The Giving Challenge returned with a philanthropic pow as community members raised more than $11.7 million in 24 hours for various causes in the region. That includes $6.1 million raised by individual donors before matching dollars, a record for a giving day here. “I know the sun is already shining, but I feel like it’s shining even brighter today thanks to the generosity of so many people in our community,” said Roxie Jerde, president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County.

A total of 636 nonprofits based in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte and DeSoto counties participated in The Giving Challenge this year. The event spanned from noon Tuesday through noon Wednesday, during which time some 49,207 donors gave 74,682 gifts. And that doesn’t count $5 million in matching funds from The Patterson Foundation, which matched up to $100 for each donor per receiving organization. "By engaging staff, board and external partners, each organization has built their own philanthropic muscle," says Debra Jacobs, president and CEO of The Patterson Foundation. "The Giving Challenge is about so much more than the 24 hours, and The Patterson Foundation was proud to strengthen everyone’s effort with the matching opportunity."

2018 marked a return of the challenge after more than a year hiatus. Murray Devine, communications and marketing manager for the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, said after a record year in 2016, philanthropic leaders decided they wanted to move the challenge from September to May, and rather than embarking on an eight-month turnaround before hitting up donors again, the decision was made to wait until 2018 to hold another one-day giving event.

Nonprofits through the region employed various metrics to boast success. Cat Depot, for example, noted that 1,239 donor contributions to that particular nonprofit would provide support for 1,600 cats and kittens saved this year. The $112,019 raised by that organization marked a high among nonprofits raising dollars through the challenge.

The leader in number of donors was Honor Animal Rescue, which received a total of 1,611 gifts worth $100,243. The organization released a video on its Facebook page announced the event had been the best ever for the nonprofit.

Beyond the donations raised, more than $270,000 got awarded in prizes in various categories for large, medium and small nonprofits. Survivors in Sync, for example, picked up a $7,000 prize for having more donors than any other small nonprofit, after raising $22,825 from 350 donors. 

Picture courtesy Cat Depot, which raised $112,019 in the 2018 Giving Challenge.

Bluewater Gear brings together good causes and great student art in its latest contest fundraiser, arranged through a collaboration with Braden River High School’s art program, and set to benefit Mote Marine Laboratory, Save the Sea Turtles Foundation and Surfers for Autism. Following coverage of production costs, proceeds benefit both the organizations selected and the Braden River Art Program.

Students selected the three local, ocean-themed organizations to align with Bluewater Gear’s Sarasota roots and reverence for the deep, blue sea and then the students crafted a shirt design for each of the organizations. With their donations, people can vote for their favorite shirt design. Each of the designs depicts beautifully drawn and detailed sea creatures and beach scenes. The shirt that receives the most donations will be made and sent to donors. The artwork for the other two designs will be used for a Bluewater decal, which will be sent to their respective donors along with a thank you note.

The contest fundraiser seeks not only to raise money for the Florida-based organizations but also to provide students with professional outlets to develop their art. Directed by the dedicated teacher of 15 years, William Ferrell, Braden River Arts Program students have earned over $1 million in art scholarships and he has led design students to five national and six state art competitions. With this confidence and flair, the students embarked on creating intricate, ocean designs for this Bluewater Gear contest fundraiser.

"I would like to give them opportunity to get their art out there to the public and make a difference in the community, in a professional setting,” says Rachel Stotler, Bluewater Gear’s art director and social media coordinator.

The fundraiser ends on May 17. Voting is currently open. For more information or to donate, visit the website below. 

Pictured: Sketches and brainstorming from Braden River High School artists. Photos courtesy of Bluewater Gear.

Vote for Art

Lo and behold, Sarasota is invited to shop the #1 Nationally Ranked Children’s Consignment Event. Rhea Lana’s connects families all over the U.S. as parents are looking to become more eco-conscious in their shopping habits. Conveniently emerging as the new way to shop, Rhea Lana’s hosts semi-annual children’s consignment events, supporting local communities and providing countless families with affordable fashion. The ingenious business model has conveivably grown rapidly from a living room in Conway, Arkansas 20 years ago, to 90 locations in 23 states—including Sarasota.

Coordinated by local moms Rachel Tarro and Amber Gingerich, the highly anticipated and thriftastic showdown launches this weekend—transforming the Fairgrounds into a consigning arena of boutique and name-brand clothing, toys, books, furniture and baby gear. Families are also able to sell their gently-used children/maternity items, and receive 70-80% of their sale—simultaneously earning a further stretch in their buying budget during this one-stop-shop. This is the perfect opportunity for moms to help neighboring moms score trendy outfits at a frugal price tag for their fast-growing little ones, while also making a little extra cash. The reputation Rhea Lana’s holds is top-notch, thus every time it is held here, a line accumulates outside Robarts Arena just to get in.

