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SRQ: How did the Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund come together?

Roxie Jerde: Earlier in the week we knew this was an impending storm that was looking to be really disastrous. We are fortunate that the Community Foundation of Sarasota County has been around for almost 45 years and we have got 21-plus years of our Season of Sharing network of 50-something human service  agencies. We'll be able to really tap into them. We determined what the longer term recovery efforts are. I spoke with Debra Jacobs and the Patterson Foundation, and much like we have worked with the Season of Sharing and after COVID shut everything down, that was a partner we have worked with in the past.

SRQ: What support for this fund are you looking for immediately?

RJ: At this point, monetary support. We know the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, our local, state and federal governments are all rallying for the relief part, which is the immediate need. This fund is intended for those longer term needs that we will learn about as we really understand the extent of how our community has been impacted. This fund is for Charlotte, DeSoto, Sarasota and Manatee counties. We will work with our partners to determine as the longer term needs begin unveiling themselves how best to utilize the funding so that we can, through our nonprofit partners, help our community recover from this.

SRQ: What sort of support do you expect to surface from this community?

RJ: We know inherently the generosity of our community. They have stepped up time and time again. The Season of Sharing and the Giving Challenges have demonstrated that. As we're starting to see the extent of this, if you weren't yourself personally impacted in a severe way, you want to do something to help. Given the trust we have with our partners and others that we know will be great stewards, this is an opportunity for people who want to do something. Those who have caring hearts want somehow to take action. We just feel so privileged to be in a position in the community where we're trusted. We will make good use of the funds as we work with our partners on what the longer term needs are going to be to get our community back. We're resilient. We're adaptable. This is going to obviously take the efforts of all of us. Philanthropy is one piece of it, but we can help jumpstart so much through our nonprofit partners and by being good listeners to those on the ground in the greatest need and understanding how best we can support our community.

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

Learn more about the Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund

SRQ: How is The Patterson Foundation helping ensure the success and effectiveness of the Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund?

Debra Jacobs: There’s an immediate downstroke of going in with $500,000. Then it's a dollar-for-dollar match for up to an additional 750,000. If the match gets made, there will be $2 million to help. Why did we do the match component? Many times, those with helping hearts want to do something, and when they get a chance to double their money and their impact, they're happy heart feels even better. it's a way to help encourage people to give now. When a disaster hits, the media is shining a light on it. That would be called immediate relief. People right now need water and shelter. People are compelled to pay attention, and we encourage people to donate to organizations like the Red Cross because they have feet on the street. But the reality is, when a disaster hits, it’s the recovery and the rebuild that takes years. This fund will be for the intermediate needs, so when the press moves on to a different disaster, there will still be money to help people and organizations recover. Our hope is they will recover with resiliency.

SRQ: What drives the generosity to provide for this type of fund?

DJ: When we hear about the level of devastation that people are living through, it moves those of us who are blessed to still have working internet and be in a house that did not fall down. I hear from real people like Rick Yocum, the CEO of the Humane Society in Manatee County. He and his wife slept with critters at the animal shelter to be there for them during the storm. Then he went home to his house and it wasn’t there. That’s going to take recovery. The person who lives in rural Venice and their house is under eight feet of water, the damage is unconscionable in terms of recovery. Some people, we're very fortunate that our trash is going to be picked up and we're going to have power this week. There are others that it's going to take months, if not years, to get stable again. But communities who approach recovery well actually come into good innovation. It's that thoughtful process that can happen, and we want to make sure that we're helping with that.

SRQ: What makes this community so giving?

DJ: It's part of the culture. Every time there's a Season of Sharing campaign, or the Giving Challenge, nobody in the country does what we do. People want to make a difference. People often come to philanthropy for tax reasons, but they stay and enjoy the feast when they see the difference they can make. It’s an endorphin thing. Givers have to give. It's part of who they are. But they want to give smartly. They want to give with purpose. They want to give with impact. 

Debra Jacobs is president and CEO of The Patterson Foundation. 

Learn more about the Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund.

First Lady Casey DeSantis announced the first round of Florida Disaster Fund grants totaling $1 million have been awarded to organizations engaged in the Hurricane Ian recovery efforts. To contribute, please visit www.FloridaDisasterFund.orgor text DISASTER to 20222.

“We know that for many Floridians there will be a long road to recovery, and we are committed to helping,” said First Lady Casey DeSantis. “Through the charitable contributions and generosity from people across the country, we have issued the initial one million dollars in payments to groups working on the front lines to help Floridians in need. Thank you to all who are supporting these heroic efforts.”

“Today, I am thrilled to see the first round of funding from the Florida Disaster Fund go out, which will continue to support Hurricane Ian recovery across the state,” said Volunteer Florida CEO Josie Tamayo.

The following organizations have received Florida Disaster Fund grants to support Hurricane Ian recovery efforts: Save the Children; The Salvation Army; American Red Cross; Team Rubicon; Catholic Charities; Feeding Florida; Midwest FoodBank; ToolBank; Operation BBQ Relief; United Way Collier County. 

Image courtesy Governor's Office

Florida Disaster Fund