Each year, SRQ Media invites the community to nominate individuals with hearts of giving who have made a significant impact with local nonprofit organizations — from volunteers and board members to individual staff members and donors. This year, attendees were thrilled to be together as we recognized our annual Good Hero Philanthropic Award recipients at the SB2: Philanthropic Agenda Luncheon and Good Hero Philanthropic Awards Luncheon on Tuesday, March 7th at Michael’s on East in Sarasota. We are happy to feature each of the ten honorees in our Wednesday Philanthropic edition of SRQ Daily.

Today we are recognizing Bronwyn Beightol, Chief Impact Office at United Way Suncoast. Bronwyn has been credited by her colleagues for maximizing their strengths and welcoming input from every team member. She’s inclusive, insightful, inspiring, independent and reserved. Her efforts aim at a simple mission: give every community member equitable access to opportunities to create the life they imagine and give every child the freedom to rise. Bronwyn has been in the position of Chief Impact Officer for more than 15 years. Her leadership emerged in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian when United Way Suncoast joined other agencies to provide immediate relief to community members. She worked with other team members to ensure a focus on mid and long-term assistance. Congratulations Bronwyn! 

Pictured: Bronwyn Beightol (center) with Dr. Helene Lotman, CEO & President of JFCS of the Suncoast (left) and SRQ Magazine Managing Editor, Barbie Heit. Photo by Wyatt Kostygan.

The Board of Directors of Gulf Coast Community Foundation (Gulf Coast) is pleased to announce the selection of Phillip P. Lanham as its next President|CEO. Lanham will join Gulf Coast on June 1 following the national search conducted by the Board’s CEO Search Committee and executive search firm Russel Reynolds. Lanham currently serves as the Chief Philanthropy Officer at Greater Cincinnati Foundation where he successfully led the philanthropic partnerships team in providing strategic guidance for relationships with donors, nonprofits, businesses, and private foundations. He has built a reputation as an accomplished executive leader with a strong background in creating results-driven strategies. Beginning his career with his alma mater, University of Cincinnati, where he earned his MBA, Lanham has spent his entire career serving the philanthropic and nonprofit communities. He is a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® and a member of the 21/64 Network, a cutting-edge nonprofit specializing in understanding and engaging the next generation within family philanthropy. Lanham joins at a significant point in Gulf Coast’s history with the foundation recently announcing $500 million in community impact following the news of Dr. Mark S. Pritchett’s impending retirement. Pritchett will officially retire in late spring and will support the transition as needed. Spending many family vacations in the Gulf Coast region, Lanham is familiar with its incredibly philanthropic community and beautiful surroundings. Lanham’s passion for community is reflective in his board service with the Advancement Network for community foundations where he is the immediate past chair, as well as serving as the Vice Chair of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center Board. He also enjoys the arts sector serving on the Music Hall Revitalization Company board, which is responsible for maintaining the iconic performance home of Cincinnati Ballet, Cincinnati Opera, Cincinnati Symphony/Pops Orchestras, and May Festival. He and his wife Tami are proud parents to two boys who share a love of football and the beach. Lanham will plant roots in Sarasota County in May. 

Pictured: Gulf Coast Community Foundation’s New President|CEO, Phillip P. Lanham, CAP®

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast is thrilled to announce that Big Brother Carlos Bates, has been selected as The Big Brothers Big Sisters Association of Florida winner of their 2023 Big of the Year award. “Carlos’ match relationship exemplifies the positive impact that long term one to-one mentoring has on our children, said Dan Prinzing, CEO, Big Brothers Big Sisters Association of Florida. Carlos will represent Florida for the National Big Brother of the Year award to be named in June of 2023.”

“I was fortunate to have people in my life growing up who recognized my talents and saw possibilities in me long before I would- or could see the potential in myself. I remember the pangs of uncertainty and doubt that challenged me as a young person and will never forget what it felt like to have someone I respected tell me that they believed I would undoubtedly achieve my goals. I developed self-confidence and my self-esteem boosted with the help of the mentors in my life," said Carlos Bates, Big Brother for the State of Florida. "I knew early on that it would be a lifelong mission of mine to give some of that back. Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast gave me the opportunity to fulfill that quest not only once but twice. I met Mihretu – my second Little Brother in 2017 when he was seven years old. I will never forget how he sized me up. While he may be small in stature, Mihretu makes up for it with a huge personality. He conducted his own interview of me during that hour- long match meeting and I was so relieved that I got the job!” To become a Big or to learn more about the program call 855.501.BIGS (2447) or visit BBBSSUN.ORG. 

