The Sarasota Military Academy, a local public charter school and college preparatory academy, recently received a $10,000 grant from the Gilbert Waters Charitable Fund of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. Waters, who passed in January 2018, was involved in revitalization efforts for the Sarasota community and contributed to local efforts and foundations, including Sarasota Military Academy. Through the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, the Yale graduate and Navy veteran planned to use his legacy to focus on and financially assist institutions and nonprofit organizations with a mission of creating positive impacts on the community and developing future leaders. Gilbert Waters spent time as a reporter for the local Sarasota Herald Tribune, owning his own public relations company and serving as founder of what is now FCCI Insurance. In addition to a lengthy list of civic engagement roles, including a seat with the City Commission and the Volunteer Architects Downtown Improvement Committee, Waters was also instrumental in the development of the Ringling Bridge.

“There are many incredible ways to describe Gilbert Waters, a man who had a hand in many of the reasons Sarasota is so well-renowned. Navy veteran, developer, fundraiser, volunteer, advocate, pillar of our community—these are just a few of the titles he held, and that list doesn’t begin to scratch the surface,” says SMA Colonel Christina Bowman, Sarasota Military Academy Executive Director of Schools. “We are indebted to Mr. Waters and his generous donation to Sarasota Military Academy. To be included in his legacy is a great honor, and one that will ensure our cadets continue his mission of improving our community and country.”

The Community Foundation of Sarasota County is proud to partner with SRQ Media Group to highlight stories about community impact powered by philanthropy in our region, thanks to the support of donors and our local nonprofit partners. The Community Foundation is a public charity founded in 1979 by the Southwest Florida Estate Planning Council as a resource for caring individuals and the causes they support, enabling them to make a charitable impact on the community.

Photo provided by the Sarasota Military Academy