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 5, 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 David Crawford, Founder and Broker Owner, Catalist Realty. David is an innovator who launched a real estate brokerage with a pioneering model that weaves a spirit of giving into every transaction. Ingrained in its business model, the company donates 15% of the commission of every transaction to the buyer or seller's nonprofit of choice. Since its inception, the brokerage has made contributions exceeding $270,000 to support over 30 local nonprofit organizations with more than $185,000 of these contributions provided as unrestricted funds directly from property closings. He created Catalist to be truly unique and is the only brokerage of its kind in Sarasota. However, his leadership extends beyond the confines of his brokerage. He has actively served on the Board of Directors for both the Conservation Foundation and the Real Estate Association of Sarasota and Manatee (RASM). David has been honored as The Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee's Humanitarian of the Year, a testament to his unwavering dedication to making a positive impact on the lives of others. Congratulations, David. 

Pictured: Bart Lowther (left) of Mariash Lowther Wealth Management with David Crawford of Catalist Realty. Photo by Wyatt Kostygan.

SunCoast Blood Centers (SCBC), Southwest Florida's primary blood bank and provider of other life-saving services, announced Wednesday the rollout of a new, solar-powered bloodmobile. This announcement comes after the successful trial of SCBC’s solar-powered concierge bloodmobile, marking them as the first in the U.S. to embrace solar energy. With collaborative support from Gulf Coast Community Foundation (Gulf Coast), the rollout of SCBC’s first full-sized blood mobile conversion marks a significant step in their commitment to adopting more fiscal and sustainable practices. Equally, donors will benefit from the reduced disruptive noises often associated with traditional, gas-powered engines, creating a noticeably quieter and more peaceful experience for them.The launch of SCBC’s solar-powered buses aligns with their priorities to create more fiscally sustainable opportunities while enhancing the donor experience and environmental well-being of the communities they serve. Furthermore, it will support their commitment to keep blood available and affordable for everyone, thanks to the energy cost savings it will generate. Beginning this week, community members can expect to see SCBC’s solar-powered mobile on roads, with more rolling out throughout 2024. Gulf Coast is one of the first organizations to support SCBC’s green energy transition in the community, recently granting the blood center an award of $45,500. SunCoast Blood Centers is committed to transitioning more of its operations for a greener, healthier, and more economically friendly environment in the coming years. Information about donating blood, including a mobile donation schedule and online appointments, can be found at www.suncoastblood.org. 

Manatee Community Foundation has announced the winners of the 2024 Spirit of Manatee Awards, each being recognized for leadership in philanthropy in Manatee County. Each will be honored at the 2024 Spirit of Manatee Awards Luncheon on March 13, 2024 at 11:30 a.m. at the Bradenton Area Convention Center. They include: Lorenzo Liberti, Young Spirit Award, nominated by Turning Points; The Sertoma Club of Bradenton, Community Spirit Award, nominated by Turning Points; Johnette Isham (Posthumous), Charles Clapsaddle Community Spotlight Award, nominated by Realize Bradenton, Inc.; Larry Clark, Leadership Spirit Award, nominated by Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County and Pace Center for Girls; Amanda and John Horne, Mary E Parker Lifetime Spirit Award, nominated by Pace Center for Girls, Manatee, The Patterson Foundation’s Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, SunCoast Blood Centers, and Tidewell Foundation. “Well known for their generous charitable giving and leadership in our region, each of our winners embodies an authentic and caring commitment to our community,” said Veronica Thames, executive director of Manatee Community Foundation.Join us to celebrate these pillars of philanthropy at the 2024 Spirit of Manatee Awards Luncheon on March 13, 2024 at the Bradenton Area Convention Center.  The event sells out, so be sure to get your tickets as soon as possible. The last day to purchase is February 27, 2024.  

