Two Sarasota/Manatee County high school seniors have been selected to participate in this year’s prestigious Bank of America paid internship program, Student Leaders® (#BofAStudentLeaders), an internship providing students with first-hand experience in serving their communities. Throughout the eight week program, participants learn financial literacy and workforce development skills. Started in 2004, the paid internship recognizes 300 community-focused juniors and seniors from across the U.S. annually and offers experience with local nonprofits, including Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County. The Class of 2022 Sarasota-Manatee Bank of America Student Leaders are: Stephani Bryant and Dilan Desir.

Seventeen-year old Dilan Desir graduated from the State College of Florida Collegiate School and plans to attend Stanford University in the fall. Having immigrated to the U.S.following the 2010 earthquake in Haiti that destroyed his home, Dilan has founded the Haitian Donation Initiative, which collects and distributes supply donations to the Port-Au-Prince area and helps translate legal documents and facilitate international communications for fellow Haitians. Dilan also gives a voice to other activists around the globe, serving as an editor for Raise the Voices, which chronicles the work of international human rights projects. Dilan applied for his internship in January and learned he was chosen in April. “This feels like a huge blessing,” he says. “Only two people from the area were selected from over 100 applicants and I was one of them, so it’s really an incredible opportunity.” In the future, Dilan hopes to be involved in public health and work with nongovernmental agencies specifically focused on healthy living in vulnerable communities. His advice to younger students: “Don't be afraid to do what nobody else is doing and try to find validation within yourself before seeking it within others. And to all rising juniors and seniors: Apply to the Bank of America Student Leadership Program. You’ll learn about diversity in the workplace and how to interact with people from very different backgrounds.”

Stephani, a senior at Southeast High School is dedicated to empowering women and raising awareness of important social issues within the community. She volunteered for seven years with ongoing participation with the Margwine Organization, which connects young girls with mentors, educational opportunities and a nurturing environment that helps them reach their fullest potential. Her responsibilities over the years have included organizing community activities, raising money for Haitian youth, and donating school supplies to those in need. A huge advocate for mental health in her community, especially for minorities and children, Stephani plans to study psychology/sociology in college. In her spare time, she enjoys a variety of activities from painting to creating miniature house models. She also likes to play the electric guitar, piano and ukulele. “As a shy overthinker, especially when I was younger,” she says, “I constantly limited myself. It is very important to make the most out of opportunities that come your way and set goals for yourself because when you get older many of these chances will fade. I would never have had this opportunity if I hadn't taken the chance and applied for the Bank of America Student Leaders program. Take initiative and just do it!” she adds. 

Pictured: Dilan Desir and Stephani Bryant, Sarasota-Manatee Student Leaders. Photo courtesy of Bank of America.

The owners of DOGPerfect recently took first place in the 13th Annual Lucky Ducky Race for Pace and are thrilled to donate the $5,000 prize to organizations in the community. The locally owned pet retail company with stores in Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch and University Park will give $2,000 to the Pace Center for Girls and $3,000 to local pet shelters and rescues, of which $1,000 will be decided by DOGPerfect's Facebook community. The Lucky Ducky Race for Pace is more than a rubber duck derby. It is really about changing the lives of girls in Manatee County. Pace values all girls and young women, believing each one deserves an opportunity to find her voice, achieve her potential and celebrate a life defined by responsibility, dignity, serenity, and grace.

"We are excited to give back to such worthy organizations," said Kara Tolland, Retail Marketing Manager at DOGPerfect. "We value the relationships we have built with local nonprofits throughout the Suncoast and are proud to be able to help." All of the shelter donations will be made via the DOGPerfect Bonus Wishlist, a first of its kind local giveback program for shelters that allows our shelter partners to maximize their dollars that are donated. For every item donated, DOGPerfect will match with products that have been pre-selected by the shelter to meet their immediate needs. DOGPerfect then delivers those items directly to each shelter free of charge. Details can be found at www.dogperfect.com/wishlist.

Photo courtesy of DOGPerfect.

