Collaboratory honors Diana Willis and Sally Jackson with Women's Legacy Fund Philanthropy Award

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Amzeal -- Collaboratory, Southwest Florida's regional community foundation, has named two Southwest Florida leaders as its 2026 Women's Legacy Fund Philanthropy Impact Award honorees. Diana Willis and Sally Jackson will be recognized at Collaboratory's Women's Legacy Fund luncheon on Thursday, Nov. 5.

The Women's Legacy Fund Philanthropy Impact Award recognizes and celebrates extraordinary female philanthropists who exemplify the true spirit of giving.  This award honors these women's tireless dedication to service and profound role in fostering growth, support, and unity.

Since 2002, Willis and her family have contributed more than $2 million to local organizations, including Pace Center for Girls; Habitat for Humanity; Florida Gulf Coast University; SWFL Children's Charities; Abuse, Counseling and Treatment, Inc.; CCMI Soup Kitchen; the Heights Foundation; Go Red for Women with American Heart Association and numerous children's charities.

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Willis is vice president and co-owner of Jason's Deli of Southwest Florida, where she has been instrumental in creating strong culture, operational excellence and meaningful community impact for more than two decades. In 2023, Willis and her team opened their first Foxtail Coffee franchise, bringing the community-focused coffee chain to Southwest Florida.

For more than three decades, Jackson has established a repertoire of community service leadership positions. Since 2021, she has served as a trustee, volunteer and board vice chair for Collaboratory and is chair of the Community Impact and Grantmaking Committee. Jackson currently serves on the local board for Pace Center for Girls, Lee, and is a United Way board member. In 2017, she was recognized with the Pride of Florida Award by Senator Lizbeth Benacquisto and was named a Woman of Distinction in Health Care by Cape Coral Republican Women. Jackson is a 2015 Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce APEX Award finalist and a member of Leadership Lee County's 2004 graduating class.

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Prior to her retirement in 2017, Jackson spent 12 years as system director of government and community relations for Lee Health after an extensive career in business, chamber leadership and state government. Notably, Jackson helped to initiate the first family medicine residency at Lee Health; SalusCare's residential Bob Janes Behavioral Triage Center; a We Care voluntary medical and dental partnership with local nonprofits; and the startup Lee Community Healthcare Federally Qualified Health Center clinics in Southwest Florida.

Jackson and Willis will be recognized as Women's Legacy Fund Philanthropy Impact Award honorees on Thursday, Nov. 5. Established in 2008, the Women's Legacy Fund is built on generosity, gratitude and the unity of women's leadership as strategic partners in philanthropy. By pooling financial and intellectual resources, members make thoughtful grant choices that uplift the entire community.

To learn more, visit Collaboratory.org/Womens-Legacy-Fund.