This summer, All Star Children's Foundation and Walgreen's are teaming up to make it easy for shoppers to help children in need.

From now through Thursday, August 31st, you can donate your myWalgreens cash rewards to the nonprofit organization and earn unlimited 1% Walgreens Cash rewards. You can contribute $1, $5 or more of your rewarads and you'll be making a big difference in little lives.

The mission of All Star Children’s Foundation is to build brighter futures for children in foster care through innovation, science, and compassion. The team at the nonprofit organizaation believes that they can fulfill this mission by adopting evidence-based, trauma-informed practices that recognize the intergenerational nature of trauma among children in foster care and address their complex and diverse needs. They focus on educating, supporting, and empowering the adults around a child to promote safe, trusting adult-child relationships within which children can thrive. At present, they provide foster care placement on their 5-acre Campus of Hope and Healing, evidence-based mental health services, foster parent and community trainings, science, innovation and compassion.

"Every child deserves a home where they are safe. Whenever possible, All Star works collaboratively with families and community partners to support children reuniting with their parents and relatives. Reunification encourages better overall mental health and reduced anxiety — leading to a happier life."  All Star Children's Foundation.

All Star Children's Foundation, 3300 17th St., Sarasota, 941-217-6503, www.allstarchildren.org/ 

To learn more about the Walgreen's rewards program click here

The Education Foundation of Sarasota County received a $15,000 grant from the James M. Doss Charitable Foundation Trust to support the new Student Success Center at
Sarasota Military Academy (SMA), a free charter high school near downtown Sarasota.vAt this center, SMA students across grades 9–12 can access one-on-one advising and coaching with an Education Foundation Student Success Coach. Coaches help students identify their purpose and interestsvand then develop a plan for life after high school. They provide expert knowledge of colleges and financial aid and assist students at every step of the college search and application process.vAdditionally, students can access web-based technology to manage applications and to identify their strengths and their interests and map those to possible education and career pathways. They canvattend workshops on essay writing, financial aid, financial literacy, and more. They can attend Free Application for Federal Student (FAFSA) open houses to get help from experts to complete the application. Student Success Coaches are also piloting the Students Active in Leadership (S.A.I.L) peer-to-peer leadership program. Student leaders participate in monthly meetings, learning about and discussing life skills as well as college and career readiness. S.A.I.L. leaders bring their peers to meetings and share their knowledge with other classmates to develop a stronger culture of readiness throughout SMA. More information about the Education Foundation and its programs that support student success is available at EdFoundationSRQ.org. 

Art Center Sarasota received a $10,000 grant from The Exchange (formerly the Woman’s Exchange) during a grants ceremony on June 8. The grant will help fund the center’s free Youth Saturdays, a program that provides arts education and inspiration to youth ages 6-15. The weekly 3-hour sessions enable young people to learn about art, explore their creative sides, collaborate with other students, and have fun. 

Pictured: Youth Saturdays at Art Center Sarasota inspires youth ages 6-15. Photo courtesy of Art Center Sarasota.

Talk about making a wish come true! Seventeen-year-old Trenton Noll was surprised with a souped-up, decked out golf cart Wednesday. It comes complete with Trenton’s name engraved on it, a sound bar, Gators logo engraved on the seat and floor and “F” on the tires. It’s a 6-seater. Children’s Dream Fund, with the help of DI Electric Vehicles, made it all happen. You see, Trenton has an inoperable brain tumor. For the last 15 years of his life, it’s been countless surgeries, and recently, the family learned he’s in heart failure. “We stepped into his life and got the opportunity to say, you have been so brave, ‘We want to make you smile. We want the opportunity to bring some joy into your life and what does that look like for you?’ And Trenton dreamed of having his very own golf cart and, of course, Gator themed,” added Amanda Griffin, Executive Director of the Children’s Dream Fund. Mena Noll, Trenton’s mother, told WINK News Reporter Annette Montgomery he always asks to ride around the neighborhood, and this is one of the few joys he can experience due to his illness. “That’s the thing about cancer, you’re never battling just one thing. You’re battling a lot of things, so you thank your blessings, you enjoy every day. You do the best you can do and make the right decisions that you can, and you put smiles on their face like this, and that’s all you can ask for,” she said. Noll said he has wanted a golf cart with a Florida Gators theme for years. His older brother is about to be a sophomore at the University. The teen’s mom said this golf cart will change his life. “He was at the oncologist going over his round of chemo and he was in there telling them over and over, as well, ‘I really wish I had a golf cart. I like the Gators. I want a Gators golf cart,'” she said. Noll said neighbors are going to see and hear them driving around, blasting his favorite artist: Pitbull.

Making An Impact, a leading local social benefit nonprofit dedicated to empowering residents with information for locating basic need services, is pleased to announce the appointment of Walter Gilbert as its newest board member. Mr. Gilbert, Vice President at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, brings a wealth of experience and community connections to the organization. With an esteemed reputation as a visionary leader, Gilbert’s extensive knowledge and passion for making a difference in the lives of the underserved align well with Making An Impact’s mission and vision. 

The Community Foundation of Sarasota County has awarded 20 local nonprofit organizations nearly $120,000 through grant opportunities with the purpose of strengthening each organization’s capacity to fulfill its mission. Most of the grants awarded will support organizations’ marketing and development efforts, a critical component for nonprofits to increase visibility, but an area that is often underfunded. Some of the grants support staff professional development and board development, which aim to help the nonprofits shape and implement thoughtful strategic plans. Other grants support expanding an organization’s impact through investing in their staff and volunteers. “For most nonprofits, the lion’s share of the budget goes directly into the people and causes they serve,” said Kirsten Russell, Vice President of Community Impact at the Community Foundation. “Yet, operational investments are important as well—they can help expand their capacity to serve and to more widely communicate to audiences, from people who might fund the organizations to people who benefit from the services the organization is offering. Expanding reach can be difficult with small operational budgets, but it is still a critical piece of the work.” As a partner to more than 700 nonprofit organizations serving Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte and DeSoto counties, a primary function of the Community Foundation is to enhance the organizations’ autonomy and long-term operations. Grants like this one provide practical help to support that goal. The Community Foundation also hosts Giving Challenges, 24-hour giving events that draw visibility and tremendous community support to the nonprofit community. The next Giving Challenge will be noon to noon April 9-10, 2024. The last Giving Challenge, in 2022, raised $16.2 million in unrestricted funds for nearly 700 participating nonprofits and has raised more than $75 million since its inception in 2012. Along with bolstering financial resources in the nonprofit sector, the Community Foundation hosts trainings and workshops designed to empower charitable organizations. Grants under $10,000 help improve a nonprofit’s ability to fulfill its mission by strengthening its capacity. Open year-round, these applications are reviewed five times annually, in August, October, December, March, and May. To learn more about available grant opportunities, visit www.cfsarasota.org/nonprofits/grants. 

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Beginning in the Living Lakewood September 2023 edition, SRQ Magazine will offer homebuilders in the community an opportunity to showcase their new model homes through a new special section dedicated to exploring the new dwellings of Lakewood Ranch. 

Click here for more info.