SRQ Magazine's 2023 Philanthropic Agenda and Good Hero Awards luncheon and panel discussion took place yesterday at Michael's on East. The event explores the dynamic and ever changing world of nonprofits and honors individuals who have meaningfully impacted our community for good in the past year and for-profit companies who have been incredible philanthropic partners to the community.

Wes Roberts, Executive Publisher of SRQ Magazine, host and co-moderator, gave a warm welcome to all and thanked series sponsor Mariash Lowther Wealth Management, host sponsor, Michael's on East, good hero sponsor, JFCS of the Suncoast, and floral sponsor, Tropical interiors Florist. Roberts then addressed the community response to Hurricane Ian and recognized the attendees for their dedication. "Our local good guys leaped into action and helped those who needed it most," he said. "The only thing we can always expect is that there will always be unexpected tragedies, difficulties and challenges in our lives."

Brian Mariash, a former recipient of the Good Hero Award himself, then gave opening remarks before turning the stage over to keynote speaker, Mark Brewer, CEO/President, Central Florida Foundation. Brewer congratulated everyone for working through and continuing to deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. He spoke about how giving has changed over the years and shared a global message: "Philanthropy has the ability to bring people together to talk about things they might not have talked about before."

The five featured panelists--Susie Bowie, CEO/President, The William G and Marie Selby Foundation, Beth Duda, Director, Suncoast Campaign for Grade Level Reading, Dr. Kameron Hodgens, Director of Community Leadership, Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Kelly Romanoff, Senior VP for Strategy and Evaluation, Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, Kirsten Russell, VP, Community Impact, Community Foundation of Sarasota County--then joined together for engaging discussions including what we have learned from the experience of having a hurricane strike so close to our region and how to choose priorities for support when there are so many groups in our community that need help.

New CEO and President of JFCS of the Suncoast Dr. Helene Lothman took the stage to kick off  SRQ Magazine's Good Hero Philanthropic Awards which went to the following recipients: Jessica Braemer of Better Together, Bronwyn Beightol of United Way Suncoast, Lisa Moore of Blaze of Hope, Bill Sadlo of Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties, Liberty Savings Bank, W.E. "Chip" Gaylor of Community Foundation of Sarasota County, Norman Love of Norman Love Confections, Elizabeth "Betty" Ferguson of Sarasota Ballet, Mary Kay Henson of Unidos Now and other community projects and Marjan Zahu of Florida Cancer Specialists (FCS) Foundation. Congratulations to all ten of this year's honorees. Read more about each Good Hero in upcoming editions of SRQ Magazine.

The Education Foundation of Sarasota County has received a grant of $5,000 from the Florida Lottery (Lottery). Through the Lighting the Way to a Bright Future program grant, this grant will support the Education Foundation’s work to help low-income students prepare for college, career, and life. Thanks in part to this support from the Lottery, the Education Foundation will reach more low-income students and help them prepare for life after high school by: Opening a Student Success Center at Sarasota Military Academy, a free charter school near downtown Sarasota. Students can access comprehensive resources and relationships to prepare for life after graduation, including working one on one with a Student Success Coach to plan for life after graduation. Providing a Student Success Coach with deep connections to North Port High School and the surrounding community to meet students where they are and help them identify college and career pathways and prepare for life. Offering free SAT/ACT preparation workshops to low-income students at LaunchPad4U. The Lottery recognizes that while all Florida students can earn a Bright Futures Scholarship, many may need additional support to meet the criteria and prepare for post-secondary success—particularly students of low socio-economic backgrounds and aspiring first-generation college students. This year the Florida Lottery provided $50,000 to the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations to fund nine standout projects by local education foundations that “light the way” for thousands of students to earn a Bright Futures Scholarship for college and career certification programs throughout Florida, including Sarasota County.  

To learn more click here.