Children First, Inc., the exclusive provider of Head Start and Early Head Start services for Sarasota County, is proud to announce its slate of board leadership for 2024, and the addition of two new directors. At the agency’s annual board reception on January 23, Keith G. Johnson, Managing Director & Senior Wealth Advisor with Truist, was formally welcomed as Board Chair. Michael K. Suarez, former Executive Director of Sarasota County Emergency Services, was welcomed as Vice Chair. Elizabeth Stamoulis, Esq., Partner at Williams Parker Attorneys at Law and Lisa Giglio, former Director of Education at Sylvan Learning Center, maintained their executive positions as Treasurer and Secretary respectively. Reverend Brock H. Leach, former executive for PepsiCo, was thanked for his service throughout 2023 as he steps into his role as Chair Emeritus. New directors joining the board for a three-year term are Thomas L. Cunningham, Director of Remarketing Strategies for Ford Motor Company, and Carol L. Kalikow, former Vice President of Oscar de la Renta Studio. The agency also welcomes Ella C. and Roland B. to the Board of Directors through the Boys & Girls Club’s STAR (Students Take Active Roles) Leadership Training program. Other directors on the board include Howard Berman, Kenneth Hughes, Rebecca M. Lieberher, Elenor Maxheim, Linda L. Monda, Robert L. Moulds, and Joe Stephan. The Children First Board of Directors is comprised of community members and leaders from the human services, corporate, investment, and philanthropic sectors of our region. To learn more, visit childrenfirst.net. 

 The William G. and Marie Selby Foundation recently awarded $54,962 in capital grants to “Small and Mighty” nonprofits, charitable organizations with annual budgets of $300,000 or less. Two grants will support African American history education. Reflections of Manatee received $18,000 for walkways to connect historic buildings, making them more visible and accessible to visitors. The organization’s properties in Bradenton include The Theodosia Curry House (1925), used as a visitors’ center housing the exhibit “Freedom Seekers at the Manatee,” telling the story of freedom seekers and Florida’s Underground Railroad.Manasota ASALH received $4,500 for iPads to enhance experiences of students attending the Freedom School, a free Saturday school for the community teaching African American history to youth of various ages. The Foundation awarded a $15,000 grant to Friends of Myakka River for a “pop up” education station that will travel within the park to provide environmental interpretation. The nonprofit supports valuable projects at Myakka River State Park in Sarasota County, one of the oldest and largest state parks in Florida. Sertoma Kids received a $11,500 grant to reconfigure its office and therapy spaces, improving air flow and logistics to support children with auditory challenges who receive therapeutic services. Alpha Kappa PSI- Project Guide Right was granted $5,962 for a structure to store furniture as the organization’s need for flexible space increases. The grant will allow the fraternity to better accommodate its growing youth-serving membership and to serve local civic and community groups that are now able to utilize the space for their meetings. The next “Small and Mighty” (SAM) grant cycle opens February 1, 2024 and will support small but impactful organizations in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte and DeSoto counties with capital needs. For more information, visit SelbyFdn.org. Incorporated in 1955, the William G. and Marie Selby Foundation invests in community success through the charitable legacy of Bill and Marie Selby, two giving people who cared deeply about opportunity for others in our region. 

In mid-January, Sunshine From Darkness – a nonprofit organization dedicated to the funding of local mental health services and programs and mental health research – held its 2024 Inspiring Hope Dinner. The organization’s annual fundraising event was held at the Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota, with nearly 370 in attendance. This year's keynote speaker was American comedian, actor, writer and producer Tom Arnold, who spoke about his journey with anxiety and longtime battles with addiction. Arnold has been sober for over five years but he’s faced addiction, sobriety, and relapse at different points in his Hollywood career as well as significant health challenges. Arnold shared heartbreaking stories about childhood trauma and his decades-long battles with addiction and anxiety, noting that his most important job now is to be in a good mood for his young children, to whom he is a single father. The evening featured “Faces Behind the Stories,” shining a spotlight on the personal, sometimes difficult journeys of four members of our community: Roger Capote, a diverse professional with many years of nonprofit leadership; Kelvin Foster, chaplain, North River Fire District and American Red Cross Disaster spiritual care regional advisor for Central and SW Florida; Sydney Koffman, chemical engineer; and Linda Larsen, motivational speaker. "I became involved with Sunshine from Darkness because I am a mental health advocate. Like Sunshine from Darkness, I believe in erasing the stigma that surrounds mental health issues. Unfortunately, too many people suffer in silence," said event co-chair Amie Austin, PhD. "There is so much hope once we step out of the shadows of fear and secrets." The event also featured the bestowing of the 2024 Lee and Bob Peterson Legacy Award to Bunny Skirboll, founder of Compeer, Inc.; a lively paddle raise – which raised $165,000 – emceed by CK Swett; live music with Quintessence – featuring special guest vocalists, including Chris Eisenberg, who performed selections from his Frank Sinatra tribute show, “Frank & Me,” and Raleigh Mosely II – and dancing. Co-chairs were Amie Austin, Ph.D., Sarah Karp Renkliyuz and Taylor Karp Teymuri. Exclusive Dinner Sponsor was Elisabeth Waters; Luminary Sponsors were David Peterson and Jeffrey Peterson; and Benefactor Sponsor was Arthur Karp Family Foundation. The proceeds are designated for Sunshine From Darkness’s “blue door services,” which will focus on emotional literacy for youth, and youth mental health research. Founded as a subsidiary of the Lee and Bob Peterson Foundation, Sunshine From Darkness hosts events throughout the year that bring mental health and addiction awareness and education to the forefront of the community, providing professionals and philanthropists with the opportunity to engage with the broader mental health community. Its mission is to enhance and promote mental health wellness in our community. For more about Sunshine From Darkness, visit sunshinefromdarkness.org. 

