Under clear blue skies on March 16, the Zonta Club of Sanibel-Captiva celebrated the return of a much-loved annual event, “Peek at the Unique,” the annual home tour on hiatus since 2019 due to COVID and damage from Hurricane Ian.  

The 2024 “Peek” was a hit with supporters old and new, a new bus schedule offering guests the flexibility of staying longer at—or leaving sooner from—each property.  

More than 200 enthusiastic “Peekers” came out to support Zonta, delighted to see old friends and enjoy an outing that had raised funds to improve women’s lives since 2002.  Zontian Kate Sergeant, a docent at one of the houses, said: “All the participants seemed to be so happy the tour was back and really liked the houses they had seen.”  

On comfortable air-conditioned buses, guests rode to two spectacularly renovated homes on Sanibel’s west end, then to a new Gulf-front property that survived the storm while under construction, and finally to a nearby garden, restored following Ian’s wrath. 

A bonus was the presence of the homeowners, who not only generously opened their homes but chatted with Peekers and answered questions.  Since the theme was Sanibel Resilience, architect Joyce Owens at the Gulf-front home spoke to each group about strategies her firm uses in designing homes that will resist severe weather. 

Early estimates indicate Zonta raised approximately $41,000, exceeding expectations.  All proceeds are awarded in grants to local nonprofits whose programs build better lives for women and girls.  

Zonta especially thanks house and garden sponsors Architecture Joyce Owens, Kingfisher Real Estate (Robyn Moran and Phaidra McDermott), and R.S. Walsh Landscaping, plus home base sponsor Bank of the Islands.  “Peek” homeowners Christopher and Crystal Smith sponsored Dolphin Transportation, provider of the buses.  For other sponsor names or to donate, visit https://zontasancap.com/peek/.