Church of the Redeemer in Downtown Sarasota recently surprised 60 public school teachers in Sarasota and Manatee counties with a total of $15,000 in grants for classroom enhancements, which can include anything from cleaning supplies, storage items to keep classrooms neat, seasonal decor, and arts and crafts supplies. Individual educators often must pay for these enhancements out of their own pockets. This is the second year that Redeemer has provided the gifts through its St. Scholastica Program, which is funded by donations from parishioners raised over a period of five weeks. Funding also came from the church’s Mission & Outreach Committee, which awards grants to charitable causes throughout Sarasota, and from the Episcopal Thrift House, which is led by Redeemer volunteers and community members. Redeemer’s Director of Children’s Christian Formation Jacki Boedecker said, “What a privilege to be part of this remarkable outreach! It’s so meaningful to witness the joyful recipients and ecstatic students.” Youth Minister Jackie Overton added, “Teachers pour their hearts and sometimes their own funds into their classrooms, and we’re thankful to be able to honor them!” Teachers who received the $250 grants will also be honored in person at a special service that will take place on April 23 at Church of the Redeemer. Youth Minister Jackie Overton adds, “The church comes to life when we step outside the walls and into our communities. I’m thankful to be part of such a loving congregation, for leadership that supports creative ideas, for the team that read and reread over 100 applications, and for the generosity of those who shared their treasures so we can honor the talents of 60 teachers in Manatee and Sarasota counties.” 

Art Avenue is pleased to announce it will be hosting Hands Up for Homes! An Art Auction Benefitting Second Heart Homes, Inc. Art Avenue founder and owner Paul Sykes will chair the second-annual live auction on Friday, March 10, from 6pm to 9pm, at Art Avenue’s Siesta Key Mall location in Sarasota. Free parking is available in the mall lot at 3501 South Tamiami Trail. The event is free. Guests can enjoy wine, sushi by Tsunami and live music while bidding on more than 20 works of art donated by local artists, including “Andy Warhol” sculptor Jack Dowd, “Spread Love” artist Brandon Thrift and “Women of the Resistance” painter Vicki Chelf. Supporters who are unable to attend the event can double their
donations up to $500 through the Flanzer matching gift program at secondhearthomes.org. All proceeds go to Second Heart Homes, a local nonprofit that provides housing and high-touch supportive services to 43 homeless men and women with mental health conditions in seven properties across Sarasota and Manatee counties. They closed on their 8 th property on March 2nd . “Hands Up for Homes! encourages bidders and donors to ‘give a hand up, rather than a hand out,’ so that we can reduce the impact of chronic homelessness on our community while getting our homeless adults off the street and back on their feet,” said Megan Howell, founder and executive director for Second Heart Homes. “Our funding comes solely from individual and private sector giving. We’re hoping to raise $100,000 from the auction for the launching of our next 2 homes.” Event sponsors include Art Avenue, CitySide, Kitchner Benefits, Lori Sax Photography, Sandbox Financial Partners, Szantosi Art, and Tsunami Sushi. For more information and to give, contact Megan Howell at megan@secondhearthomes.org or 941-201-9353. 

Pictured: No Place Like Homeless Jack Dowd. Courtesy of Art Avenue.

Cork Elementary School in Plant City gave a thoughtful donation to Gulf Coast Community Foundation’s Hurricane Ian Recovery Initiative. In the month of October, they began a “Penny War” where together students raised $2,225.20 for Gulf Coast in just one school week following the storm to support disaster relief. The elementary school’s contribution was leveraged with other donor gifts for a $10,000 grant award for students at State College of Florida, Venice campus. The grant will cover the cost of 50 bus passes for Venice students whose vehicles were damaged in the hurricane or who were otherwise affected financially and are struggling with transportation to the campus. Gulf Coast sent a package to Cork Elementary thanking them for their generosity. This is a stellar example of youth taking the lead to benefit those who suffered from the storm. 

Pictured: Jennifer Johnston and Michelle Stout with Gulf Coast Community Foundation make a thank-you package to students at Cork Elementary School for their philanthropy. Photo courtesy of Gulf Coast Community Foundation.

Time is running out to register for Better Together, Gulf Coast Community Foundation’s (Gulf Coast) outdoor, free, fun, reimagined event. Registration can be completed through Eventbrite at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gulf-coast-community-foundations-better-together-2023-tickets-536113348457. Better Together will take place on Thursday, March 16 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on the 1500 block of State Street in downtown Sarasota. The entire community is invited to celebrate our nonprofit region and the impact of philanthropy. The first 200 attendees will receive a complimentary gift courtesy of Gulf Coast. Better Together will have free activities that celebrate education, arts, health and human services, and the environment, including performances by local musicians, a mini Venice Shark Hunt, and the opportunity to do a random act of kindness for a community helper. Attendees can also collaborate with local artist Brandon Thrift (known for his “Spread Love” artwork) to create a community art piece. Gulf Coast will also have artists from the Circus Arts Conservatory, face painting, and a 360-degree photo booth. Food and beverages will be available for purchase, including Better Together ice cream sandwiches from Rise and Nye’s. Parking is available at the State Street parking garage. Gulf Coast will have check-in tables for registration at either end of State Street, near the parking garage and Hyde Park Steakhouse. 

