Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties will honor Jaime and Julie DiDomenico at its annual Champions for Children Gala on Saturday, November 18, 2023. Jaime and Julie have a demonstrated passion for helping local youth reach their full potential and are committed to ensuring their legacy and support will positively impact Club members for generations to come. As owners of Cool Today, Jaime and Julie integrated support for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties as part of their corporate philosophy. Together they launched a partnership that secured in-kind vendor services to all six Club sites, contracted subject matter experts to facilitate workforce development programs for teens, and created corporate engagement events as ways for their employees to support the Clubs. These efforts earned Jaime recognition at the organization's Leadership Breakfast in 2019. In 2022, when Hurricane Ian hit our region, the DiDomenico’s reaffirmed their commitment to the mission even further and pledged support to ensure a full rebuild of the Gene Matthews Boys & Girls Club in North Port. Jaime is also a longtime board member who served as Chair of the Board of Directors from 2015-2017 and currently serves as Treasurer. Presented by the Annette J. Hagens Memorial Foundation, proceeds from the event will ensure youth across Sarasota and DeSoto Counties have access to award-winning programs that foster academic success, strong character and leadership, healthy lifestyles, and career readiness. Champions for Children will take place at the Lee Wetherington Boys & Girls Club at 3100 Fruitville Road in Sarasota. The gala will feature an outdoor cocktail reception, award presentation, dinner program featuring a three-course gourmet meal curated by Culinary Creations by Metz, dancing, and auction. Individual tickets are available for $400 per person. Sponsorships are also available for a limited time starting at $5000. Tickets and sponsorships can be purchased online at bgcsdc.org/events. For more information, contact Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties at 941-366-3911. To learn more about us or to donate, please visit bgcsdc.org.