The Charlotte Community Foundation traces its roots to the Adventist Hospital Foundation, founded to support the Adventist Hospital of Punta Gorda originally built in the 1940s. The Adventist Hospital Foundation focused primarily on fundraising for health & education.
In 1995 the Adventist hospital was sold, and renamed the Charlotte Regional Medical Center with the Foundation becoming a separate organization, known as the Charlotte County Foundation. Founding member of CCF and first Chairman of the Board, Leo Wotitsky, along with founder, Vernon Peeples, shared visions for the progress of the Foundation and its impact on the local community as both members traced their family history in Charlotte County to the 1800s.
In 2004, after a strategic planning workshop with our Leadership, Board, and invited members of the community, a new plan took shape with a stronger focus on the philanthropic needs of Charlotte County.
With new clarity came a new name, Charlotte Community Foundation, more indicative of its reinvented role as a foundation serving the whole community. With a new vision and mission of “Connecting People Who Care with Causes that Matter”, it would now focus on more than health and education. In the words of founder Vernon Peeples CCF was, “to make a greater impact on more peoples’ live,”.
Our enduring history, as it weaves its story of assisting those most in need, is one that must continue to honor our founder’s ideals. From our initial focus on health and education issues, the Foundation now serves various community needs through grant-making and scholarships, all made possible by the generosity of our beloved donors.
Day-to-day Foundation operations are guided by the Chief Executive Officer Ashley Maher, with oversight from a volunteer Board of Directors. Our board members are chosen for their strong ties to the community and their local knowledge of the needs of Charlotte County and its residents. Under this guidance, the Charlotte Community Foundation has set a course that strives to encourage public and private philanthropy and support projects that offer unique solutions to community needs so that we may enhance and improve the quality of life for all of our residents.
