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. Tuesday, December 5th, attendees happily joined together to recognize our annual Good Hero Philanthropic Award recipients at the SB2: Philanthropic Agenda and Good Hero Awards Luncheon at Michael’s on East in Sarasota. We are delighted to feature each of the twelve honorees in our Wednesday Philanthropic edition of SRQ Daily.

Today we are recognizing Christi Haley, Development Director of Pace Center for Girls of Manatee. Haley is described as a woman who's not only dedicated over 25 years of her life to an incredible organization, but who has done it with an undeniable passion that makes it feel less like work and more like her true calling. She has poured her heart and soul into shaping the lives of countless young girls, empowering them to reach their fullest potential and achieve remarkable success. Haley’s vision and drive have raised millions of dollars for Pace Manatee over the past 25+ years with events like PaceBall, the Lucky Ducky Race for Pace, donor breakfasts, the Snowflake Ball, and numerous campaigns. As a member of the Bradenton Kiwanis Club and serving on the boards of the Leadership Manatee Alumni Association and the Manatee Tiger Bay Club, the web of connections and relationships she's forged through her volunteer activities within the community is vast and incredibly beneficial. Congratulations, Christi! 

Pictured: Bart Lowther (left) of Mariash Lowther Wealth Management with Christi Haley. Photo by Wyatt Kostygan.

The much anticipated “A Date For Goodness Sake Reboot” unfolded at McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre on Dec. 11th, marking its return after a seven year hiatus. The new version launched as a multiple charity event; encouraging local non-profits to work together. Chaired by Karen Cadou representing Team Building Hope with Pink Pride (part of the the American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer ), they raised an impressive $23,640. The event raised funds through the bidding of 11 bachelors who represented a charity of their choice. The date packages, payable directly to their chosen non-profit, were valued between $700 and $5,000 and included yachting, helicopter flights, trolley tours, and airplane rides, along with restaurant, hotel, golf courses, and store gift certificates. The dynamic duo, Kim Livengood and Mark Klecka, renowned for their charismatic personalities and engaging stage presence, guided the sold out audience through the auction, introducing each bachelor, highlighting their unique qualities, and creating a fun environment for the attendees. The 11 bachelors who put themselves out there for their charities included Greg Corvelle for Suncoast Charities for Children, Greg Courter for Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue, Tim Myers for Shiba Inu Rescue of Florida, Scott Malouf for SRQCommunity, Jimmy Dean for Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, Brian Wacnik for Sertoma of Greater Sarasota Brian, Christian Arial for New World Celts, David Culver for Andrew Monroe Memorial Fund, Jonathan Marsh for Suncoast Aging Network, Phillip Tavel for Children First, and John Tortorella for Satchel’s Last Resort. Cadou’s volunteer team is already making plans for next year. For further information, email  2023bachelorauction@gmail.com. 

The Community Foundation of Sarasota County has awarded 15 local nonprofit organizations through grant opportunities aimed at strengthening organizations’ capacity to fulfill their missions. These awards will help local charitable organizations by supporting operational goals like cultivating strong fundraising plans, developing leadership and staff skills, strengthening communications plans, measuring impact, and more. Many recipient organizations in this cycle provide support to people in the community who may be living with disabilities, chaotic homelife issues, homelessness, or other challenging experiences. “In many cases, organizations awarded through this cycle are the primary support system for vulnerable people and families, or else working to dismantle stigma that further limits individual potential,” said Kirsten Russell, Vice President of Impact at the Community Foundation. “The work they do is critical, and they do it on very tight budgets. Helping them build their capacity increases their ability to create impact, and in the case of these organizations, helps sustain many of our most susceptible neighbors.” 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 self-sustenance. 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. Along with bolstering financial resources in the nonprofit sector, the Community Foundation hosts trainings and workshops designed to empower charitable organizations. Capacity Building grants are available to nonprofits throughout the year, with deadlines on September 1, December 1, and March 1. The next deadline for Capacity Building grants is March 1, 2024. For nearly 45 years, the Community Foundation of Sarasota County has been key to unlocking possibilities for everyone who calls our area home. With the trust of the community, the Community Foundation has awarded more than $438.5 million in grants to support causes addressing education, health and human services, the arts, and the environment, animal welfare, and other needs that enhance quality of life. To learn more about available grant opportunities, visit www.cfsarasota.org/nonprofits/grants. 

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After a national search, the Pines of Sarasota Foundation Board of Trustees has named Andrea Stephens as the organization’s new President. Stephens joined the Foundation as Director of Development in 2018 and has been serving as Interim President since September 2023. Her tenure as President began on January 1. Pines of Sarasota Foundation is dedicated to supporting Pines of Sarasota—its present and its future—and all the residents in its care, ensuring Pines’ skilled nursing residents can stay in the place they call home, with the care they need, and the love they deserve. Pines Foundation Board Chair Lori Sutton said, “We are confident we have found the best person to lead Pines of Sarasota Foundation. Andrea has experience, enthusiasm, a heart for our residents, and a vision for our future. We are lucky to have her as President.” A graduate of the University of South Florida College of Business, Stephens came to the Foundation following tenures at New College Foundation and USF Sarasota-Manatee. She brings a wealth of expertise in all aspects of fund development, donor relations, strategic planning, and programming. For more information, contact Andrea at astephens@pinesfoundation.org or 941.955.6293. 

With all the stress and trauma facing youth these days, it’s more important than ever to provide support early, before serious problems develop. Join us to hear about innovative prevention programs being offered in Manatee County schools. Student, family and school perspectives will be offered on how these programs can help. Featured Speakers: Jessica Kruger is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who currently serves as Centerstone’s Manager of School Based, Prevention, and Intervention Programs. Anthony Longo is a senior at Palmetto High School, where he serves in many different clubs at societies. Anthony has grown in confidence as an educator and leader. As part of this he volunteered to deliver the ReNEW program at his school, educating struggling freshmen and sophomores on how to handle toxic stress and anxiety through understanding how the brain functions and what we can do to heal and care for ourselves mentally and physiologically. Valerie Green has been with Healthy Teens since September of 2021. Her core belief is that relationship-building is fundamental in every aspect of life. Ally Bergmann is the Executive Director of North River Prevention Partners, a nonprofit dedicated to creating community partnerships to implement universal substance abuse prevention strategies to promote the health and safety of individuals across the lifespan, especially among youth. Ally understands the devastation of substance abuse and addiction first-hand, becoming a champion for prevention while working as a substance abuse counselor. Sara Sanders is the Mental Health Coordinator and Lead School Psychologist for the School District of Manatee, where she has served for almost 20 years after graduating from Southeast High School and the University of Central Florida. As part of the School District's ESE Department, Sara supports students, teachers, professional support staff, and parents in creating the best possible learning experiences for our students in ways that care for their physical, emotional and mental well-being. 

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