On Friday, July 22, More Too Life, Inc. honored Dr. Kameron Partridge Hodgens, Gulf Coast Community Foundation’s Director of Community Leadership, with the Community Hero Award at their Inspire Change Anniversary Fundraiser Event. For over 18 years, More Too Life, Inc. has been dedicated to the vast work of fighting human exploitation and providing victim services and programs to children, families, and the community. As the former CEO of The Glasser/Schoenbaum Human Services Center, More Too Life notes that Dr. Hodgens has been a consistent and loyal supporter of the More Too Life mission and vision. They also note that Dr. Hodgens has been an outstanding leader and advocate for the work of nonprofits throughout the community. More Too Life’s approach is to provide opportunities to turn “victims to survivors, survivors to thrivers, and thrivers into champions.” In the fight to attack human trafficking, they provide care to its victims and those on the fringe by addressing root causes. 

Gulf Coast Community Foundation has awarded The Bay Park Conservancy an additional $150,000 grant to support the development of Phase 2 of the park on Sarasota Bay, bringing Gulf Coast’s cumulative contributions to more than $1 million in direct donations. The funding will help transform land that is mostly a parking lot into a blue-and-green oasis, celebrating nature and promoting environmental sustainability and accessibility. Gulf Coast’s contributions have gone toward developing open, accessible green spaces such as Common Ground lawns, as well as targeted sustainability efforts to improve water quality and shoreline health, ensuring the environmental legacy of the park. For more information about The Bay Park Conservancy, visit www.thebaysarasota.org or contact Julia Groom at julia@dreamlarge.org or 941-786-8732. 

Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties (BGCSDC) is now accepting applications for the 2022-2023 Great Futures Academy School-Year Program, which will launch on August 8, 2022, at its six Club locations across Sarasota and DeSoto Counties.

Great Futures Academy School-Year Program welcomes BGCSDC students, ages 6 to 18.

The Great Futures Academy for ages 6-12 features educational, recreational, and developmental activities that empower children to excel in school, become leaders, adopt healthy habits, and plan for success after high school. Apply here: bgcsdc.org

BGCSDC is also offering a full slate of award-winning Teen Programs, for youth ages 13-18, including entrepreneurial training, leadership development, financial literacy, civic engagement, planning for college, and workforce development. Teens can apply here: theclubsdc.org

Busing is also available to the Clubs from select school locations.  

Sarasota Memorial Hospital earned top marks in U.S. News' 2022-2023 “Best Hospitals” list released today. This year’s rankings place SMH among the 50 “Best Hospitals” in America for rehabilitation for people recovering from serious injuries and debilitating diseases and for specialized urology care. SMH also garnered “high performer” ratings for a third specialty, gastroenterology and gastrointestinal surgery, as well as 15 widely performed procedures and conditions common among Medicare patients. In addition to the 50 "Best Hospitals" rankings, SMH also was spotlighted as a “high performer” in the specialty of gastroenterology and gastrointestinal surgery and in 15 procedures and conditions most common among Medicare patients. 

On July 24 at a community celebration hosted by DreamLarge, the City of Sarasota awarded John “Buck” O’Neil a key to the City. Presented by Vice Mayor Kyle Battie, the key is meant to honor O’Neil and commemorate his powerful legacy in the community. The key will be donated to the Sarasota African American Cultural Coalition to be displayed at the future Sarasota African American Arts and Cultural Center located in Newtown. Anand Pallegar, Founder of DreamLarge, accepted the key to the City on behalf of the gathering. This citation from the City follows the recent unveiling of a new mural in the Rosemary Art & Design District (RADD) commemorating O’Neil’s powerful legacy and the path he paved for future generations. Part of the Gilbert Mural Initiative, the mural cements O’Neil’s legacy in former Overtown. At the mural unveiling, a number of community figures spoke on behalf of O’Neil’s impact, including Anand Pallegar, Founder of DreamLarge and RADD, Walter Gilbert, Founder of the Gilbert Mural Initiative, Roxie Jerde, CEO and President of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, Brian Roberts, Orioles’ Hall of Famer and Ambassador, and Marlon Brown, City Manager of the City of Sarasota. The mural is painted by artist Matt McAllister and supported by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, The Baltimore Orioles Foundation, DreamLarge, Newtown Alive, RADD, and the Sarasota African American Cultural Coalition. Please contact hello@dreamlarge.org for more information. 

Pictured: Buck O'Neil honored with Key to the City. Left to right: Anand Pallegar, Walter Gilbert, Vice Mayor Kyle Battie, Commissioner Jen Ahearn-Koch, City Manager Marlon Brown. Photo courtesy of DreamLarge.