In times of crisis, communities come together in many different ways. Our government agencies offer relief and emergency support. Business leaders advocate for and drive economic relief. And, many of us want to help our neighbors, which often results in a surge of charitable giving. Philanthropy adds another layer of care to augment responses for immediate action, short-term relief and to prepare for longer-term recovery. As a community foundation, we exist first and foremost to serve our community, especially in times of critical need.

We know the need is going to be unprecedented with situations we can't even imagine yet. That is why as an initial response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Community Foundation of Sarasota County has quickly reactivated its time-tested and trusted Season of Sharing community-wide partnership to be prepared to help the most vulnerable with immediate basic needs such as payments for rent, utilities, and childcare.

As a longtime partner and supporter of the campaign, The Patterson Foundation has committed up to $1 million to strengthen this vital reactivation, including an immediate $500,000 contribution along with an additional dollar-for-dollar match up to $500,000 for all gifts made to Season of Sharing during this time. Thanks to our generous community, we have already seen an outpouring of support. When the match is fulfilled by the community, there will be $1.5 million more in additional funds.

Even in ordinary times, Season of Sharing is a vital safety net for those on the verge of homelessness and losing stability. Season of Sharing and its network of more than 60 nonprofit partners have the experience, knowledge and trust to be able to help those who will be served through the fund. As one of several strategic responses available to assist our community, Season of Sharing provides us a great starting point and calls on the key ingredient of any community’s success: collaboration.

Now is the time as a community to focus on what is possible, and we all have an opportunity to consider how we can offer solutions.

This solutions-oriented mindset also applies to local nonprofit organizations. As COVID-19 has uprooted traditional sources of income and fundraising, nonprofits partners look to philanthropy as a bond of dependability, with the resources and means to create and strengthen these strategies.

As another way to support organizations on the frontlines, we have continued several long-standing grant opportunities to enhance the wellbeing and resiliency of grantees, including a healthcare grant through the James Franklin Warnell & Dorothy J. Warnell Fund, and a rolling application cycle for “Community Impact Grants,” offered to assist nonprofits with addressing critical needs.

Another opportunity to strengthen our nonprofit community is the 2020 Giving Challenge, a 24-hour giving event returning April 28-29 that connects donors with nearly 700 nonprofits to support a diversity of causes. As one of several grant-funding tools available to help with our community’s response, the unrestricted funds raised during the Giving Challenge provide nonprofits the flexibility to respond to community needs, especially as those needs evolve.

In moments like this, philanthropy can truly shine. The future is unknown, and it likely won't be easy in the short-term, but it is up to us to ensure our community remains healthy, resilient, and united so that we all can thrive and realize our full potential. Together.

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

Editor's Note: Education Foundation of Sarasota President Jennifer Vigne asked Es Swihart to pen this month's column on behalf of the organization. "With our shared focus on the impact of COVID-19, I am devoting the following space to a teacher’s perspective written by Es Swihart, who serves as a teacher representative on the Education Foundation of Sarasota County board of directors. Thank you for your support of our work to “help all of our children,” as Es so eloquently writes." Vigne writes.

As schools across the country began to close as a precaution against COVID-19, teachers took to social media with concerns about our kids. 

What about the children who rely on meals through the school system? How will kids without access to technology complete their school year? What about children living in chaotic or traumatic homes? How will this crisis affect their well-being?  

Teachers know firsthand that while all children have challenges, some children have more challenges than others. In the midst of a crisis, these challenges come to the forefront. It is worth remembering that once we have moved through these hard and unknown times, those challenges will remain and some even will be exacerbated.   

While it’s tempting sometimes to roll our eyes and give a “kids these days” shake of the head at young people, it’s a worthy practice to remember that once we were part of the generation subjected to head shakes from our elders.  

It’s even more worthwhile to remember that some of those “darn kids” are young people who maintain strong grades while working 30 hours a week to help feed their families. Those heroic young people who spend “free time” parenting their siblings in their parents’ absence. The “darn kids” who are surviving environments where neglect or abuse are realities.  

In my nearly a decade and a half in the classroom, our children have taught me much about strength and spirit. And while we should celebrate the awards and tournaments and campaigns won by hard-working young people, we also should look to the resiliency, grit, and grace of the student who gets himself to school every day, without adult help or support, and strives to do his best.  

