Almost 200 years ago, the first photograph was made from a camera. The term “photograph” followed to describe the process as “to draw light” (a combination of the Greek words photos and graphein). While the ways we capture images today have dramatically expanded (think: Snapchat stories, Instagram feeds and good old-fashioned scrapbooks, just to name a few mediums), the purpose of photos remain core: to remind all of us of who we are in a particular moment.

At the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, we view grant opportunities in very much the same light. Each grant opportunity represents a critical snapshot of our community’s emerging needs and offers a glimpse of what we can become. For our nonprofit partners, grants act as an indispensable tool to effectively transform how we respond in difficult times into catalysts for connection, innovation and sustainability, and most importantly to improve lives along the way.

You see this picture clearly through our Community Impact Grant Program, which is an open grant application that awards up to $10,000. Since its revamp last August, our program has shifted its focus to tackling emerging needs and opportunities that can unexpectedly be sparked through great ideas and great generosity. While each of these grants has a moving story behind it, I’d like to highlight a few that I have saved in my own metaphorical scrapbook.

Reflecting our caring community, the Sarasota Manatee Association for Riding Therapy (SMART) created “Warriors in Transition,” a program to support local veterans that provides monthly, full-day horse-related workshops that provide clarity, connection, and life-changing experiences. While this program began in early 2014, an unanticipated partnership with the therapists at Bay Pines VA Healthcare Services presented an opportunity for greater participation and additional programming to support our local veterans.

Next, to build confidence along with in-demand skills, Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida has enhanced their Mischief Managed program, a one-day, interactive experience for Girl Scouts grade two and up, with an exciting computer coding activity. Using Harry Potter themed coding kits, participants learn the building blocks of programming by assembling magic wands that can interact with computers and other devices. The best part? Following the program, participants can take their kits home and explore more than 70 step-by-step coding challenges.

Finally, upon recognizing that more than 7,000 students in Sarasota County live with physical disabilities, Mote Marine Laboratory made plans to construct a walkway and floating dock that would make their waterfront accessible to individuals who rely on mobility aids. For thousands of children and their families, this new dock will serve as a lively outdoor classroom that expands access to transformative educational experiences and, ensuring everyone has an equal opportunity to learn, grow and thrive.

As you can imagine, over our 40-year history the Community Foundation has amassed an impressive photo album of nonprofit partnerships, initiatives and causes. Our collection of memories and stories will certainly continue to grow with each grant opportunity, as will our unwavering commitment to strengthening our nonprofit community for generations to come. And I believe that’s a snapshot worth framing.

Roxie Jerde is president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. 

Photo courtesy Sarasota Manatee Association for Riding Therapy.

To explore and apply for grant opportunities, visit here

Sarasota on March 4 lost one of its strongest leaders, most fervent advocates and one its true champions: Former Mayor and City Commissioner Kerry Kirschner. I would like to share a few words about this man, whose impact on the community was truly profound.

As he did with many others, Kerry did much to help and mentor me when I was getting into public service. Truthfully, that’s a pretty significant understatement, so let me admit now that I pestered him many times a day for extended periods of time. The breadth of Kerry’s knowledge of civic issues was completely mind blowing. He knew so much about so many things and I feel he better prepared me to do the job, so much so, I only half- jokingly called him Maestro and I of course, I had tremendous respect for him. 

Kerry had many, many friends. His network flooded all corners in the community. People loved him for his intellect, his knowledge, his worldliness, his confidence, his colossal stubbornness enriched with humor and his ability to disagree agreeably.

I can remember, quite vividly, the first time I saw and heard Kerry Kirschner. It was on the television but not a city commission meeting. It was 1990 and I was sitting on my living room floor on Long Island watching Phil Donahue. You may find it strange that a 15-year old male was home watching Donohue, that is until you hear what the show was about. A debate regarding a ban on T-back bikinis on a public beach in Florida. Ah, see? Not so strange. The beach in question was in Sarasota, the place where my family had opened a restaurant the year before. I didn’t know much about Sarasota other than that I would be moving there soon.

The T-back bikini issue was getting lots of attention, especially after a few people were arrested over it, so Donahue had two City Commissioners, among others, on the show to talk about it. Kerry was Mayor at the time and opposed the ban since he felt the government had no business telling people what to wear. I was really struck by how confidently he spoke and with real conviction. It was clear he was a leader and a strong one. Kerry was a truly excellent public speaker and during my own time on the commission I always enjoyed seeing him across the dais, making his points clearly and confidently and never with vitriol.

Sarasota was a very different place then. Ok, you might be thinking I am about to go into a rant about how downtown used to kind of suck and now, it’s great. Well then, you would be correct. That is precisely what I am about to do. Downtown Sarasota in the late ‘80s was definitely not a high point in our history. Our commercial core needed lots of attention, it needed some big changes and the vision and the willingness to absorb some risk. Usually, that can only happen one way, with strong leadership. Kerry supplied that.

A plan for downtown, The Bayfront Improvement Project, the Community Redevelopment Agency, The Tourist Development Tax. These are just a few things for which Kerry Kirschner was the tip of the spear. On a personal note, I can tell you that the Caragiulo Family, who like many others that came here and were provided the opportunity to thrive, are enormously grateful for his strong leadership that made this city the wonderful place it is now. Kerry loved his city. There is absolutely no doubt about that.

Kerry’s public service continued far past his time in office. There simply isn’t enough time here to go over all the positive things he either initiated, worked on, advocated for or assisted with. Thank you, Maestro. Thank you so very, very much.

Paul Caragiulo is a former Sarasota city and county commissioner. 

