“Better Together” is a term that is ingrained in everything we do at Gulf Coast Community Foundation (Gulf Coast) from our work culture, to the relationships we have with our donor families, to the support we provide nonprofits who are transforming our region for the greater good of all. Better Together means coming together to share ideas and listen to each other to strengthen bonds, collaborate and work synergistically. This concept is powerful.

On April 4, State Street in downtown Sarasota, next to our Sarasota Philanthropy Center, transformed into our annual, vibrant Better Together Celebration. Approximately 450 of you (philanthropists, nonprofit partners, elected officials, government staff, other foundations and the community at large) gathered to celebrate the transformational impact we have when we work together. Our focus areas of Arts, Education, Environment and Health and Human Services were showcased through activity booths spread throughout the event, which enabled participants to immerse themselves in experiences of transforming together. As Jah Movement played one of my favorite songs, I watched kids in awe of bubbles twice their size, heard laughter from the Oyster Boys Conservation tent where attendees learned to build 100 vertical oyster gardens that will renew our waters and saw at least 10 butterflies land on willing hands. Because of you, the mood was happy, contagious, and electric. Thank you for joining us for this special annual event.

Synergy can be seen across our entire community when we all come together to create impact that will provide opportunities for all for many years to come. I want to thank our friends at the Community Foundation of Sarasota County and The Patterson Foundation on a successful Giving Challenge advancing collective togetherness. A record 53,305 donors raised more than $17.2 million in unrestricted resources for 724 nonprofit organizations in Sarasota, Manatee, DeSoto and Charlotte counties. This outpouring of generosity and care is the perfect example of togetherness that uplifts our region and inspires current and future philanthropists.

Together, we have an opportunity to double the impact at The Bay Sarasota, our region’s “one park for all.” Our Board of Directors approved a $1 million grant, doubled by a $1 million contribution by anonymous Gulf Coast philanthropists, to make a $2 million matching grant to support continual expansion of The Bay Park. I hope this moves you, our readers and philanthropists, to donate an additional $2 million for a total of $4 million in support by the end of December 2024. Donations can be made via The Bay’s website: www.thebaysarasota.org/support-the-park. Green spaces are shown to increase mental health benefits, and they last for generations of families to treasure.

We can accomplish more together than we could ever dream of alone. The idea of “Better Together” celebrates the multitude of ways we can heal, thrive, and work in tandem to foster strong relationships and create positive change. Onward.

Phillip P. Lanham is President and CEO of Gulf Coast Community Foundation. 

Photo of Gulf Coast Block Party. Photography by Harry Sayer Media.

From experience and research, we know that, given the opportunity, most individuals would consider pursuing a higher education. However, financial, family and other barriers make it more difficult. For example, childcare costs today are nearing an average of $1,000 to $1,200 a month, with variables such as the location, number and age of children significantly impacting the range.

In 2022, State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota received a grant under the Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) program from the U.S. Department of Education. The funding is designated to alleviate the financial burden on parents with young children who are pursuing a college degree, improving their likelihood of academic success. The grant is co-administered by SCF and the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. 

SCF also supports the recipients with its full complement of student support services, including college and career success coaches, assistance navigating the financial aid process and referrals to additional community and government resources. To date, we have assisted over 30 students, many of whom have successfully completed their degrees and are now pursuing rewarding careers. These success stories include men and women ranging in age with the majority being returning older adults living in Sarasota and Manatee counties. 

SCF student and single mother Jessica lives 45 minutes from campus and can only return to school because of the CCAMPIS program. A certified nursing assistant for 20 years, she’s worked two jobs and always wanted to return to school and grow her career opportunities. Passionate about occupational therapy, Jessica attended an open house to learn more about the program and was surprised to learn of the available childcare funding. With the assistance, she can attend school and place her 10-year-old daughter in before and after care while completing SCF’s Occupational Therapy Assistance degree program. She says, “I not only receive support as a student but as a parent. Tips for studying, parenting books, and flexibility create a supportive and welcoming environment.”

Enrollment in the CCAMPIS program at SCF is ongoing while funds are available. SCF also offers scholarships and college and career coaching to guide and provide open access to anyone interested in pursuing career growth, a certificate, or a degree.

For more information or to enroll, visit SCF.edu/CCAMPIS.

Dr. Carol F. Probstfeld is President of State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota. 

Photo courtesy SCF.

The Argus Foundation began to sound the affordable and workforce housing alarm eight years ago as our area was emerging from the Great Recession. We have subsequently written dozens of columns on the topic over the years as the City of Sarasota, in particular, pretended that there was no workforce housing problem.

In 2020, we saw a sea change in the election of City Commissioners, with commissioners from diverse backgrounds, who hired administration also with diverse backgrounds. 

The perspectives of these commissioners were important because they understood, and more importantly, believed the real-life struggle of workers including young professionals, first responders, teachers and our service staff. This new commission related deeply to the workforce and understood that these people were working and could not show up to plead their cases at public meetings.

With City Manager Marlon Brown hired, the City Commission embarked on a long and tough process of comprehensive plan changes and two phases of zoning code changes to deal directly with this problem. This process was so long because of the incredible transparency, outreach and research involved in these changes.  After four years and two City Commissions later, the City Commission has successfully completed this process and has passed groundbreaking legislation to encourage affordable housing in the city.

This process was not without controversy. There were opponents, who are secure and comfortable in their housing, objecting and wanting to create more barriers to units being built.  City staff even had to endure baseless attacks and venom from these objectors, some even upset that staff would meet with members of the business community who are also stakeholders.

Staff took the arrows in stride, and, with the backing of the City Manager who received his marching orders from the City Commission to make the changes, they came forward with thoughtful, well-researched and collaborative changes that were carefully contemplated by the City Commission.

The City of Sarasota went from being an example of why the state needed to intervene, to the statewide example of innovation in workforce housing in a few years. City staff has even been invited to speak by The Florida Housing Coalition about these seminal changes to encourage housing.

Congratulations to the City of Sarasota for facing the workforce housing problem and dealing with it head on in a careful and open manner. You have taken on the number one issue facing our community and remained unwavering in your goal of bringing solutions to the table. The Argus Foundation is grateful for these past two city commissions for dealing with a tough issue and being solution-oriented. 

Christine Robinson is Executive Director of The Argus Foundation. 

Image courtesy Pixabay, by Oleksandr Pidvalnyi.