To learn more click here.

Nearly 600 people attended the Tidewell Foundation’s 14th Annual Signature luncheon Friday, March 3, 2023 at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota. The Signature Luncheon is the Tidewell Foundation’s largest fundraiser benefiting Tidewell Hospice and Empath Health services reaching more than 10,000 people each year in Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee and Sarasota counties. Former Army Major and Bronze Star recipient Dr. Sudip Bose was the keynote speaker. Dr. Bose shared compelling lessons from his experiences on the battlefield and working in emergency medicine that attendees could use to cope with stress in their lives. He also discussed the importance of preparation for life’s challenges. “You have to prepare in peace time for war time. You have to sweat in peace so you don’t bleed in war,” Dr. Bose said. “Similarly, you too must prepare—we all must prepare for the end of life. Our life is defined by two days—a birth date and a death date; between them is a dash, and you have to make the most of that dash.” Donor support makes the Tidewell Honors Veterans program possible. Tidewell Foundation also helps fund charitable care, grief support services, complementary therapies such as music and expressive arts, and other Tidewell Hospice services. Caldwell Trust Company was the Signature Sponsor of the 14th Annual Signature Luncheon, and Northern Trust was the Sustaining Sponsor. A complete list of Signature Luncheon sponsors can be found at tidewellfoundation.org/news-and-events/events/signature-luncheon. 

Pictured: Attendees at Tidewell Foundation’s 14th Annual Signature Luncheon enjoy the VIP reception. Courtesy of Tidewell Foundation.

Clearwater Marine Aquarium will release 10 critically endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtles from 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m on Tuesday, March 7. The 10 turtles, all named for national parks, were transferred to CMA for care from the
New England Aquarium and National Marine Life Center following a cold-stun event in Cape Cod that resulted in hundreds of stranded sea turtles. Following nearly three months of care, CMA veterinarians have determined the turtles (named Yellowstone, Isle Royale, Yosemite, Mount Rainier, Joshua Tree, Redwood, Zion, Sequoia, Smoky and Teton) are fully rehabilitated and ready for release back into Atlantic waters. Clearwater Marine Aquarium will also be releasing two additional Kemp’s ridley sea turtles for The Florida Aquarium that were rehabilitated under their care at this time. Additional details on the turtles’ care may be viewed at: mission.cmaquarium.org/news/sea-turtle-hospital-patient-new-england-patients/ 

To learn more click here.

Tidewell Foundation’s annual Linens and Love drive will be held in March, in partnership with Dignity Memorial. This will be the third year for the drive, which collects new sheets, towels and other linens for Tidewell Hospice and Empath Home Health patients in need. In 2022, more than 2,000 pounds of new linens were collected and $3,600 was donated for linens purchases. The linens are often needed by patients who receive a hospital bed in their homes and need XL twin sheets. In other cases, families with limited resources need help providing their loved ones with clean, quality linens. By donating to Linens and Love, you help Tidewell Foundation in its mission to lift spirits and provide comfort to patients and families.Each year, Tidewell Hospice provides care for nearly 10,000 patients throughout its four-county service area of Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte and DeSoto counties. The Tidewell Foundation provides perpetual support for the world-class hospice and home health care of Tidewell Hospice, part of Empath Health. The community can get involved and donate new linens by: Shopping online: Visit Amazon and purchase the selected XL twin bed sheet sets and towel sets. Your purchases will be shipped directly to the Tidewell Foundation; Shopping in person: Drop sheets and towels off at one of the drop-off locations across the region. For a full list of drop off locations and directions, visit tidewellfoundation.org/news-and-events/events/linenlove; Donating to the Tidewell Foundation: Visit the Linen Drive donation page, make a donation, and we will purchase linens on your behalf to give to a patient in need. 

To learn more click here.

POWER COUPLE | Guided by their faith, David and Adie Rubin are brightening the way for others and themselves through their generosity, March 2023. 

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