If my time in the classroom has shown me the obstacles that impede achievement and access for many of our students, my time working on the board at the Education Foundation of Sarasota County has taught me the impact that outside support has on the lives of students and the necessity of community coming together to offer this support.

As we all work together during this time of crisis, may we take that same spirit of community and kindness into the future. Our community is only as strong as the greatest struggles within it. Together we must help all of our children overcome obstacles, benefit from education, and strive for a better future.  

Es Swihart is an English and International Baccalaureate teacher at Riverview High School and was the 2018 district Teacher of the Year. 

March 11 was like any other night for me at the Van Wezel – another great concert, this time by Paul Anka. The action-packed week started with superstar Josh Groban bringing down the house with his glorious voice, followed by the heart wrenching Broadway musical, The Color Purple. My friend Patsy and I made our way through the audience in the lobby and took our seats just before the lights started to dim. This is always a magical time for me – the hush that falls over an audience right before the star steps on stage.

First up was a film of Paul’s younger days as a teen idol, then as a young member of the Rat Pack, followed by a lifetime of memories of Paul singing with the greats and with his adoring family. Then, Paul took the stage in a concert dedicated to Ol’ Blue Eyes, The Chairman of the Board, Mr. Frank Sinatra himself. Paul, who has written so many hit songs for himself and a myriad of stars, launched into the legendary Sinatra hits and interspersed them with tales of The Rat Pack.

“Frank always had nicknames for everyone,” he told us. "I was ‘The Kid.’” Anka, like Sinatra, is an Entertainer with a capital E. He fed off the audience and the energy at the Van Wezel that evening, and the intimacy of the Hall seemed very special to him. He gave us his all and kept singing and entertaining us for as long as the crowd kept cheering. Little did I know that night, something I couldn’t see was lurking to stop the immense joy our theaters provide every night to audiences throughout the world.

Encore after encore, Paul came back onstage and ended up performing for an additional 30 minutes. After the lights came up, Patsy said “I just didn’t know how fabulous this would be. I haven’t seen him since I was very young.” After the show, we headed backstage to congratulate him on a great show and heard more stories about Sinatra. When I left the stage door, I didn’t realize I had seen my last Van Wezel show for a long time.

The news turned upsetting the next day: Broadway went dark. I’m a Tony voter and experiencing a Broadway show is like a life-giving force to me. The next morning, I had a sobering call with the City Manager (who also loves the arts) and the directors of the Ballet, Orchestra, the Asolo, and the Opera. We were brought to the sickening but unanimous decision that our curtains would be closed for the foreseeable future. Since then, the applause and cheers of that last concert echo in my head and in my aching heart. Every day, I check the calendar to see what could have been: An American In Paris, The Choir of Man (my favorite new show), Harry Connick, Jr., Itzhak Perlman, David Foster, Katharine McPhee and many others. We grieve for so many people in our industry and elsewhere that have been impacted by this unprecedented horrible chain of events.

My staff and I are passionate about the arts and theatre. While we may not be seated in the Hall tonight, the show will go on – I promise you that. The curtain will rise, the music will fill the theatre and we will again experience the magic of live entertainment. The Great White Way will be lit up once again, the Van Wezel filled with our beloved audiences and that special joy will be back as we together laugh, cry and cheer as one.

In the meantime, my staff and that of the Van Wezel Foundation are working hard like all our local arts groups, figuring out how to deliver the joy of performance in a different format, whether online or singing out of our windows and doors. We have rescheduled many performances so they are not lost, and have booked even more in preparation for a phenomenal 2020-2021 season ahead.

Just a footnote to these thoughts—as I am writing this piece, I get a call from Paul Anka’s agent. “Paul loves your theatre and the audience in Sarasota so much that he wants to return next year.” He remembers that special evening the way that I do, and never ever wants the music to end.

I can’t wait to take my seat in the Hall once again, and I hope to see you there soon.

Mary Bensel is executive director of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.

On Feb. 28, Just 48 hours after Vice President Mike Pence was tasked with coordinating our nation’s response to the mushrooming coronavirus pandemic, Pence doffed his emergency response hat, abandoned his post in Washington and flew down to Florida for a Palm Beach Club for Growth gathering in the morning and a closed-to-the-public $25,000-perp-plate fundraiser at Congressman Vern Buchanan’s Longboat Key mansion in the evening, benefiting Congressional Republicans.

