SRQ DAILY Jun 10, 2020
Wednesday Philanthropy Edition
"The results of our efforts will touch the lives of countless New College students and faculty for years to come, strengthen the College across all platforms, and shape new strategies for a new age."
The New College Foundation announces that it has raised $1 million to be invested in strengthening the organization’s fundraising infrastructure. MaryAnne Young, vice president of advancement and executive director of New College Foundation, says that the funds were generated from six current and former College trustees and Foundation board members. Three of the donors are New College alumni.Young outlined the Foundation’s three main fundraising goals, which include increasing the endowment for students: scholarships, internships and experiential learning, and restoring the three I.M. Pei dorms.
“We’ve reached an extraordinary tipping point,” says Young. “We have everything in place to succeed, including engaged College and Foundation boards, unflagging support from our campus family and surrounding community, and an extraordinary commitment from the state of Florida. The results from our efforts will touch the lives of countless New College students and faculty for years to come, strengthen the College across all platforms, and shape new strategies for a new age. I’m extremely grateful to Charles and Carol Hamilton through the Hamilton Generation Fund, Bill and Betsy Johnston through the Johnston Family Fund, Keith D. Monda, George and Tina Skestos, Sharon and Craig Ramey and Charles and Vicki Raeburn for their belief in the Foundation and New College.”
Charles H. Hamilton, a Foundation board member and a charter New College alum, is one of the six donors. Hamilton, whose lifelong focus has been philanthropy, says “This wonderful commitment to New College’s growth has been in the works for months. It gives the New College Foundation the staffing and infrastructure support to ensure New College’s continuing excellence in higher education.”
“The future for New College is now,” says Sue Jacobson, chair of the Foundation’s board. “This is a historic moment. New College will continue to set the standard for excellence in a liberal arts education well into its next 60 years. The values and principles it teaches are needed now more than ever.” 
For more information about New College Foundation, call 941-487-4800.
Just a week into the official kick-off of hurricane season, Tropical Storm Cristobal initiated the first major storm for Florida by circling right up the gulf coast with heavy rainfall, flooding to neighborhood streets and gusty winds. The World Meteorological Association assigns names to storms whose wind speeds exceed a threshold of 39 mph, and Cristobol was deemed early on powerful enough for designation–bringing the tally of named storms in the 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season so far to three–with Arthur and Bertha occurring before the official June 1 start of hurricane season. According to AccuWeather, no other year on record has seen three named Atlantic storms so early on; on average, the third storm forms around August 13.
While it’s impossible to predict where the next major storm will strike, The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has projected that this hurricane season will be "busy" and "above-normal" in the Atlantic Ocean–with about 16 named storms, six to 10 hurricanes, and three to six of those reaching Category 3 or higher forecasted this year.
Consequently, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) urges recreational boaters to be hyper-aware of the above-normal climate activity this coming season. The BoatUS Marine Insurance Catastrophe (CAT) Team says Cristobal was a wake-up call for boaters to be ready. “We’ve now had three storms and the hurricane season has barely begun,” Scott Croft, vice president of public affairs, told SRQ. “You can’t wait until the fourth storm to put a hurricane plan in place for the boat. Talk to your marina now. And if you’re going to keep the boat at home, find a location away from trees. Remember bridges lock down early.”
BoatUS currently offers free tools, tips and information to help put a hurricane plan in place that can prevent damage to boats. These free materials include a BoatUS Magazine Hurricane Preparation Guide with information on what to expect, where to keep a boat, how to find and fix potential breaking points, develop a hurricane plan, and more. In addition, there is a Boater's Guide to Preparing Boats and Marinas for Hurricanes for details on what to do to protect a boat in a slip, dock, canal, on a lift, in a dry-storage rack, mooring, anchor or hurricane hole. A Hurricane Preparation Worksheet is also available to easily manage hurricane prep efforts, which boaters can then share with their marina owner/manager. Additionally, a sampling of hurricane plans for various marinas and yacht clubs—that can be specially adapted for local facilities—is available for download, as are a new series of hurricane-planning videos/tutorials with simple projects, such as how to properly set lines for a boat that will remain in the water when a storm surges. For the next inevitable storm, boat owners can track incoming storms with the free BoatUS.com/App radar for iOS and Android devices. (After downloading, go to settings to enable “push notifications” for your region.)
For more local tips, fact sheets and public service announcements for before, during, and after the storm, visit Florida Health’s Hurricane and Severe Weather Information or Florida Disaster to find your County’s Emergency Management contact page.
Pictured: Damage from 2017's Hurricane Irma, courtesy of BoatUS
The law firm of Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP, is pleased to announce that in coordination with the Downtown Sarasota Alliance and the Downtown Sarasota Condo Association, Shumaker Lawyer Brett Henson will be moderating a virtual Candidates' Forum for the City of Sarasota City Commission Election District Two on June 11, 2020 from 6pm to 8pm. Candidates include Liz Alpert, Joe Barbetta, Martin Hyde, Don Patterson, Terry Turner, and Jerry Wells. For more information please click here. Brett is Board Certified by the Florida Bar in Construction Law. He focuses in the areas of commercial and construction litigation and devotes a substantial portion of his practice to handling all types of construction disputes, including claims related to breach of contract, delay damages, workmanship and design defects, fidelity and surety bonds, and Florida’s Construction Lien Law. He counsels and assists construction industry professionals regarding dispute avoidance procedures, along with contract preparation, review, and negotiation. Brett also uses his experience and knowledge in resolving claims involving insurance proceeds and insurance coverage.
