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 recognize Jessica Braemer, Sarasota and Manatee County Partnership Manager at Better Together. Jessica is an individual with a long history of working in the nonprofit sector. She helped grow her organization 417% in two years across three counties. According to her colleagues, "Jessica is an invaluable and passionate advocate for children and families across Sarasota and Manatee counties. She exemplifies all of Better Together’s core values, is an asset to the organization, and a gift to all who know her. She leads the nonprofit in developing relationships and bringing life-changing programs to families across the region." Jessica Braemer is truly a Good Hero in our community! 

Pictured: Jessica Braemer (center) with Dr. Helene Lotman (left) and SRQ Magazine Managing Editor, Barbie Heit. Photo by Wyatt Kostygan.

Sean Allison of Palmetto has joined Tidewell Foundation as a Philanthropy Advisor serving Manatee County. As part of Empath Health, Tidewell Foundation supports Tidewell Hospice services, including free care and grief services, and other Empath not-for-profit care programs in Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte and DeSoto counties. Allison has been a cause-driven leader in not-for-profit service for more than 25 years. For nearly 15 years he served as CEO for the YMCA in Manatee County. “My passion is to develop funding that provides vitally important services to those who need it the most,” he said. Allison has a bachelor’s degree from Drury University. He is a member of the Healthcare Committee for the Manatee Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Lakewood Ranch Rotary Club. Allison can be reached at (941) 552-7519 or seanallison@tidewellfoundation.org. 

As president and shareholder with Fergeson, Skipper, P.A., Richard (Rick) Gans is proud to be an important part of the Suncoast. Gans has been on the Fergeson Skipper team since 1994 and has earned an AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, which is the highest rating available for an attorney’s legal ability and professional ethics. He is also an accomplished speaker and author, with a growing number of published and peer-respected works. 

Throughout his career, Gans has believed in giving back to the community as much as he believes in providing his clients with trusted guidance and experienced representation as a board-certified specialist in Wills, Trusts and Estates. He was recently named to the Boca Grande Historical Society’s board of directors, and he has served as board chair of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County and as the director of the Woman’s Exchange, Inc.

FergesonSkipper.com

941.957.1900 

For the sixth time, The NonProfit Times has recognized Gulf Coast Community Foundation (Gulf Coast) as one of the country’s “Best Nonprofits To Work For.” The national publication ranked Gulf Coast 17th on its 2023 list of the 50 “Best Nonprofits To Work For” which was published in a special report on April 1. The foundation placed 12th on the Small Employer Category (15 to 49 employees). Gulf Coast also received the “Best Nonprofit to Work For” recognition in 2010, 2011, 2017, 2020, and 2021. The NonProfit Times partners with Best Companies Group to vet the organizations from where leaders submit applications to complete. The program is designed to recognize outstanding places of employment in the United States. The “Best Nonprofits” program, conducted annually by The NonProfit Times, is designed to identify the best employers in the nonprofit sector and recognize leadership and strategies that can benefit the sector and those it serves. The results are based on a rigorous survey process open to nonprofits across the country. Selection of this year’s honorees was a months-long process. As part of the survey, there is one section where staff members are asked to react to 77 statements. Most of the organizations on the list survey staff at least annually to keep communication lines open. Besides the list ranking, the “Best Nonprofits” program offers participating organizations the opportunity to receive a benchmark report it can use to further organizational and staff development. That data is a particularly valuable reason to participate, said Gulf Coast’s Chief Operating Officer, Veronica Thames. 