Pictured: (From l-r) Keynote speaker Tom Arnold, event co-chairs Taylor Karp Teymuri and Sarah Karp Renkliyuz, Sunshine From Darkness Executive Director Marlene Hauck, event co-chair Amie Austin, PhD, and Sunshine From Darkness President Jeffrey Peterson.

The Education Foundation of Sarasota County has received a $100,000 Assembly Grant Program award from Bellwether, a national non-profit organization that works to ensure all young people have access to an excellent education. The Assembly Grant Program provides awards to organizations designing or developing new solutions to help families furthest from opportunity access flexible, personalized learning options. The program is a result of a partnership between Bellwether and the Walton Family Foundation, which supports organizations working to help underserved youth access individualized education opportunities. With the generous funding for its project “Opening Pathways Through Informed Decision Making,” the Education Foundation will increase awareness of education options and resources available to low-income and minority students through universal school choice. “We are so honored to be a recipient of this prestigious Assembly Grant Program,” said Jennifer Vigne, president and CEO of the Education Foundation. “This award helps us further our strategic priority of supporting underserved and underrepresented students and families so that they can access the exceptional education and educational resources that they deserve.”  The Education Foundation will bring together community stakeholders and families from the Newtown community in Sarasota to identify challenges young people face in achieving academic success. The feedback gained through surveys and in-person focus groups will guide the Education Foundation in developing the position of Educational Navigator. This Educational Navigator will work individually with students and families in the Newtown community to identify their needs and help them access the educational pathways and resources based on their interests and strengths so that they can best reach their full potential.  

To assist at-risk middle and high school students in achieving their educational, career and life goals, three foundations have awarded grants to support Safe Children Coalition’s Achievers program. Those who contributed funds to support the Achievers program are: the Harold C. and Jacqueline F. Bladel Foundation, $5,000; Annette J. Hagens Memorial Foundation, $2,500; and Wawa Foundation, $1,500. The Achievers program empowers at-risk, minority students with disadvantageous conditions to set and achieve goals in both their educational and personal lives. It encourages continuous growth in the areas of personal development, college preparation, community service and leadership, cultural enrichment, and career options.
The program, which has served thousands of students in the community for over 30 years, is open to all middle and high school students in Sarasota County. It has been proven to increase student participation in school programs, decrease school absenteeism and dropout rates, and prevent delinquent behavior. Nearly 150 students participate in the Achievers program annually. Career cluster programming features Achievers alumni as well as professionals from the community and surrounding areas currently serving in the finance, education, and health and medical industries. Thanks in part to generous foundation and corporate support, the program also provides scholarship opportunities to successful participants as they transition from high school to college as well as returning college students who were engaged with the program as teens to support them with obtaining an advanced education degree. For more information about the Achievers program and how you can help, call program director Jone Williams at 941-487-6600. For more about Safe Children Coalition, visit sccfl.org. 

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