As is part of its monthly “Career Connections” information sessions to connect women to quality jobs and funded training opportunities, the Women’s Resource Center (WRC) is partnering with Sarasota County Schools to provide a free webinar on June 24. The webinar will address careers in education for high-demand instructional and support positions. Wages for entry-level jobs are in the $14-15/hour range, while starting pay for Sarasota teachers is $44,300 annually. The webinar will offer information about the school district’s open positions, career laddering opportunities, generous benefits programs, and its hiring process. Participants also will learn about WRC’s free employment program, which assists individuals with the job search process, resume development and interview preparation through one-on-one career coaching services. The webinar format will be interactive so that people can ask questions and make comments via the webinar’s chat box function. “WRC continues to strengthen its partnerships with employers in the region to serve as a crucial link in helping women find quality career pathways. The webinar format allows us to connect to women virtually in their career search,” explains WRC CEO Ashley Brown. The free webinar is scheduled for Wednesday, June 24, noon-1 pm. Free individual career coaching, via phone or computer video conferencing, is also available.
To register, call 941-256-9721.
Allegiant Private Advisors has hired Will Geisdorf, CMT, as senior research analyst. The Sarasota-based independent firm which provides fiduciary-level financial planning and investment advisory services created the new position to expand its proprietary research division.
“While we all work from home as much as possible, it has been an extraordinary time to start a new job. I’m extremely proud of the work we have done for our clients through this market turbulence. Allegiant’s philosophy of independent thinking and focus on conducting all of its own research aligns perfectly with my institutional research background,” explained Geisdorf.
Utilizing proprietary research and working solely as fiduciaries, the Allegiant team is able to make informed decisions and respond swiftly. The addition of Geisdorf’s new role was identified last year as part of the firm’s long-term strategic plan. He started with the firm this spring amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“As a team focused on evaluating and utilizing real data through independent research, we were prepared for this downtown as portfolio managers, responded boldly and strongly with meaningful actions on behalf of clients and remain vigilant in guiding our client families through these challenging times,” said Allegiant Private Advisors President Benjamin W. Jones, CFP®, AIF®. “Will adds a unique perspective to our economic and investment research and we could not be happier to have him join the team. ”
As the firm's senior research analyst and a member of the Allegiant’s Investment Committee, Geisdorf conducts macro, fundamental, and technical research that help shape clients’ portfolios.
Prior to joining Allegiant, Geisdorf was the senior ETF strategist for Ned Davis Research where he articulated the firm’s view on a wide variety of subjects in client meetings and speaking engagements. His work has been quoted by news outlets including the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and Barron’s. Geisdorf has also been a guest on CNBC and Bloomberg radio. His past professional experience includes building quantitative allocation models and custom research solutions for large institutional investors. Geisdorf received his Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of Central Florida. He is a Chartered Market Technician (CMT), designated a subject matter expert by the CMT Association and currently serves on the CMT Curriculum and Test Committee.
With the unveiling of the recently completed luxury Cameron estate in The Founders Club, London Bay Homes now offers five distinctive Sarasota Collection models designed to inspire homebuyers whether they prefer living in a luxury gated golf community, downtown near shopping and dining, or near the Siesta Key beaches.
London Bay Homes’ Sarasota Collection models highlight the builder’s range, including the Camberdale estate home near the downtown historic South Poinsettia neighborhood. With 4,377 square feet over two stories, the four-bedroom, four-bath Camberdale model at 1806 Oleander Street blends seamlessly with the mix of homes nearby. Natural light streams throughout the open great room plan, with sliding glass doors that flow out to the covered outdoor living area featuring a kitchen, dual televisions, fire table and a custom-built pool complete. The Camberdale is offered at $3,150,000.
In Siesta Key, London Bay’s four-bedroom Somerset model at 1202 Sharswood Lane is one of the few remaining options available for purchase in the exclusive waterfront Spice Bay neighborhood of 14 private homesites. The four-bedroom home features more than 5,000 square feet of air-conditioned living space over two floors, four bedrooms, four baths and an optional furnishings package for discerning buyers. The home is priced at $3,450,000.
Currently underway, the 2,860-square-foot preserve-view Davidson model will offer three ensuite bedrooms and ample space for entertainment with an open-concept design. A large study that can be customized to accommodate overnight guests or be utilized as a home office. With an additional 888 square-feet of covered entry and outdoor living space and a 965-square-foot three-car garage, the Davidson is priced at $1,325,790 and scheduled for completion this fall.
Pictured: Somerset Model in Spice Bay. London Bay’s four-bedroom Somerset model is one of the few remaining options available for purchase in the exclusive waterfront Spice Bay neighborhood.
