This Saturday, The Kiwanis Club of Manatee River will present their inaugural Family Festival.

A fun and free event for families and children of all ages, the Family Festival will include delicious food, a variety of vendors including The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, live entertainment all day and a raffle with great prizes. Twenty eight bicycles will be given away throughout the day and there will be two drawings for gift certificates to be used toward the purchase of a new bicycle. The festival will feature something for every family member, such as free medical, dental and eye exams for children and adults, as well as mammograms which require insurance coverage.

The Kiwanis Club of Manatee River, a social service organization dedicated to helping families and children in Manatee County, was established in August 2023 and sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Bradenton. The organization strives to empower the community by providing access to essential resources and services. Their mission is to help families live fulfilling, healthy, and happy lives by addressing their needs and supporting their growth. The Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County, working to provide and support high-quality school readiness opportunities for all children and their families, is the title sponsor for the festival. Other sponsors include: Marriott Palmetto Resort & Spa, Kiwanis Club of Bradenton, Ryder Bikes, Ken Christy Insurance, Manatee Performing Arts Center, Bradenton Magazine, Freedom Village Bradenton, All About Kids Pediatric Dentist, Amaryllis Marketing, Discount Med Direct, plus more than 30 other businesses.

Saturday, March 9, 2024 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM 3rd Street West, Bradenton FL Across from Manatee Performing Arts Center. 

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Kelly Romanoff, senior vice president for strategy and evaluation at Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, has been selected as a 2023-24 Change Leaders in Philanthropy Fellow.  The fellowship is a program of Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO), an international membership organization of more than 5,000 funders committed to transforming the practice and culture of philanthropy to help nonprofits and communities thrive. The Change Leaders in Philanthropy Fellowship is a nearly year-long peer-learning program for senior executives responsible for key change efforts within their organizations.  Romanoff is one of 20 leaders across the sector who were chosen for the 2023-24 program. At Barancik Foundation, Romanoff manages a portfolio of initiatives and grants and leads the Foundation’s efforts to assess and learn from its work in order to inform future funding decisions and strategic direction.  She has led the creation and development of several major regional initiatives, including First 1,000 Days Suncoast, which is a network of accessible services for vulnerable families during and immediately following pregnancy. Romanoff has been participating in small-group activities for two months in advance of the formal fellowship program, which runs from March through September.  This is the sixth cohort of GEO’s Change Leaders in Philanthropy Fellowship. 

Aviva Senior Living, the Suncoast’s only not-for-profit rental residential community offering a continuum of care, is thrilled to announce a generous donation of $1 million. This contribution, made by a donor who wishes to remain anonymous, will spearhead capital upgrades across the Aviva campus, enhancing the environment for residents and advancing the promise of providing a community where seniors can live extraordinary lives. Aviva’s director of building and environmental services, Adam Talaat, worked with the donor to assist in identifying the priorities for improvements on the Aviva Campus. Initial campus projects include: Exterior painting of the Kobernick House, rejuvenating the aesthetic appeal of the independent living residence; Installation of a new roof for the Anchin Pavilion, ensuring structural integrity and long-term durability; Replacement of the elevator in the Anchin Pavilion, enhancing accessibility and convenience for residents. The donation will be celebrated at the upcoming Eight Over 80 Brunch on Sunday, March 10 at Michael’s On East when Aviva will honor eight community leaders who have brought positive change through community outreach, philanthropic spirit, and other charitable endeavors. 

U.S. Representative Vern Buchanan recently met with 37 community leaders from Manatee and Sarasota counties to discuss the current childcare crisis in the region given the early learning sector’s workforce shortage, lack of providers, and rising cost of care. The gathering was organized by the Manatee Community Foundation (MCF), which hosted the event, the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance (LWRBA), and the Women’s Resource Center (WRC). Attendees included senior executives from local chambers, economic development corporations, community foundations, the early learning coalitions, school districts, and nonprofits for both counties. 