Learn more about the 2023 Best Nonprofits to Work For at

Family Promise of South Sarasota County (FPSSC) is excited to have received a generous $4,000 grant from Plantation Community Foundation. Plantation Community Foundation has been a strong supporter of FPSSC since its inception in 2015 with annual grants to assist with emergency funds for families. All grant funds will be used to provide for emergency funding as needed by client families, as needs are identified by FPSSCs staff. Examples of emergency funding use include the following: childcare expenses; car repairs and tires; driver’s license reinstatement and auto insurance; counseling; emergency shelter; clothing and shoes (kids - for school, adults - for interviews or job requirements); transportation (gas cards and bus passes); grocery gift cards; healthy snacks and drinks for children in the program while they are at the Agency’s Day Center; school supplies; storage unit costs; pet boarding; health care, dental, and optical services necessary for school and/or employment, including prescription medications; grooming and hygiene supplies; and diapers and baby wipes. There is no provision for direct cash payments to guest families. Funding these necessary expenses provides client families with items essential to their ability to achieve long-term financial and housing stability. Jennifer Fagenbaum, Executive Director of Family Promise of South Sarasota County stated, “Funding, such as this generous grant from Plantation Community Foundation, is paramount at this time as the number of families in Sarasota County spending more than 50% of their income on housing costs per month continues to increase. With the help of this grant, Family Promise will be able to offer additional assistance with unexpected expenses such as car repairs or medical expenses to keep our families employed and going to school and daycare. 

The annual Hermitage Greenfield Prize (HGP) Dinner on Sunday, April 16th honored dancer-choreographer Lorenzo ‘Rennie’ Harris and visual artist Sandy Rodriguez. This was the culmination of a weekend-long celebration of events, hosted by the Hermitage Artist Retreat (Andy Sandberg, Artistic Director and CEO) in partnership with the Greenfield Foundation. To commemorate the 20th anniversary season of the Hermitage and the milestone 15th year of this distinguished national honor, the Hermitage presented two awards – one in the discipline of visual art and a special award in the field of dance and choreography. The evening of celebration was presented outdoors by the Ringling Museum’s Ca’ d’Zan and featured inspiring performances from Broadway star and Lucille Lortel Award winner Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer (Beetlejuice), hip-hop dancer Phil S. Cuttino Jr. (Rennie Harris Puremovement), violinist Samantha Bennett (EnsembleNEWSRQ), and special appearances from past Hermitage Greenfield Prize winners Sanford Biggers (2010, visual art), and Angélica Negrón (2022, music). The annual gala raised more than $240,000 in support of the Hermitage’s mission in addition to the Greenfield Foundation’s ongoing annual gift of $150,000. The festive evening was chaired by Sherry and Tom Koski. Hermitage Artistic Director and CEO Andy Sandberg served as master of ceremonies and announced that the Ringling Museum will be collaborating with the Hermitage as the presenting partner for the premieres of both Sandy Rodriguez and Rennie Harris’ commissions in Sarasota in 2025. Harris and Rodriguez will each receive a $30,000 commission, along with an extended residency at the Hermitage Artist Retreat. 

Halfacre Construction Company, a Lakewood Ranch-based commercial construction company, recently sponsored State College of Florida Foundation’s Evening Under the Stars event with a $2,000 sponsorship.Held on Saturday, April 15 at the State College of Florida (SCF) campus in Venice, the time-honored cocktail event celebrated 30 years of family, friends and supporters. Attendees enjoyed music from the SCF Presidential Jazz Band and The Pops Orchestra, a blind auction tent and a wine cork pull. VIP tickets included a catered meal by Fins at Sharky’s, along with beer and wine, and a food truck was on-site for general admission to purchase. A firework show set to The Pops Orchestra concluded the night.Proceeds from the event directly benefited students and programs at State College of Florida, helping to make the very best education possible to enhance the quality of life in the Venice community for all. During the event, guests heard from Dr. Carol F. Probstfeld, State College of Florida’s president, as well as a student that has received scholarship funds thanks to the foundation’s sponsorships. “Giving back is part of the corporate culture at Halfacre Construction Company,” said Jack Cox, president and CEO of Halfacre Construction Company. “Helping to remove some of the financial obstacles that students have is something we’re proud to support.” Over the years, Halfacre Construction Company has continually given in-kind services and contributions to local nonprofits and educational facilities, including Loveland Center, First Step of Sarasota, The Haven, Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County, Suncoast Charities for Children, Special Olympics Florida – Sarasota County, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast, SKY Family YMCA, United Way Suncoast, Senior Friendship Centers of Sarasota, HOPE Family Services and St. Jude Catholic Church. 

Pictured: Brooke Lawton, project administrator at Halfacre; Dean Crowley, project manager at Halfacre; Tom Rees, vice president and project executive at Halfacre and Tammi Dodson, marketing and proposal manager at Halfacre.