazzo! Italian Café, 853 Fifth Ave. S., Naples; Chops City Grill, 837 Fifth Ave. S., Naples, and corner of U.S. 41 and Coconut Road, Bonita Springs; Yabba Island Grill, 711 Fifth Ave. S., Naples. Web site: www.karmaclub.net. Culinary Concepts Charities formed: 2002. Employees: About 400. Nature of business: Restaurants.

EDISION NATIONAL BANK/BANK OF THE ISLANDS

Robbie and Geoffrey Roepstorff's spirit of philanthropy is reflected through Edison National Bank and its Sanibel branch, Bank of the Islands. Robbie Roepstorff is active in no fewer than 17 professional and philanthropic organizations, and Geoffrey's nonprofit activities add to a list that includes the Community Foundation of Sanibel/Captiva, Uncommon Friends Foundation, Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW), the American Heart Association (the Roepstorffs co-chaired the Lee County Heart Ball) and the Foundation for Lee County Public Schools. Bank of the Islands sponsors fund-raising events for just about every nonprofit group on the islands. It also has a car-decal campaign in which weekly winners choose a charity that will receive a minimum $100 contribution.

Both banks have a culture of community service. When they learned that a mother of two was in Hope Hospice and not expected to survive through the Christmas season, employees filled the family's refrigerator and arranged an early holiday observance so the woman and her children could share a final Christmas together.

President: Robbie Roepstorff. CEO: Geoffrey Roepstorff. Location: 13000 S. Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers; 1699 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel. Edison local since: 1996. Web sites: www.edisonnationalbank.com, www.bankoftheislands.com. Employees: 45. Nature of business: Banking.

GULFSTREAM HOMES

Gulfstream Homes is smaller than many area developers, but it gives on a bigger level than many. Known for building environmentally sensitive "green" houses and communities, Gulfstream established a foundation in 2003 committed to charitable causes-particularly those related to homelessness and education. A portion of the proceeds from each company sale goes to the foundation, which provides grants and scholarships to area students and teachers as well as aid to homeless families at St. Matthew's House, which also received a truck from Gulfstream to pick up donated items for its thrift shop.

By building and selling its "Giving House," the company raised $45,000, which was distributed equally to the foundation, Habitat for Humanity and Palmetto Ridge High School's Academy of Construction. It has donated English and Spanish-English dictionaries to more than 5,000 sixth-graders throughout Collier County and Cape Coral, and it has contributed to Junior Achievement and the Collier Education Foundation, among others.

In addition to building Habitat for Humanity homes, holding blood drives and other charitable activities, Gulfstream and its employees annually stage three fund-raising events: Bowling Bonanza, Casino Night and, for the first time this year, a golf tournament.

Co-owners: Michael and Stephen Peel. Location: 6646 Willow Park Drive; Naples. In Naples since: 1998. Web site: www.gulfstreamhomes.com. Employees: 60. Nature of business: Home builder.

HUBBARD'S LTD.

Affordable Tuxedo, a division of Naples-based Hubbard's Ltd., proves that small businesses can give big. Owner Robert Hubbard has a long history with the United Way in Indiana and Tennessee, and his employees share his dedication to philanthropy. Meanwhile, Hubbard's wife and business partner, Karen, volunteers at the Neighborhood Health Clinic and participates in various other philanthropic activities.

Hubbard has served 12 years on the Collier County United Way's board of directors, and on the Project HELP and Fun Time Early Childhood Academy boards. And as a former Education Foundation of Collier County board member, he continues to support schools through his business.

Hubbard's United Way service led him to Fun Time Early Childhood Academy in the late 1990s, when its volunteer base was as weak as its finances. He joined its board and helped guide its revival. A beneficiary of the Naples Winter Wine Festival, the center has received about a million dollars and is now preparing to build a larger facility.

Co-owners: Robert and Karen Hubbard. Location: 5400 Taylor Road, Suite 109, Naples. In Naples since: 1987. Employees: Five. Nature of business: Menswear retail and tuxedo rentals.

PRIVATESKY AVIATION

PrivateSky Aviation could've had a regular company Christmas party, but the owners decided to bring in a band-with musicians from groups like Starship, Journey and Kansas-and charge admission to raise money for the Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida. Since that first Rockin' Christmas Party in 2002, the company has had a party each December with an all-star band of big-name musicians. The revenue from ticket sales, sponsors and auctions-between $250,000 and $500,000-has been committed each year to a different cause chosen by Vincent Wolanin, the majority shareholder, his wife, Illona, and partners Dr. John and Liz Kagan. This year the event will help finance cancer research, and a portion will go toward a college scholarship endowment.

Staged in PrivateSky's bright-yellow hangar at Southwest Florida International Airport, the Rockin' Christmas Party is the company's most visible philanthropic activity, but not its only one. Focusing primarily on education and children who've lost one or both parents, Wolanin's companies support college scholarships at Philadelphia University and Siena College near Albany, N.Y., among others.

Chairman and CEO: Vincent Wolanin. Location: Southwest Florida International Airport, Fort Myers. In Fort Myers since: 2000, after merger with JetSouth. Web sites: www.rockinchristmasparty.com, www.privatesky.net. Employees: 65 to 100, depending on season. Nature of business: Aviation services organization and Gulfstream maintenance service center.