The Hats & Heels & Bow Ties Luncheon is on Wednesday, May 3rd 2023 at 11:30am-1:30pm at the Legacy Hotel at IMG Academy located at 5450 Bollettieri Blvd, Bradenton, FL 34210. This year’s emcee is Lulu from CTQ 92.1. The event supports programs at Turning Points. Turning Points provide, facilitates and coordinates services to prevent and reduce homelessness. This past year, Turning Points made a positive impact on 9,100 of the men, women and children struggling in our community. Here are a few areas of impact: Paid over $1.1 million to landlords and utility companies to end or prevent homelessness for families, veterans, the elderly, and individuals in Manatee County (while doing the case management for hundreds of these families and individuals that needed the assistance); 295 Veterans received critically needed services throughout all of our programs; 835 of our neighbors received free dental care at Turning Points with 288 of these patients receiving partial or full dentures; Our Medical Clinic provided nearly $1 million in free prescription assistance this past year. Hats & Heels & Bow Ties centers around a friendly interactive competition between guests. Celebrity judges score the guests on several categories regarding the guests’ hats or fascinators, and/or heels or flats and/or bow ties. Celebrity judges are Summer Smith from ABC7 WWSB, Maverick Johnson from 92.1 CTQ, and Shantel Norman from Jah Movement. Guests attend the luncheon wearing a hat or fascinator of their creation or purchased. They can also wear special or unique heels or flats. And lastly they can also wear a special or unique bow tie. Exceptional prizes are awarded to the winners. Tickets are $75.00 and there are several sponsorship opportunities available. Included in the ticket cost is a glass of champagne, a sit down lunch, dessert and photo booth pictures. Guests arrive early to enjoy and shop all of the raffle prizes. There are several sponsorship packages available but unique sponsorships can also be created. Donated gifts for the raffle prizes are also needed. Over 250 women and men from Sarasota, Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch attend Hats & Heels & Bow Ties so this is a great way to showcase a business with a far reach. This is a well-attended event that usually sells out. Contact Margi Dawson mdawson@tpmanatee.org or 941-747-1509 x346 if interested in sponsorship opportunities or donating a great item or service for the raffle prizes. Go to https://tpmanatee.org/events/ for more information and to purchase tickets. 

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Each year, child welfare organization Safe Children Coalition (SCC) works to ensure the care and safety of thousands of children in Florida’s Circuit 12 (Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties) who are in crisis. By providing needed programs and services – such as adoption and foster care, youth prevention and diversion services, a Youth Shelter for displaced teens who are on their own, and more – the organization serves as a much-needed safety net for thousands of children and families throughout the region. In recent years – particularly given challenges due to the pandemic, the resulting economic fallout, and Hurricane Ian – the number of children coming into care has grown significantly. SCC has responded to the increased need by adding several case managers, increasing case manager salaries, and through a program department reorganization, recently promoting several team members to leadership roles that has allowed them to reduce caseloads and better divide the workload. Robin Jensen, who has dedicated her career to protecting children, was hired by SCC six months ago as a vice president of child welfare case management; she has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer. Stacey Schaeffer has 19 years’ experience in the field of mental health and child welfare prevention services and has worked with SCC since 2011; she was promoted from senior director of prevention and diversion services to vice president of prevention and diversion services. Tonia Hutchinson has been helping children and families for her entire career and has worked at SCC since 1997 – earning the milestone award “Champion for Children” in 2022; she was promoted from program director of case management to vice president, case management. Jill Steiner has been working in child welfare for 26 years and at SCC since 2012; she was promoted from senior director of SCC’s out of home care to vice president, out of home care. “With more than 300 employees, the strategic division of labor is imperative to ensure we are providing the best possible service to children in our care,” said SCC president and CEO Brena Slater. “Last year, we served nearly 9,300 children through prevention and protective services; this year, we are on pace to serve 12,000. Robin, Stacey, Tonia, and Jill have devoted their entire careers to protecting children and their advancement will significantly benefit the families in Circuit 12 as well as strengthen our organization.” 

Pictured: Safe Children Coalition team members (from l-r) Robin Jensen, Jill Steiner, Tonia Hutchinson and Stacey Schaeffer recently earned promotions.