When you think of a self-actualized person, what comes to mind? What role does education play in this development?

If ever a topic warranted sober deliberation in civil discourse, it is our country’s public education system. In my opinion, it is a black mark on our society that education has become overly politicized and yanked between extreme viewpoints like a frayed rope in a tug-of-war contest.

The pendulum continues to swing back and forth, and unified solutions to address education’s major challenges remain at bay.

Strengthening economic prosperity and building social trust can be pursued simultaneously in education with a “yes, and” mindset instead of “either/or.”

In David Brooks’ recent column, “The Nordic model: thinking,” the highly regarded columnist described the approach utilized with great success by the countries of Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland.

As Brooks explains, the basis for today’s Nordic countries enjoying heralded economic prosperity, soaring personal happiness quotient and enviable shared social responsibility was laid 200 years ago.

Their approach calls for education that results in students’ complete moral, emotional, intellectual and civic transformation, equipping them to see the world in more complex ways while developing strong relationships between personal freedoms and social responsibilities.

The Nordic countries demonstrate that providing the best education for all is both an economic stimulus and a societal equalizer. It lifts citizens out of a class system that would limit individual potential and hamper the capacity to contribute to national prosperity.

Before you stop reading further to object to this proposition under the false notion of socialism, this is exactly where the intersection of “yes, and” comes into play.

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell recently attributed the United States’ low labor force participation rates to our declining educational attainment rates in comparison to peer counties, particularly among lower- and middle-income people.

So, if we are to improve labor force participation rates, increase educational attainment rates and produce more responsible, contributing members of society, we must expand our approach to more than just what someone can do. It also must be applied to who they can be.

Education’s purpose is to create more self-actualized persons, not just to improve the ability to sort students for college or career, school or trades. That’s why, at the Education Foundation of Sarasota County, we are in pursuit of college, career and life readiness for all students.

Again, referencing Brooks, Americans often think of schooling as the transmission of specialized skill sets. We see that in stories criticizing schools for not “producing” enough skilled workers to repair our cars, fix our plumbing, and build our houses.

If we use a non-critical approach, we can agree that trades workers are needed; that both technical school and traditional college are valid pathways; and expanding postsecondary pathways will benefit everyone.

It’s not beneficial to limit education’s purpose to skill mastery or to define a worker’s worth in terms of a skill. Instead, think of schooling as a piece of the whole that is education.

In its purest form, education is not a means to an end; it is a value of lifelong learning. Education produces intellectually robust, curious citizens capable of original thinking, creating and designing solutions to the environmental, political and economic challenges that our world is facing.

Yes, we need plumbers, and yes, we need philosophers. And there’s no reason a skilled carpenter can’t also be a teacher.

It comes down to what we, as a community, want. Do we want to perpetuate a class system with “either/or” classifications? If we choose the “yes, and” approach, how will we amplify education’s highest potential in our community?

It’s our prerogative to decide the manner in which we come together to prepare every student for success.

We have the power. Do we have the will? Could this be Sarasota County’s raison d'être?

Jennifer Vigne is president of the Education Foundation of Sarasota County. 

Local Real Estate Brokerage, Catalist Realty, has created a unique business model by balancing concierge level service with philanthropy - donating 15% of all commission earned to nonprofits of its clients choice. Today, the firm has eclipsed $50,000 contributed to nonprofits. As transactions increased, so would donations. An instant draw for some was that Catalist would allow the clients themselves to choose which organizations would receive the funds. This was important to ensure the largest impact, as clients can support organizations they are already connected with or if a client doesn’t have a current relationship with a 501c3, Catalist will bridge the gap and connect them with local nonprofits who align with their values and passion. To date, Catalist Realty has proudly donated to over 20 organizations.

Catalist Realty

Following her mother’s request, a daughter donated $125,000 to Ear Research Foundation in her memory. Sandy Schena shared, “My mother, Shirley (Schena), and her late husband, John Rosatone, made a lifetime of charitable giving.  Upon their deaths they wanted their children to continue in their footsteps. I chose to support all the wonderful things Dr. Silverstein has done in research.” 

“This generous support will greatly impact our work, especially a new study that shows promise in restoring hearing,” said Dr. Silverstein.

Ear Research Foundation

This year, The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature is exploring all of Florida's watery finery during Wonders of Water, a celebration of everything that's wet and wonderful about our state, planet and universe. 

This month, they'll be taking a deep dive into manatee awareness as we celebrate Manatee Appreciation Day on Wednesday, March 25, with bonus Manatee Appreciation Day activities on Saturday, March 28.

The Bishop has been doing manatee rehabilitation since 1998 and the Museum was a founding partner of the Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership— a cooperative group of nonprofit, private, state and federal organizations that participate in manatee population management or manatee rescue and rehabilitation. The Bishop has cared for over 42 manatees.

They'll be offering special take-home manatee activities for kids — paper-bag puppets and coloring pages — along with extended presentations focused on manatee rehabilitation and awareness. 

The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature

Did you know that the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the nation’s largest grassroots advocacy organization for people with mental illness and their families? The organization was started around a kitchen table and now is one of the nation's leading voice on mental health. Over 80,000 people in Sarasota are impacted by mental illness each year.  

National Alliance on Mental Illness

Academically qualified low-income students from Sarasota and Manatee counties now have increased opportunities to attend New College of Florida, the State of Florida’s designated Honors College. Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation recently awarded New College Foundation $500,000 to launch a new program targeting local high school students who have demonstrated strong academics and outstanding community leadership. New College has named this new initiative the Access Leadership Program.

New College of Florida