Doc Ford’s employees help in beach cleanup

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (July 21, 2025) – Employees of Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille’s Jungle Terrace restaurant recently participated in a beach cleanup at TradeWinds Resort, collecting over 7.5 pounds of
trash – one plastic cup and cigarette butt at a time. Team members took part in the two-hour event, unraveling an assortment of debris from washed-ashore seaweed and finding discarded fireworks and
plastic bags on St. Petersburg Beach.

“I’m proud of each team member and their commitment to keeping our beaches pristine,” said Dustin Rickards, general manager. “They were happy to spend their free time making our corner of paradise more enjoyable for others.”

The July 13 beach cleanup, the first for Jungle Terrace employees, follows the restaurant’s June participation in weeding, planting and installing educational QR codes at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, 400-acre natural sanctuary in the heart of the city.

Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille and parent company HM Restaurant Group have a long history of philanthropy and community outreach, assisting local charitable groups committed to conservation,
community, education and the environment. With locations on Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel Island, Jungle
Terrace and the St. Petersburg Pier, the restaurants have 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.

A similar drink program funds Captains For Clean Water’s commitment to protect the health of the Florida Everglades and Florida Bay. The “Ding” Darling Doc Ford’s Tarpon Tournament has donated over $1.57 million for conservation and water-quality research at Sanibel’s J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge since its inception in 2012. The 14th annual tournament is May 15, 2026.

Renowned for its legendary guest experience, Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille is open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The award-winning restaurant offers food with a unique balance of flavors inspired by the Caribbean Rim. Beloved for its sauces, spices and signature Yucatan 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.

Contact:
Jennifer Hamilton, Gravina, Smith, Matte & Arnold Marketing and Public Relations, 239-275-5758,
[email protected]