Pictured: Bart Lowther (left) of Mariash Lowther Wealth Management with Duane Padgett, VP of Marketing and Communications for FCCI Insurance Group who accepted the award on behalf of Cina Welch. 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. Tuesday, December 5, attendees happily joined together to recognize our annual Good Hero Philanthropic Award recipients at the SB2: Philanthropic Agenda and Good Hero Awards Luncheon at Michael’s on East in Sarasota. We are delighted to feature each of the twelve honorees in our Wednesday Philanthropic edition of SRQ Daily.

Today we are recognizing Cina Welch, President and CEO of FCCI Insurance Group, an organization that has had an immeasurable impact in our area to support programs/services helping local children, teens, and adults with special needs. One of fewer than 10 insurance company female CEOs, Cina led her company to the milestone of $1 billion in direct written premiums in 2022 while advocating for many local charities in our community including Suncoast Charities for Children, Suncoast Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, Step Up for Students and Family First. Each year FCCI teammates raise money for the FCCI Charitable Foundation which donates to various charitable organizations that address children’s services, homelessness, food insecurities and mental illness, to name a few. Over the past 17 years, FCCI Insurance Group has donated thousands of dollars in sponsorship support to Suncoast Charities for Children. They have been a longtime sponsor for the organization’s two biggest fundraisers of the year, Thunder By The Bay Music & Motorcycle Festival and Suncoast Summer Fest. In addition to sponsorship support, they also provide volunteers and have assisted Suncoast Charities with "Day of Caring" projects and toy drives held throughout the year. Congratulations on a well-deserved honor.

Pictured: Bart Lowther (left) of Mariash Lowther Wealth Management with Duane Padgett, VP of Marketing and Communications for FCCI Insurance Group who accepted the award on behalf of Cina Welch. Photo by Wyatt Kostygan.