After regional media outlets exposed the egregious dereliction of duty exhibited by these two men, Twitter and Facebook exploded. Political communications operatives in the Pence and Buchanan camps scrambled to insulate their bosses from the fallout. But it was too late.

U.S. 41, from Sarasota-Manatee International Airport all the way to Buchanan’s seaside chateau, was cordoned off by dozens of City of Sarasota police officers. Rush hour traffic brought to a standstill for hours. A Van Wezel performance of Les Miserables was delayed costing the city-owned venue in overtime to stagehands and technical crew.

And most economically damaging—hundreds of restaurant reservations canceled and thousands of Friday night patrons driven away from St. Armands and downtown.

All so Pence and Buchanan could vacuum up a few hundred thousand, or perhaps more, in campaign cash.

It was Buchanan and Pence who dealt the first, and sadly, unnecessary economic blow to the now-shuttered businesses in Sarasota.

Adding insult to injury, City of Sarasota taxpayers have now been stuck with what is likely a five figure security detail bill for Pence’s visit. That cost is now being tabulated by the police department.

Fast forward a few weeks—tens of thousands of Suncoast workers are out of jobs, retirement portfolios badly hurt and garbled messaging coming out of the Oval Office and Governor’s Mansion is confusing the public.

What is Buchanan’s response to one of the most serious public health and economic crises of the modern era?

A gimmicky campaign billboard masquerading as a public service announcement encouraging passing motorists to wash their hands.

Mr. Buchanan— make the City of Sarasota taxpayers whole and take down that chintzy “I-have-one-helluva-lemon-on-the-car-lot-to-sell-you” placard. Your campaign dollars and vast personal fortune are needed elsewhere.

Gabriel Hament is a Sarasota native and downtown Sarasota resident.  

On Feb. 28, Just 48 hours after Vice President Mike Pence was tasked with coordinating our nation’s response to the mushrooming coronavirus pandemic, Pence doffed his emergency response hat, abandoned his post in Washington and flew down to Florida for a Palm Beach Club for Growth gathering in the morning and a closed-to-the-public $25,000-perp-plate fundraiser at Congressman Vern Buchanan’s Longboat Key mansion in the evening, benefiting Congressional Republicans.

After regional media outlets exposed the egregious dereliction of duty exhibited by these two men, Twitter and Facebook exploded. Political communications operatives in the Pence and Buchanan camps scrambled to insulate their bosses from the fallout. But it was too late.

U.S. 41, from Sarasota-Manatee International Airport all the way to Buchanan’s seaside chateau, was cordoned off by dozens of City of Sarasota police officers. Rush hour traffic brought to a standstill for hours. A Van Wezel performance of Les Miserables was delayed costing the city-owned venue in overtime to stagehands and technical crew.

And most economically damaging—hundreds of restaurant reservations canceled and thousands of Friday night patrons driven away from St. Armands and downtown.

All so Pence and Buchanan could vacuum up a few hundred thousand, or perhaps more, in campaign cash.

It was Buchanan and Pence who dealt the first, and sadly, unnecessary economic blow to the now-shuttered businesses in Sarasota.

Adding insult to injury, City of Sarasota taxpayers have now been stuck with what is likely a five figure security detail bill for Pence’s visit. That cost is now being tabulated by the police department.

Fast forward a few weeks—tens of thousands of Suncoast workers are out of jobs, retirement portfolios badly hurt and garbled messaging coming out of the Oval Office and Governor’s Mansion is confusing the public.

What is Buchanan’s response to one of the most serious public health and economic crises of the modern era?

A gimmicky campaign billboard masquerading as a public service announcement encouraging passing motorists to wash their hands.

Mr. Buchanan— make the City of Sarasota taxpayers whole and take down that chintzy “I-have-one-helluva-lemon-on-the-car-lot-to-sell-you” placard. Your campaign dollars and vast personal fortune are needed elsewhere.

Gabriel Hament is a Sarasota native and downtown Sarasota resident.  