Pictured: (Left to right): Ashely Brown (CEO, Women’s Resource Center), U.S. Representative Vern Buchanan, Brittany Lamont (CEO, Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance), and Veronica Thames (Executive Director, Manatee Community Foundation) at a recent meetin

On Monday, March 11, The Patterson Foundation will present a Digital Access Enrollment Event, hosted by Goodwill Manasota. This event takes place at Goodwill’s Selby/Newtown Community Resource Center (1781 Dr. Martin Luther King Way, Sarasota) between 1-4 p.m. A team of Trained Digital Navigators provided by The Patterson Foundation will assist in connecting families and individuals with opportunities to obtain digital connectivity, devices, skills, and support. One-on-one digital navigation assistance will be provided during the March 11 event. Once an appointment is completed, participants will receive $50 gift cards and one-year membership subscriptions to the Sarasota Technology User Group for further digital skills training. An ever-widening gap exists between individuals and families connected with the three essential elements of digital access and those who are not. The three essential elements of digital access are connectivity (affordable, reliable, high-speed internet), devices, and digital skills training and support. The Patterson Foundation, a fully endowed charitable entity located in Sarasota, Fla., created the Digital Navigator Program as part of its Digital Access for All initiative. The purpose of this program is to train local nonprofits on ways to connect asset-limited families and individuals with opportunities to obtain digital connectivity, devices, skills, and support. “It has become critical for community members not only to have access to the internet and related devices but also that they know how to use them,” said Goodwill Manasota vice president Margie Genter. “The internet is essential in providing access to job opportunities, education, health care, social services, and more. We are pleased to partner with The Patterson Foundation in an effort to decrease the digital divide and increase equitable access to the digital world.” To enroll for the March 11 event, visit bit.ly/digitalaccessenrollmentMarch11. Email Kiarra Louis at klouis@thepattersonfoundation.org with any questions. For more about Goodwill, visit experiencegoodwill.org or call 941-355-2721. 

Pictured: Trained Digital Navigators provided by The Patterson Foundation will connect individuals and families with opportunities to obtain low-cost Internet, devices, and training and support Provided photo/The Patterson Foundation.

Kart 4 Kids is hosting Art 4 Kids: A Motorsports Pop-Up Gallery at The James Museum the week of the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. Led by two-time St. Pete Grand Prix winner, Sébastien Bourdais, Kart 4 Kids is the largest third-party fundraiser for Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital with contributions of over $1.6 million. The art gallery features more than 80 pieces of motorsports art and photography from nearly 30 artists, including some of the most prominent names in racing art. Open March  6th – 10th during normal museum hours and included in the admission. March 9th from 6 – 8pm is a reception that is free and open to the public. 

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The public is invited to attend the 34th Annual Florida Winefest & Auction, toasting Sarasota's culinary rock stars as they help raise awareness and funds for our most worthy cause: our children. Florida Winefest & Auction is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and raising funds for charitable causes in Sarasota and Manatee Counties. For the past 33 years, this popular event has awarded over $9.3 million dollars benefitting 95 local disadvantaged children charities. A series of Wine & Winemaker dinners will be held March 14, 15, and 16th: Thursday, March 14th - Williamson Wine Dinner SAGE restaurant, 1216 First Street, Sarasota  $250 all inclusive at  6:30 pm. Friday, March 15th - Napa/Sonoma Boutique Wine Pairing Dinner, Cafe Barbossa, 5501 Palmer Crossing Circle, Sarasota, $250 all inclusive  at 6 pm. Saturday, March 16th - Castello Banfi Wine Pairing Dinner SAGE restaurant, 1216 First Street, Sarasota  $250 all inclusive at  6:30 pm. “Every year, the Florida Winefest & Auction is a highly anticipated fun-filled event that brings wine enthusiasts and our community together, all while making a positive impact on the lives of local disadvantaged youth,” said Board Chair, Sandy Loevner. “We invite you to join us for these amazing wine dinners."  To purchase tickets before they sell out, please visit: www.floridawinefest.org. 

Pictured: Sarasota's Florida Winefest Board members Paul Mattison and Chris Covelli.