History of the John Island’s Foundation

Ken Wessel is a Florida-based entrepreneur and philanthropist with over two decades of experience in the fragrance industry. Founder of Wessel Fragrances, Ken Wessel, makes donations to charitable organizations, including the John Island Foundation.

The John Island Foundation broadens opportunities and transforms lives for the Indian River community members by providing capital grants for non-profit agencies. The organization's story begins with a 1999 meeting to address the needs of the Indian River County. Members of the John Island community gathered in Elle McCabe's living room to discuss the lack of funding for non-profit agencies in the Indian River County.

Following the meeting, local attorney John Moore alongside members of the John Island community, established the John Island's Foundation. The group laid down by-laws to guide the organization in carrying out its mission to raise funding to make capital grants to on-profit agencies operating in the Indian River County. Elle McCabe also assumed the position of the first president of the foundation.

The foundation received its first batch of funding from 20 potential donors and a public appeal sent out to the John island Community. The result of this patch was $427,831, which was sent out as grants to a total of 22 agencies.