Over 450 consignors will be present with thousands of shoppers expected to attend. The event takes place Sunday, May 6th, through Wednesday, May 9th. All forms of payment for merchandise are accepted, while admission and parking are free. Check out special previews of its inventory, as well as selling/purchasing times in the link below. 

Image provided by Rhea Lana's.

Rhea Lana's Children's Consignment Event, Sarasota Fairgrounds, 3000 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota.

This generous portion of Braised Short Ribs remains an underlined feature on the menu at Marina Jack’s scenic Dining Room. Chef Dabney ultimately decided on a boneless short rib dish so guests would get more bang for their buck, and the presentation itself proves remarkably eloquent compared to the bony alternative. Chef Dabney sears the meat from the chuck before slow-braising it for 6-8 hours in a Wild Mushroom Petite Sirah Demi-Glace until fork tender. Once cooked to perfection, the hefty 8 oz stack of Halperns Aged Beef gets served royally atop sautéed spinach and garlic, as well as smashed truffle and Yukon gold potatoes. If rice pilaf, steamed asparagus or sautéed broccolini sound more appealing, side selections can be easily traded to maximise that ‘Mmm’ moment! Do not let yourself glance over a savory signature entree—this big hunk of short rib is awaiting at your next waterfront supper.

Marina Jack is a member of Nosh, SRQ Magazine's content marketing program for local restaurants.  

Photo by Wyatt Kostygan.

Marina Jack, $33, 2 Marina Plaza, Sarasota, 34236, 941-365-4232

Deepak G. Nair, MD, MS, MHA, RVT, FACS has been elected president of the Sarasota County Medical Society (SCMS). Nair is Chief of Vascular Surgery and Chairman of Medical Education at Sarasota Memorial Hospital. His clinical experience includes all aspects of arterial and venous surgery; in particular, he specializes in endovascular minimally invasive treatment of aneurysms and dissections. Nair is a partner at Sarasota Vascular Specialists. In addition, he serves as a Governor of the American College of Surgeons, and is on the Executive Boards of the Florida Vascular Society, Florida Chapter of the American College of Surgeons, and the Intersocietal Accreditation Association’s Vein Center Board. Nair grew up in Manhattan and attended high school at the Bronx High School of Science. He graduated magna cum laude from the City College of New York and received his medical degree at Upstate Medical Center, Syracuse, New York, where he was a member of the AOA honors society. He trained in general surgery at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center. He took further fellowship training in vascular surgery at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.  He serves as Clinical Associate Professor of Surgery at the Florida State University School of Medicine. 

Sarasota County Medical Society

130 free trees are still available to City of Sarasota residents as part of the Community Canopy program, which gives away trees to help expand Sarasota's urban canopy while reducing energy bills. Five Florida-friendly, regionally sourced species are available: Chickasaw plum, Crape myrtle, Red maple, Shumard oak and Sweetbay magnolia. On the website, residents can use a calculator tool to estimate the annual energy savings from planting a tree in the most strategic location on their property. Participants are expected to care for the tree and plant it in the location specified by the online tool. A one-gallon tree will be delivered directly to the resident's home. This is the third Community Canopy tree giveaway for the City of Sarasota. Since the current giveaway started on April 23, approximately 100 trees have been reserved online. Including this round, over 350 trees will have been given away through the Community Canopy program to bolster the urban canopy and help with climate mitigation and adaptation efforts. The program is funded by the City's tree replacement fund, which collects a portion of tree removal permit dollars to be used for urban canopy protection programs.  A grant from the Florida Forest Service enabled the City to double the number of trees given away this time. City residents can reserve one free tree per household by visiting the website below. Residents are encouraged to register soon while supplies last. 

Community Canopy

This week, the Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, with help from Amazon, donated 1,755 teddy bears to benefit Child Protection Services through the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office brought a large truck on Monday to pick up the stuffed animals that were collected during a drive from April 2 to April 30 in observance of Child Abuse Awareness Month in April. Amazon challenged their employees to donate after a Manatee County Clerk of the Court employee told her friend, who works for Amazon, about the drive they were spearheading. The Manatee County Sheriff's Office plans to put the teddy bears into patrol cars so that deputies can hand them out to children during routine calls. 

Child Protection Services