Giving Hears: The Donors's Guide to Giving on the Gulfcoast is your guide to giving opportunities that will impact the nonprofit organizations working in the region. Become a part of the local philanthropic story by fulfilling their giving back wish lists!
After being closed since March 16, Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary has reopened with Florida’s Full Phase 2 Guidelines in place. These include capacity limitations, social distancing guidance for visitors, and protocols for cleaning and hygiene. The Habitat is open Wednesday through Sunday from 12 until 4 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children and are available on site although visitors are requested to purchase tickets online. Admission is limited to 50 percent of capacity, and visitors have access to hand washing and sanitizing stations throughout the property. Regularly touched surfaces and restrooms are frequently sanitized. Visitors are requested to wear facemasks. Along with self-guided tours, indoor animal demonstrations will begin this Wednesday with limited seating to maintain social distance. A reptile show will be held at 1 pm, and a wild animal encounter at 2 pm. The petting zoo also will reopen on Wednesday. “The human-animal bond is strong, and our animals definitely missed the interaction and stimulation our visitors provide them,” Rosaire said. “Even though admissions are our most important revenue source for supporting the animals, we waited to open until we felt we could put the right procedures in place to follow guidelines.” All admissions to Big Cat Habitat support its mission to provide a safe, loving and permanent home for exotic and domestic animals in need. Big Cat Habitat also aims to educate guests about the importance of species preservation to ensure the survival of these magnificent animals for future generations and to keep alive the human-animal connection.
More information is available at www.BigCatHabitat.org, by calling 941-371-6377, or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BigCatHabitat.
Tomorrow through Friday, June 12, Manatee County residents may apply for emergency help paying overdue rent, mortgage and utilities through the Manatee CARES Assistance Program.
The County recently received approximately $1.3 million from the federal Housing and Urban Development Department and State Housing Initiative Partnership (SHIP) program to assist those with financial hardships as a result of the coronavirus and its economic impacts. The County will disburse those funds for help with rent/mortgage and utility bills, as long as those expenses have not already been paid by insurance or another assistance program.
The funding is available to Manatee County residents who have lost their job or lost significant income due to COVID-19. Eligible applicants may receive up to $1,500 per month for up to three months in most cases. (Because the City of Bradenton receives SHIP funds and federal funds, City of Bradenton residents are ineligible for Manatee CARES funding.) The application window will open Wednesday, June 10 at 9 am and close promptly at 5 pm on Friday, June 12.
Thousands of local residents are expected to apply, but there is enough funding for about 250 households. For that reason, a lottery-style drawing will take place by June 16 to randomly determine the order in which applications will be reviewed. Applicants who meet the minimum eligibility criteria will be notified by county staff with status of eligibility. (If an application is not selected for staff review in the lottery-style drawing, the applicant will be notified by June 18.)
If applicants have questions or need to speak to someone by phone about the application after they have reviewed the CARES FAQ they can call the CARES Helpline at 941-745-6270 or email ManateeCARES@mymanatee.org
Payne Park playground is now re-opened, along with the Cafe in the Park. Please use School Avenue entrance to the parking lot.
Cafe in the Park 2010 Adams Lane Sarasota, FL 34237
Join us at Bobby Jones Golf Club, 1000 Circus Blvd., Sarasota, on Monday, July 20, 2020, for our July blood drive! Our June event filled up so fast that we are excited to offer another one! OneBlood will be available on location from 10 am - 4 pm. Please note the last appointment is at 3:45 pm. All donors get a FREE COVID-19 antibody test! Appointments are required. Monday, July 20, 2020 from 10am to 4pm. Please remember to eat a healthy meal and drink plenty of water before you donate. When visiting please follow CDC Guidelines such as social distancing, limit large gatherings (no more than 10 people) and staying at home if you are sick.
Join Bishop Museum of Science Wednesday, June 10th at 7PM for "The Wild Places of Southwest Florida," with author Charles Sobczak.
Based on information and photos from his book, "The Living Gulf Coast — A Nature Guide to Southwest Florida," this presentation highlights remarkable wild places within reach, with an emphasis on less-traveled and out-of-the-ordinary destinations such as Harns Marsh, the Okaloacoochee Slough and Celery Fields. Discover dozens of local gems, including regional parks, preserves and museums.
RSVP via email to Education@BishopScience.org to get Zoom log-in information
Manatee County Government Redevelopment & Economic Opportunity (REO) Department is calling on local business owners to complete an anonymous survey by Friday, June 12. REO leaders will use the answers they collect to help the County map its efforts to resume a stable local economy. County leaders want to know how the RECOVER MANATEE COLLABORATIVE could best overcome the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. “The best way for businesses to advise the county in recovery, is by taking the Manatee County COVID-19 Business Impact Survey,” said Geri Lopez, REO Director. "The results will be analyzed and shared with the Board of County Commissioners and placed on the Manatee County Economic Development website.The County's business partners (local Chambers of Commerce, the Economic Development Corporation and more) are engaged in the Recover Manatee Collaborative to collect the information.
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