Photo courtesy Gulf Coast Community Foundation: Foundation staff.

As we approach 2025 with a renewed sense of community spirit, I’m looking back at a tremendous 2024 with Gulf Coast Community Foundation. This year has felt like a whirlwind – from celebrating my one-year anniversary in June, to navigating back-to-back hurricanes, elections and countless moments in between. Through it all, the resilience and strength of our region have shone brightly, inspiring hope as we step into the new year together.

Join me in reflecting on Gulf Coast’s impact this past year.

Rapid Response Initiative – Help When You Need It Most
Launched to support the region and our partners when a natural disaster impacts our service area, Gulf Coast’s Rapid Response Initiative deploys funds to the areas of greatest need as quickly as possible. I’m proud to share that together with our donors, we have awarded over $1 million to more than 40 nonprofit partners to support rapid response efforts.

The support our community received from across the nation during these difficult times was heartwarming to witness. Businesses, philanthropists and foundations around the country all rallied to support our region in our hurricane relief and recovery efforts. The Gulf Coast team worked tirelessly to ensure these funds reached those with the greatest need as quickly as possible.

It is both humbling and an honor to be a trusted partner for our community—not only in times of crisis but also in times of celebration. Together, we’ve demonstrated that grit and compassion empower us to overcome any challenge.

The Bay Match

Gulf Coast conducts a regional scan to identify community needs every other year. The environment is the only topic our community has identified as a priority in every scan. The Bay Park is not only transforming a 53-acre parking lot into a signature park open and accessible to all, but the park also serves a vital role in improving the water quality of our bay and providing natural habitats for wildlife. 

Our Board of Directors approved a $1 million grant that was doubled by anonymous Gulf Coast donors to make a total of $2 million in matching dollars available for the expansion of The Bay Park. This funding signifies our catalytic support to The Bay, a signature Florida park and notable economic driver. Phase One is complete and flourishing. I encourage you to visit this free and welcoming, open and accessible blue and green oasis with hundreds of no-cost programs offered year-round.

Looking to 2025

There is much to look forward to in the new year. In early 2025, we will celebrate the opening of Heroes’ Village, Sarasota’s first dedicated Veteran’s Housing complex for our country’s heroes. These 10 two-bedroom units in the City of Sarasota will provide long-awaited, supportive and affordable housing for veterans and their families. This catalytic collaboration includes St. Vincent de Paul CARES, a strong nonprofit partner offering veterans wraparound support services. Additionally, with other key community collaborators, we commissioned a study this year on affordable housing in our region. We will receive the final report with recommendations for what our city and county need to do to address the affordable housing crisis. Stay tuned. 

I look forward to an exciting new year, together with you.

Phillip P. Lanham is President and CEO of Gulf Coast Community Foundation. 

Photo courtesy Gulf Coast Community Foundation: Foundation staff.