Pictured: Patti Shirley (center) with Dr. Helene Lotman (left) and SRQ Magazine Managing Editor, Barbie Heit. Photo by Wyatt Kostygan.

Each year, SRQ Media invites the community to nominate individuals with hearts of giving who have made a significant impact with local nonprofit organizations — from volunteers and board members to individual staff members and donors. This year, attendees were thrilled to be together as we recognized our annual Good Hero Philanthropic Award recipients at the SB2: Philanthropic Agenda Luncheon and Good Hero Philanthropic Awards Luncheon on Tuesday, March 7th at Michael’s on East in Sarasota. In the coming weeks, we are happy to feature each of the ten honorees in our Wednesday Philanthropic edition of SRQ Daily.

Today we are recognizing Liberty Savings Bank. As a proud Sarasota, Venice and Bradenton community bank, this corporate Good Hero organization makes it a major priority to give back to local charities and nonprofits. Last year alone, their staff members spent an estimated 400 hours volunteering in the region and donated over $21,000 to 18 different local charities including The Haven, Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity South Sarasota and Manatee County, Cat Depot, Low Rider Dachshund Rescue of Florida, Lighthouse Vision Loss Education Center and The Roskamp Institute. Their volunteer efforts include building homes and fundraising with Habitat for Humanity, participating in community clean-up efforts after Hurricane Ian, collecting donations for The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle program, donating blood at local blood banks, volunteering with their local churches, and assisting with Big Bank Theory, a hands-on financial literacy simulation for high school seniors in Manatee County. Thank you for your giving back spirit and congratulations. Patti Shirley, Senior Vice President accepted the award on behalf of Liberty Savings Bank.

Pictured: Patti Shirley (center) with Dr. Helene Lotman (left) and SRQ Magazine Managing Editor, Barbie Heit. Photo by Wyatt Kostygan.