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 pleased to feature each of the ten honorees in our Wednesday Philanthropic edition of SRQ Daily.

Today we recognize Bill Sadlo, President and CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties. Bill has held many positions but has always maintained the motto that we all do better when we come together. Over his 35 years with this organization, his number one priority is, and always will be, creating a safe place for local youth to go outside of school. Under his guidance, the organization is always working to be the best place for all local youth to attend where they feel included, empowered and supported to engage in the programs, ideas and skills they feel passionate about. Bill was himself a Club member growing up in Sarasota. He saw firsthand all that the Club could offer a young person and he credits the Boys & Girls Club with many of the values he still holds today. After he earned his Bachelor of Education, Bill returned to the Club to give back to the younger Club members until he could find a teaching position. He joined the organization during the summer of 1987 as the Athletic Director. Being able to experience the rewards of giving back to the next generation helped him realize very quickly this was what he wanted to do with his life. This year marks Bill’s 35th year with the organization and his commitment to the youth of our area has grown exponentially. He takes his message of collaboration beyond the programs and culture of the Club and instills it in the staff and Board culture. When longtime staff members were asked about Bill’s leadership, the common thread was that it was never about him. One senior staff member shared, “the type of leader he is should be the goal for all leaders.” He serves this area tirelessly and we can think of no person more deserving of the Good Hero Award. 

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

The Bay Park Conservancy (BPC), the non-profit organization responsible for designing, developing, managing and operating a signature public park on 53 acres of City-owned land along Sarasota Bay, has elected three new Board members, added HR capability and released its annual report.Tony Gamelin, Managing Principal of CFO Integrity, transitions from his previous role as CFO of the Bay Park Conservancy to become a member of the Board and Finance Committee. As BPC CFO, Gamelin helped create and implement financial controls and management processes to improve management implementation and operations. Gamelin is a seasoned finance and accounting executive with a broad base of experience and has performed CFO-level services with non-profit and private companies across a wide range of industries including retail, construction and professional services. Jeff Jackson is President and CEO of PGT Innovations, a leading manufacturer of premium windows and doors. Jeff is a Certified Public Accountant with prior management experience at The Hershey Company, Coca-Cola, and KPMG, among others. Jeff is a committed community advocate and serves as Board Chair for the Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority. Jeff and the PGT Innovations team are helping end human trafficking in the state of Florida. Jennifer Jorgensen, City of Sarasota Governmental Relations Manager, previously worked for the Walt Disney Company as Manager, Vendor Management and Business Affairs Manager. Jennifer has her Juris Doctor from the University of Nebraska. She also worked as Legal Counsel and Lobbyist for the Nebraska School Board Association and held various leadership and fundraising positions in higher education and the non-profit sector. Ron Hamilton joins the BPC team as the Senior Human Resources Consultant. He is a former HR executive at a Fortune 500 financial services company. He has also been a HR Consultant for over 20 years working with large international companies, as well as smaller non-profits like Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee and Jewish Family and Children Services. Ron is an Adjunct Professor at Webster University. Lastly, the Bay Park Conservancy published the 2022 Annual Report which highlights last year’s park opening to 50,000 people, the ongoing transformation of a parking lot into a park, enabling community partnerships, new environmental enhancements and more. The 2022 Annual Report can be accessed via The Bay’s website or by visiting www.thebayannualreport.org. 

For more information click here.

Notes of love and well wishes are literally built into the foundation of one family’s brand-new home in Sapphire Point, a Pulte Homes community in Lakewood Ranch. PulteGroup employees, trade partners, friends, future neighbors, and military veterans gathered April 7 to honor Army Sgt.1st Class Lucio Gaytan and family, writing words of thanks and support across the under-construction home, donated mortgage-free through PulteGroup’s Built to Honor® program. Among the guests attending the Notes of Love ceremony were Lakewood Ranch residents, county and community leaders, and representatives from Building Homes for Heroes and PulteGroup. Earlier this spring, well-wishers lined the street, waving flags and cheering on Gaytan as he and his family were escorted by motorcade to their future home for a ceremonial groundbreaking. The event celebrates recipients of PulteGroup’s Built to Honor® program, introduced by the national homebuilder in 2013 to recognize and thank military personnel who have been injured during their service. Army Sgt.1st Class Lucio Gaytan joined the military in 1996 and served honorably for 22 years. He was injured in a severe landing fall during parachute jump training in 2005, resulting in vertebrae and disc damage. Despite his injuries, Gaytan completed deployment and continued to serve until medically retiring in 2018. For service to his country, Gaytan is the recipient of many military service medals. He participates in wheelchair basketball, wheelchair football, and has competed in the Department of Defense Warrior Games for Team SOCOM. The Gaytan’s Sapphire Point home was donated through a partnership between Pulte and Building Homes for Heroes, a national nonprofit organization devoted to bringing renewed hope and service to injured veterans. Notes of Love provides an opportunity for the community to support injured veterans. Although the notes will eventually be covered with flooring, drywall and stucco, the symbolism and meaning behind the messages are long lasting, like a permanent time capsule honoring his service. The Gaytan’s home will be complete later this Summer. The family will be moving into Pulte’s popular Mystique floor plan. The home will easily accommodate the family of four with three bedrooms, two baths and more than 1,889 square feet. The home design features flexible living spaces, a professional-style kitchen and open gathering and dining areas for entertaining ease. An integrated outdoor living area extends the living space to fully enjoy Lakewood Ranch’s stunning natural preserves. For more information about Sapphire Point at Lakewood Ranch, visit the sales center at 16411 Sapphire Point Drive, Monday through Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Sunday noon to 5 p.m., or call/text (941) 213-1179 to arrange an appointment. Additional information is also available at www.Pulte.com/SapphirePoint. 

