State Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, will likely be the next chairman for the Republican Party of Florida. 

Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis is expected today to endorse Gruters. With that, along with a strong allegiance to President Donald Trump, the local leader seems to have a clear path to the post. 

The Republican Party of Sarasota issued a press release Wednesday making clear Gruters' intention to run for re-election as chairman of the county party, a post he needs to hold in order to run for state chair.

“It’s been an honor to serve Sarasota County Republicans and it will continue to be an honor,” he says.

But running for county chair reverses a previous decision he made to step away from that job. Now Jack Brill, the frontrunner to succeed Gruters, will run for another term as vice chairman.

“To have Joe as the chairman of the Republican Party of Florida is huge for Sarasota County,” Brill says. 

Gruters ran for state chair before in 2010, but after falling short has focused on his role as Republican Party of Sarasota chairman and on his own political ambitions. He won a seat in the Florida Legislature in 2016, and in November won a promotion to the state Senate. But he's been heavily involved in state party politics as well. He served as vice chairman of the Republican Party of Florida in 2016, and as co-chair for the Florida arm of Donald Trump's successful presidential campaign.

It’s those connections that those close to Gruters say made him a natural choice for state chair, a post he hasn’t actively pursued this year before the last couple days. 

Photo courtesy Florida Senate: Joe Gruters prepares to be sworn in as state senator.

Once you’ve arrived at The Crow’s Nest Marina Restaurant, made your way upstairs to the gorgeous dining room, taken a seat at your table and admired the stunning view of the Gulf, you may find that the murmers of hunger in your stomach have turned to roars. However, should the baked sea scallops catch your eye—and they surely will—you’ll find yourself waiting just a touch longer. “It’s baked to perfection,” Chef Jon DeRue assures us. “It’s about a fifteen minute cook time; it’s well worth the wait, though.” With hearty jumbo scallops mixed with a perfectly crisp lobster gratin, this decadent dish balances light seafood with rich cheese and breadcrumbs to create an entrée that is truly irresistible. So select a wine and a seat by the window – because good things come to those who wait. 

1968 Tarpon Center Dr, Venice

As the end of the semester draws near for the 2018-19 school year, The Community Foundation of Sarasota County is proud to provide supplemental funding to Booker High School to boost those programs that help students finish the school term strong, recently granting the school $30,000. “These dollars will help advance, what we have learned to be, effective models and practices,” says Booker High School Principal Rachel Shelley. “Our goal is to not only increase our graduation rate but to provide college and career readiness outcomes that will empower our students for the 21st Century workforce.”

“A significant portion of the grant will be used to level the playing field for 1st generation students,” Shelley continues, “by providing college access and college success through SAT/ACT and essential skill training programs, increasing college visits, allowing summer bridge programs for incoming Freshman, collaborating with Booker Middle and Emma E. Booker Schools to increase STEM related activities for underserved populations in our community, and offering rewards and incentives to all students through our Renaissance Program.”

Funds will also go towards a number of invaluable facets like discretionary support of students and teachers, and assisting the wellness program, which reaches 60-120 staff and 300-600 students through wellness workshops with accompanying software. Additionally, the grant will support staff and student appreciation, faculty meetings, staff yoga, Renaissance Program celebrations for the students with 3.0 or higher GPA, industry certifications and special celebrations for graduating students.

“The investment in our innovative strategies will ensure that our students will develop the knowledge skills and behaviors to be successful in the 21st century and staff will be recognize for the hard work,” says Shelley. “Again, I’m appreciative and grateful for this unspeakable gift.”

The Community Foundation of Sarasota County is proud to partner with SRQ Media Group to highlight stories about community impact powered by philanthropy in our region, thanks to the support of donors and our local nonprofit partners. The Community Foundation is a public charity founded in 1979 by the Southwest Florida Estate Planning Council as a resource for caring individuals and the causes they support, enabling them to make a charitable impact on the community. 

Pictured: Students explore their potential futures at the Booker High School College Fair.

Booker High School

Gulf Coast Community Foundation is now accepting applications for its Winter 2019 Gulf Coast Board Institute. The online application is available at the website below, and the deadline to apply is Friday, December 14.

Gulf Coast Board Institute is a high-level governance training series for volunteer nonprofit board members. The winter class will consist of four full-day training sessions on consecutive Fridays in February. Training is led by professional consultants who are part of the foundation’s Invest in Incredible nonprofit capacity-building initiative. Topics covered include the fundamentals of nonprofit board governance, financial and legal oversight responsibilities, and how to create a highly functioning and engaged board.

Gulf Coast will select up to 20 applicants to participate in the Winter 2019 Board Institute. Participants will be chosen through a competitive process with the intent of creating a diverse group of individuals with a variety of experiences. Gulf Coast provides all training and resources at no cost. Applicants must be currently active board members at a nonprofit in the region. 

Gulf Coast Board Institute Application

Southeastern Guide Dogs has announced that the Charles and Margery Barancik Foundation has awarded a $50,000 grant to support a new Intro to Guide Dogs Camp to be held on the school’s Palmetto campus. Plans are currently being made to finalize the camp with its launch and first session planned for March 2019.

The objective of the camp will be to provide an educational and fun experience for children ages 14–17, who are visually impaired and who may be interested in becoming a guide dog handler, and for parents and guardians. Teen campers and parents will stay overnight in the school’s Barpal-Hirst Student Center during the three-day camp, and will experience simultaneous but different tracks, one for students and one for parents. As with all Southeastern Guide Dogs programs, there is no charge for participants. 

Southeastern Guide Dogs

The Rotary Club of Sarasota Foundation has awarded Embracing Our Differences a $5,000 grant directed to empower EOD’s celebrated educational outreach programs. Presented in partnership with the regional school district and nationally recognized educators, these programs impact the lives of thousands of area teachers and students every year. These include annual workshops and retreats that provide arts and diversity curricula for area educators, bi-county reading initiatives, free bus transportation for students and teachers to visit area cultural venues and student docent programs in high schools. Sarah Wertheimer, Embracing Our Differences' executive director, reports 932 teachers and 39,211 students participating in the organization’s exhibit and educational programs in 2018 alone. Embracing Our Differences' annual juried international art exhibit returns to Sarasota's Bayfront Park, January 19–March 15. 

Embracing Our Differences