Manatee County Commissioners today approved additional measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus and to protect law enforcement and first responders who face a critical stretch this April as COVID-19 cases climb steadily in Florida. The supplemental local emergency resolution creates a temporary local curfew from 11 pm to 5 am, seven days a week starting last night. It also gives law enforcement agencies the ability to enforce group gathering restrictions on private property, in conjunction with Governor DeSantis' Executive Order 20-91 & 20-92. Today's resolution was posted online Friday morning but Commissioners made minor changes to the document before approving. The approved final resolution will be posted to the county's COVID-19 page when it is available. 

"We're at a pivotal point to make a difference and to flatten the curve," said Public Safety Director Jacob Saur. "I do believe with a curfew, the public should know they shouldn’t be out on the roadways. The curfew is a time when you should be at home." 

Saur said several EMS staff have already needed to be quarantined because of accidental exposure to COVID-19. He voiced concern that as the virus continues to spread, law enforcement officers and other first responders will become depleted by sickness or quarantine. For that reason, he said additional local restrictions are needed now.  "We are receiving an average of 100 COVID-19 calls a day," Saur said. "Each coronavirus call takes two hours to complete. At night and on weekends, other medical emergencies still occur, like trauma, people having accidents. That still occurs everyday and every night."  

Under the supplemental local emergency resolution, Manatee Sheriff’s Office and municipal police department officers now have the ability to issue citations to anyone not in compliance with the Governor’s Executive Order 20-91 & 20-9. Law enforcement will now also have the ability to cite outside group gatherings on private property. Under Florida Statute 252.50, those who violate the State Emergency Management Act are guilty of a second-degree misdemeanor and can be served a Notice to Appear order.

Commissioners were leery of infringing on personal freedoms, but voted 5-2 to approve the resolution in an effort to prevent the spread of the coronavirus and to protect first responders.  "I want to make sure everyone's civil liberties are protected but we could argue that COVID-19 has already led to some restraints on our civil liberties when you think about the travel ban and the quarantine," said Commissioner Misty Servia.

"The public should realize we take this very seriously but we're doing the best we can in extremely bad times," added  Commissioner Priscilla Trace. 

Before today's action, local COVID-19 restrictions were only enforceable on public property such as public beaches and public boat ramps. County and city officials say the public has largely heeded those restrictions, but group gatherings at private residences – such as vacation rental homes, recreation centers and event halls – continue to pose a public health risk. 

To see the commission meeting.

Music is a universal language that can provide joy and comfort across cultures. Research shows us that music has the power to help us increase brain health and fight brain illness as we manage stress and regulate our emotions (both of which are important in these uncertain times!). Films can work in the same way.  What songs or films make you happy? The Brain Health Initiative, with significant assistance from Dr. Peabody’s teenage son, Hilton, is creating a series of playlists and movie recommendations to support the community’s well-being. The first playlist focuses on songs that increase positive emotions and feelings. Click here to access the playlist. Please find a few suggestions below. The Brain Health Initiative is also creating a list of films for your enjoyment and will point out some brain healthy themes to pay attention to.

Try engaging in a mindfulness exercise when you listen to music (even just one song) for a set time each day. Listen to the music carefully and tune out other distractions. Keep a journal, noting how the music or the film(s) affected your mood, thoughts, feelings, emotions and physical state. Here are some “happy” songs to get you started:

• Don’t Worry, Be Happy, Bobby McFerrin
• Happy, Pharrell Williams
• Lovely Day, Bill Withers
• We are Family, Sister Sledge
• Good as Hell, Lizzo
• Good Morning, Max Frost
• Can’t Stop the Feeling, Justin Timberlake
• You’ve Made Me So Very Happy, Blood Sweat and Tears
• Oh Happy Day, Edward Hawkins Singers
• Happy Together, The Turtles

And a happy movie to kick off the weekend: Mary Poppins Returns.

Enjoying the movie just for pleasure is awesome. You can also listen meaningfully to the songs and pay attention to the wisdom shared which include a wide range of positive and uplifting messages. Many of the messages are silly and often relevant to COVID 19 outbreak. For example, the importance of having an optimistic mindset, trusting in children, looking for the light to guide you, taking a different view of problems, reminding yourself that everything is possible, including the impossible and no better time to take action than the present.