The 33rd annual Florida Winefest and Auction‘s event was most successful. Funds from this event will benefit disadvantaged youth in Manatee and Sarasota counties through our Caring for Children’s Charities organization. Attendees enjoyed a caviar and champagne reception, a brunch with amazing wines, and the opportunity to bid on unique items at a live auction, all while supporting a great cause. Winefest is committed to continuing to help local children and announced a special new youth charity initiative entitled the Creative Empowerment Program. This exclusive new collaboration provides unique free educational experiences in the media and entertainment industries for area young people lacking access and resources. This unique local initiative will provide aspiring artists, graphic designers, and filmmakers the opportunity to learn directly from industry experts and recognized talent. The program series will be available, through the Florida Winefest & Auction Charities, to aid young students in achieving legitimate creative experience. Students will be able to attend master classes, and participate in commercial programs, to quickly develop marketable skills in filming, editing, graphics, music,
visual effect, and post production. This project is a continuation of the Semkhor Studio Lab that has allowed student content creators, to learn directly and personally from famous names such as Beau Brides, Kevin Smith, Forest Whitaker, American Zoetrope colleagues, plus Ethan Hawke, and the noted director Werner Herzog. 

Satchel's Last Resort Rescue & Sanctuary is partnering with CoreSRQ for the 3rd annual Get Your Mutt Movin 5K Race and Fun Walk on Saturday, May 6 at Payne Park in downtown Sarasota. The partnership began three years ago with two friends and two common passions. Founded in 2003, Satchel’s Last Resort is home to over 100 animals that have no place else to go because of their age, medical issue, breed or behavior. Recently named best animal nonprofit by SRQ Media,Satchel’s founder Page Knoebel says, “Fundraising events like ‘Get Your Mutt Movin’ have allowed us to expand our community programming to assist people with keeping their animals at home”. With a 90% adoption rate, the team at Satchel’s is committed to rescuing, rehabbing and rehoming over 200 animals annually. For over 70 years, CoreSRQ has been offering fitness and wellness classes, social-emotional learning programs, fellowship opportunities, educational programs and fun family events. Voted the number one fitness center for the last two years by the Herald-Tribune Readers Choice Awards, the funds from Get Your Mutt Movin’ provides much needed programming support, specifically towards scholarships for summer camp and swim lessons. The 5K Race will begin at 7:30AM. Awards will be given to fastest overall female and male runners and to the top 3 finishers in each age group. All race finishers will receive a medal. The Fun Walk begins at 8:00AM and walkers can pick their distance. Pre- registration includes a t-shirt, “Wag Bag” with coupons from local businesses, a raffle ticket, entry to the dog agility course and other goodies. Visit 20+ vendors, various food trucks, take your chance on raffles, listen to music and join a Zumba class at 9:00AM taught by Yael Campbell, a local favorite! 

Sign up for the event here.

Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of new board member, Samuel “Sam” C. Scott III. Scott is the retired Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Corn Products International, Inc., today known as Ingredion.Scott currently serves on the board of asset management firm GCM Grosvenor, Northwestern Medical Group, The Chicago Council on Global Affairs and Ringling College of Art and Design. He recently retired from the board of BNY Mellon where he served time as Chair of Corporate Governance, Nominating, and Social Responsibility Committee. He has also served on the boards of Motorola Solutions as Lead Director, and Abbott Laboratories. Scott also recently retired from the boards of Chicago Urban League and World Business Chicago. He was also Chairman of Chicago Sister Cities International.Scott earned a bachelor’s degree in Engineering and a master’s degree in Business Administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, New Jersey. He is a native of Jersey City, New Jersey, and presently resides on Longboat Key, Florida. The current 20-member Healthcare Foundation board also includes Deb Kabinoff, Chair; Philip A. Delaney Jr., Past-Chair; Gwen Mackenzie, Vice Chair; Joel Morganroth, M.D., Treasurer; Sandra Stuart, Secretary; Robert G. Bartner; Carl W. Battle; Gary Dornbush; Mary Evelyn Guyton; Thomas F. Kelly, M.D.; Robert P. Martin; Diane M. Mayer; Jonathan E. Mitchell; Barbara Rodkin; Jon Soderberg; Eric Spiegel; David Verinder (Ex Officio); Kirk Voelker, M.D.; and Robert L. Wood. 

The World of Chucko presented  What is a Caroon at the Historic Venice Train Depot on Earth Day April 22. This family friendly fun filled free program was part of a ten day festival accross four counties featuring over over 200 local not for profit organizations sponsored by the The Patterson foundation. For mor information visit www.worldofchucko.org and Suncoast Remake Learning.