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The Elizabeth Moore Sarasota Open, hosted in partnership with the City of Sarasota and Visit Sarasota County, is returning to Payne Park with a series of engaging events and matches from April 9th through April 16th, 2023. With over 70 qualifying players from around the world participating, audiences will see some of the greatest rising tennis stars right in the heart of downtown Sarasota. Legends such as Jack Sock, Denis Kudla, Ryan Harrison, Lucas Potenza, Stevie Johnson and Dustin Brown will be competing during the week to advance their ATP rankings. This year, the tournament is transitioning from a 100-point level to a 125 ATP event, increasing the prize money from $125,000 to $175,000, which is drawing higher-caliber tour players to participate. Previous winners of the Sarasota Open include Frances Tiafoe, James Blake, Kai Nishikori and Nick Kyrgios. In support of the Boys and Girls Club of Sarasota and Desoto Counties and the USTA Foundations, the Charity Tennis Ball at Michael’s on East will see a night of special item auctioning and programming on April 14th. Proceeds from the evening will directly support the event’s goal of building new tennis courts for the Boys and Girls Club and mission to continue growing the sport of tennis in the area and sharing the sport with the next generation. Children are also encouraged to attend the free tennis clinic on April 8th led by Brian Gottfried, Cheryl Gottfried, Nef and Kevin Scott. Sponsors of the event include Elizabeth Moore, Tommy’s Express Car Wash, Fifth Third Private Bank, Mallory Agency, Art Avenue, AeroVanti, Sandy Bay Partners, Gapin Institute, Coastal Orthopedics, Bessemer Trust, Ian Black Real Estate, WUSF, Andrew Ford Fine Art, and First Watch. Event attendees will also be able to purchase drinks and meals on-site from a number of partnered local food vendors. A full schedule of events happening during the 2023 Elizabeth Moore Sarasota Open can be seen here: https://www.sarasotaopen.com/pages/calendar. 

The Bay Park Conservancy (BPC), the non-profit organization responsible for designing, developing, managing and operating 53 acres of City-owned land along Sarasota Bay into an iconic public park, has added Steve Germaine to its leadership team as its first full-time Chief Financial Officer. As CFO, Steve will initially report to Founding CEO AG Lafley, then to new President and CEO Stephanie Crockatt when she joins The Bay Park Conservancy in June 2023. He will also work closely with the Finance Committee and Board Treasurer, Rob Lane on all matters financial. Additionally, he will partner with Chief Operating Officer Bill Waddill on development and implementation, Derick Kitson on park management and maintenance, Amber Lamerson on development and fundraising, Diana Shaheen on park programming and communications, and with The Bay Park Conservancy partners, such as Stutler Enterprises. Steve is a well-rounded finance and accounting executive who has the ability to integrate organizational goals and strategies with operating budgets resulting in world-class execution. For the past 20 years he has served as Controller and then VP Finance/CFO of the largest division of Timex Corporation. His prior financial experience was with both large and midsize publicly and privately held companies in various manufacturing sectors. He also has served as the Treasurer for various non-profit organizations throughout his life which have supported children, college athletics, church and community. Tony Gamelin, current BPC CFO, will be working with Germaine and Lafley to ensure an orderly transition over the next few months. The Bay recently announced the hiring of its first full-time, fully-experienced and highly-qualified CEO Stephanie Crockatt, currently Executive Director at the Buffalo Olmsted Park Conservancy, celebrated “It’s Good to be Green” month and National Take a Walk in the Park Day at The Bay, welcomed its 150,000th park guest, and is preparing to begin the design and development of Phase 2 in a few months - the next 14 acres of new public park to be designed and built over the next four years at a capital cost of $65 million. For more information about The Bay Park Conservancy, visit www.thebaysarasota.org or contact Julia Groom at julia@dreamlarge.org or 941-786-8732. 

Sarasota Memorial is now offering a full range of minimally invasive ablative therapies to treat thyroid nodules. The multi-disciplinary team at SMH’s Thyroid and Parathyroid Center reviews each patient’s case to determine the best treatment option based on the type of nodule, the location, and the size. Dr. Tufano is a world-renowned thyroid and parathyroid surgeon who joined SMH in August of 2021 to oversee the new Thyroid and Parathyroid Center. He is an expert in minimally invasive radiofrequency ablation, also known as RFA. Dr. Tufano partners with community specialists to bring new treatments, including the newest addition of Echolaser, to SMH. Even if they’re benign, thyroid nodules can impact a patient’s quality of life, including causing swelling in the neck, difficulty or pain when swallowing, and trouble breathing. Ablative technologies, like the Echolaser, are used to reduce or shrink the nodules. To learn more about Sarasota Memorial’s Thyroid and Parathyroid Center, and available treatments for patients, visit https://youtu.be/lqef74iYGiE.