What songs and films make you happy? Make a list to fall back on when you feel your stress level beginning to rise or your mood starting to dip. More research indicates that positive mood enhances the immune systems and helps to fight off infectious diseases, so use this “universal language” to your advantage. 

Access the playlist.

Chorus America has announced the recipients of its 2020 awards program, honoring artistic excellence and growth, creative and adventurous programming, education and community engagement, and outstanding service to the field. Key Chorale’s innovative commitment to education and community outreach made them the unanimous choice, competing with choruses throughout the country with budgets of more than $200,000. Past recipients of this award have been Chanticleer, Cantus, Pacific Chorale and VocalEssence.

Chorus America was founded in 1977 to gain recognition for professional choruses and today represents more than 6,000 choruses of every kind throughout North America and beyond. Chorus America is the advocacy, research, and leadership development organization that advances the choral field.

“Through their outstanding work, these award-winners are lifting the choral field to new heights of artistry and service,” said president and CEO Catherine Dehoney. “Chorus America is delighted to recognize these accomplishments, and hope they provide inspiration and encouragement during this time of crisis and in brighter days to come.” 

The 2020 Education and Community Engagement Award honors the best collaborative program. Led by artistic director Joseph Caulkins, Key Chorale has developed a suite of programs that serve a wide range of populations in its Sarasota, Florida-area community, many of whom are vulnerable. The organization’s “Tomorrow’s Voices Today” music education initiatives—which include a partnership with Visible Men’s Academy for at-risk elementary school boys, an annual high school choral festival, and a student scholar program for students to sing in the Chorale’s performance season—reach over 400 students annually. Key Chorale also provides choral outlets that contribute to the well-being of older adults living with Parkinson’s, through their Off-Key Chorale, and the Where Are My Keys? Chorale for those living with memory loss, along with their caregivers and family members. Along with the award and recognition, Key Chorale will receive a $2,500 grant.

“This recognition reflects the leadership of Joseph Caulkins, our Artistic Director, and the hard work and dedication of our Education Committee and Key Chorale volunteers who collaboratively work with our schools and community on a regular basis to provide outstanding musical opportunities for students and other community members,” said Education Committee Chair Bob Wennberg. “I am so proud to walk alongside my Key Chorale colleagues in facilitating these meaningful experiences.” 

For more.

Goodwill Manasota has been forced to make the difficult decision to close all of its retail stores to comply with the stay-at-home order issued by Governor Ron DeSantis on April 1, effectively shutting off its primary source of income. The projected loss of over $3,000,000 in sales each month has resulted in serious financial and staffing impacts. After making a significant workforce reduction last week - including voluntary leadership compensation cuts – Goodwill will furlough an additional 231 employees, effective April 3. Less than 15% of Goodwill Manasota's workforce will remain active on the job at this time.

The organization continues to accept donations of gently-used items at select attended donation centers - while observing social distancing recommendations - every day between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., in preparation for the day when stores can safely re-open. Goodwill will continue to collect non-perishable food donations for organizations that serve those in need in our community, including Turning Points and the Food Bank of Manatee. Visit its website (experiencegoodwill.org) for a list of available donation centers.

Immediate steps to provide support for team members who have been furloughed include paid time off (PTO) payouts, access to health benefits and a free TelaDoc service, references to assist those seeking new employment, and guidance for accessing support services to help them through this difficult time. Goodwill is also remotely providing Job Connection Services, Information and Referral, Veterans services, community outreach and collaboration.  

Organizational leaders are reaching out to area foundations, seeking funding for payroll assistance, emergency assistance funds and resources for those who have been furloughed. Additionally, Goodwill is working with its local bank and Goodwill Industries International to take advantage of CARE funds wherever possible. The Board and staff are reaching out to legislators to see if there is any way that Goodwill and similar nonprofits can receive payroll benefits for their furloughed team members.

"With the closing of our retail stores, there will simply be no revenue coming in to support our mission of providing jobs, education and training for those with barriers to employment," said Rosinsky. "While we are devastated to have to take these actions, our primary focus is to do whatever it takes to sustain this Goodwill and be prepared to serve the community once this crisis has passed. We must be ready to serve the thousands of families that will need our programs when our country returns to normal. The programs and services we offer are going to be vital in getting the many workers and families impacted by lost jobs and wages back on their feet, and back on the job." 

For more.