August is Black Philanthropy Month and this year, Visible Men Academy (VMA) is joining #Give828. Give 8/28 is an annual initiative on Aug. 28 by the Young Black and Giving Back Institute (YBGB) to help promote financial support for Black-led and Black-benefitting grassroots organizations.

Visible Men Academy is a tuition-free K-5 public charter school for boys that serves students from Manatee and Sarasota counties. The mission of VMA is to provide boys with outstanding academic, character, and social education in a nurturing school environment.

Dr. Janjay Gehndyu is currently serving in his second year as principal of VMA. Previously a teacher, the pathway to principal for him came when he decided in 2012 to enter into the Higher Educational Leadership program at Nova Southeastern University. There, he wrote his dissertation focusing on personalized education and the benefits of focusing on the attributes that make that individual student successful. This is very much in line with VMA’s vision to provide a personalized education with a focus in character development wrapped in S.T.E.A.M. (The school’s emphasis on reading makes their curriculum S.T.R.E.A.M.) and also in line with YBGB’s vision to prepare the next generation of young, black professionals for effective community leadership and philanthropy such that they produce sustainable and innovative solutions to their communities’ most pressing issues.

"Give 28 comes at a critical time,” states Dr. Gehndyu. “VMA is on the ground every day, ensuring our communities are provided with a place where young men are provided with a high-quality personalized education at no cost to their families."

After graduating from VMA, students are encouraged to go to schools that fit their academic progress. “We have students attend Out of Door Academy, State College of Florida, Sarasota School of Arts and Sciences, and others,” shares Dr. Gehndyu. “Most of the funding to keep VMA tuition free comes from the generous donors who believe in our mission and the success of these young boys,” he adds.

You can support VMA by donating via this link: https://www.give828.org/organization/visible-men-academy and sharing your support on social media, tagging VMA in your posts with #Give828.

Pictured: Dr. Janjay Gehndyu supports the VMA mission to mentor and help boys develop into men. Photo courtesy of VMA.

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As children and families are disproportionately affected by the ongoing childcare crisis, Children First is continuing its forward progress of enhancing and expanding comprehensive services for those most vulnerable in our community. As the exclusive provider of Head Start and Early Head Start services for Sarasota County, Children First is proud to announce a $600,000 matching gift challenge led by its Changemaker Collective. The Changemaker Collective is an initiative for leaders who go above and beyond in serving our community and wish to make an investment in the tools children and families need to achieve their full potential. All collective support will be matched 1:1 with an overall goal to raise $1.2MM. The key philanthropists comprising the Collective include: Anonymous, Stephanie & Allen Hochfelder, Joan & Dr. Bart Levenson, Katherine & Frank Martucci, Keith Monda & Veronica Brady, Gaye & Jack Schwarz, Joe & Nora Stephan, Karen Solem, and the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation. At 15 sites across North Port, Sarasota, and Venice, Children First provides comprehensive services to hundreds of economically vulnerable children, ages birth to five, and their families each year. Comprehensive services include early childhood education, nutrition, emotional and behavioral support, and family strengthening services.

“Joining the Collective is an investment in the tools children and families need to achieve their full potential,” says Vice President of Philanthropy Jessica Rogers. “Whether you want to support the qualified teachers who offer stable and supportive relationships, provide safe classrooms for children to enjoy rich learning experiences, fill hungry tummies with nutritious meals and provide a variety of health services, or strengthen the entire family to ensure overall well-being, it is critical that we continue to support our community’s most vulnerable.” 

To make a gift in support of the Changemaker Collective, please visit

Gulf Coast Community Foundation is thrilled to announce that Lauren Hersh has joined the team as a Philanthropic Advisor. Hersh is a seasoned philanthropic steward with over 20 years in the nonprofit industry. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Business and Flute Performance from DePauw University. Prior to Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Hersh was the Director of Donor Engagement, Individual and Corporate Giving for the Sarasota Orchestra for almost seven years. Hersh has also held development positions at The Out-of-Door Academy, Girls Inc. of Sarasota, Young Concert Artists, and the New York Philharmonic. She is a former board member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals of Southwest Florida Chapter and a 2016 graduate of the Gulf Coast Leadership Institute. In her new role at Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Hersh will work directly with donors to maximize their philanthropic impact in our region. 

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Key Chorale is pleased to announce a grant from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, a Foundation focused on making a positive impact within our region. This grant, in the amount of $30,000, is instrumental in allowing Key Chorale to continue to deliver its music and mission. The Community Foundation will be the Presenting Sponsor of Vaughan Williams’ “A Sea Symphony” Masterwork concerts, February 10 and 11, 2023, and support the Student Scholar Program.

“We are incredibly honored to receive this transformational grant from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, says Artistic Director Joseph Caulkins. These funds will allow us to take an already dynamic student scholar program and make it even more robust. The Community Foundation’s insight into the program encouraged us to brainstorm in numerous ways and allows us to make our student scholar program even more impactful. While this program is certainly about making better musicians, it is also about giving experiences and opportunities to foster greater confidence, teamwork, responsibility, and growth both as musicians and young adults.” 

Florida Studio Theatre (FST) is proud to announce that the run of New York State of Mind – All the Hits of Billy Joel With The Uptown Boys has been extended an additional week due to audience demand. Created by John De Simini and Alexander Aguilar, who have 40 years of cumulative experience working on Broadway, this dynamic music revue will now play through October 9, 2022. Featuring more than two dozen of Billy Joel’s greatest hits, this upbeat music revue will run as originally scheduled in FST’s Court Cabaret through Sunday, October 2. Then, the production will transfer to FST’s Goldstein Cabaret, where it will play through Sunday, October 9. Single tickets are now on sale at FloridaStudioTheatre.org or at 941.366.9000. 

Pictured: Sergi Robles, Hank Von Kolnitz, and Michael Fasano. Photo by FST.

A new City of Bradenton park is now open at the corner of 2nd Avenue East and 14th Street East in Bradenton. This tranquil park provides stunning views of the Manatee River, a Little Free Library, educational panels, and public art. The completion of this park is the first phase of the Riverwalk East expansion project. The path connecting this park to the current Riverwalk will be complete early 2023. A grand opening celebration, coordinated by Realize Bradenton with support from Florida Humanities and the Knight Donor Advised Fund at the Manatee Community Foundation, will take place on Saturday, September 10 from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm. The celebration will begin at 11:00 am with remarks from Mayor Gene Brown, a blessing by Brother Jerry Wicker of Manatee LIFE Church, and a closing by Rev. Daphney Towns, director of the Back to Angola Festival. Mayor Brown will invite neighborhood children to assist in the ribbon cutting, officially opening their local park. Opening remarks will be followed by musical performances from the Manatee High School Band, Erol Oz, and Combo Fusion. Educational presentations will be provided during the event by Professor Uzi Baram and Vickie Oldham sharing information about the freedom seeking community of Angola, and Ryan G. Van Cleave and Don Brandes discussing the creation of the children’s book, “Old Manatee A to Z”.  Additional activities and information will be provided by: City of Bradenton Community Redevelopment Agency, Central Cafe, Florida Humanities, Manatee County Libraries, Manatee Village Historical Park, Reflections of Manatee, and United Way Suncoast. Parking for the event will be available at Manatee LIFE Church at 315 15th Street East, Bradenton, FL 34208. Handicapped parking will be available on the edge of the park on 14th Street. The complete Riverwalk East expansion project was designed by Kimley-Horn and constructed by NDC Construction Company.