From walking, rollerblading and bicycling to viewing wildlife in different habitats, the Legacy Trail of Sarasota County is a treasure to locals and visitors alike.The 18.5-mile paved multi-use recreational trail extends from Sarasota in the north to the Historic Venice Train Depot in the south. From this point, the Venetian Waterway Park trail extends the path another 4 miles south along the eastern side of the Intracoastal Waterway. There is also a 5-mile section of the Venetian Waterway Park trail along the western side of the Intracoastal Waterway.

Friends of The Legacy Trail is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to support, promote, enhance and protect The Legacy Trail, a Sarasota County Park, and its trail connectors now and for future generations. They are also an advocacy group for the continued development of the trail system in Sarasota County and beyond.

Recently, the Gulf Coast Community Foundation’s Board of Directors approved $50,000 to Friends of The Legacy Trail for the Beneva Road Sidewalk Replacement to connect The Legacy Trail with the Nature Park at Bobby Jones Golf Club, Nathan Benderson Park, and MoteSEA. This grant was supported by the Maria Haber Charitable Fund.

Friends of The Legacy Trail, PO Box 792, Osprey. 

Pictured: The natural beauty surrounding the Legacy Trail provides an opportunity to enjoy Sarasota County at its finest. Photo courtesy of Sarasota Drone Guy, Brett Koppes.

To learn more, visit.

Bring beauty and diversity into your landscape with affordable, Florida-friendly plants grown locally by UF/IFAS Extension Manatee County Master Gardener Volunteers (MGV’s). The sale will take place Saturday, October 5th at the Barbara Davis Educational Gardens (1303 17th St W, Palmetto, FL 34221) from 8AM - 12PM. Get the best selection of plants and beat the rush with one of our early bird tickets. Starting at $10 per person or $15 per family, the early bird ticket allows you access to the plant sale from 8AM - 9AM. Regular entry begins at 9AM and is free. Pre-registration is required on Eventbrite for communication and event capacity purposes. Contact our office at (941) 722-4524 for accessibility concerns and special accommodation requests. Only cash or check will be accepted during the sale. The annual MGV plant sale is a great opportunity for beginner gardeners to get started on their horticultural journey! Experienced, university-trained MGV’s will be available to answer questions about the plants they’ve grown and make recommendations based on your specific needs and site conditions. For our veteran plant lovers, the 2024 MGV Plant Sale offers affordably priced plants, a unique selection, and the opportunity to meet and chat with other green thumbs! All proceeds from this event go to the operation and maintenance of the Master Gardeners’ Educational Gardens and Greenhouse, and to support Master Gardener educational and outreach programs. 

The Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation recently awarded a $444,869 grant to expand Resilient Retreat’s capabilities to provide free mental wellness services for the community. Specifically, Barancik Foundation support will underwrite programming and staffing costs that will: initiate the First Responder Coalition—a new educational peer support network to help first responders build mental resilience; enhance the operation of Resilient Retreat’s Kind Line—a telephone service that provides encouragement and resources for those impacted by trauma; and augment the organization’s financial sustainability by hiring its first-ever Major Gifts Officer. Headquartered on 84 acres of conservation land in east Sarasota County, Resilient Retreat helps trauma survivors, first responders, and helping professionals through free, confidential, evidence- based programs and trainings that enhance the well-being of body, mind, and spirit. Equine-assisted learning, nutrition for wellness, neurofeedback, yoga, and support groups are just a few of more than 35 programs provided in-person and online every month. A Kind Line (941-343-0039) is also available for those in need of real-time support while navigating trauma in their home and/or workplace. 

The Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County is pleased to announce the Sarasota Board of County Commissioners approval of the Tourist Development Cultural/Arts (TDC/A) grants for the 2024 - 2025 season. 35 projects from 34 local arts and cultural organizations will receive $2.1 million in grant funding. TDC/A grants come from the tourist tax dollars collected to fund Sarasota County arts and cultural organizations to support high quality programming that attracts tourists to our area. Grants are available to organizations with recognized ability to produce, present, and promote cultural and arts activities that appeal to tourists. 38 of the 40 applications submitted met eligibility requirements and were recommended for funding by the Cultural/Arts Grant Panel. The Alliance presented the Tourist Development Cultural/Arts Grant Award Recommendations to the Tourist Development Council (TDC) on June 13, 2024, which were approved by consensus and moved forward to the Board of County Commissioners. This commission voted to not fund three projects from the 38 recommended for funding. These projects were submitted by Embracing Our Differences, WSLR, and Avenida de Colores (the nonprofit who puts on the Sarasota Chalk Festival). The Arts and Cultural Alliance will continue to work with the county to address program guidelines, including clarifying point of entry policies, survey requirements, scoring and funding calculations, and a greater emphasis on tourism appeal. The 2025 Grant Award Recipients include Architecture Sarasota, Art Center Sarasota, Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota, Asolo Theatre, Chamber Orchestra of Sarasota, Choral Artists of Sarasota, ensembleNEWSRQ, The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art Foundation, Florida Studio Theatre, Sarasota Orchestra, Jazz Club of Sarasota, Key Chorale, La Musica di Asolo, Mote Marine Laboratory, Ringling College of Art and Design for Englewood Art Center and Sarasota Art Museum, Rise Above Performing Arts, Sarasota Ballet of Florida, Sarasota Concert Association, Sarasota Contemporary Dance, Sarasota Film Festival, Sarasota Opera Association, Sarasota Performing Arts Center Foundation, Sarasota Pops Orchestra, The Circus Arts Conservatory, The Hermitage Artist Retreat, The Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, The Perlman Music Program/Suncoast, The Players, The Sarasota Cuban Ballet School, The Venice Symphony, Urbanite Theatre, Venice Art Center, Venice Theatre, Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe. 

Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties (BGCSDC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Jeffrey Phillips as the new Vice President of Finance. Jeff brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record in financial management to help the nonprofit empower youth, ages 6 to 18, to succeed in school, practice healthy habits, become leaders, and plan for success after high school graduation. With more than 30 years of experience in banking, accounting, and finance, Jeff has held senior leadership roles such as Corporate Banking Officer, Corporate Controller, and Chief Financial Officer. Most recently, he served as the Chief Financial Officer at Gallagher and Hagopian Law, where he successfully managed the construction of a new owner-occupied building and oversaw comprehensive accounting and financial functions, including reconciliation, billing, and tax preparation.In his new role at BGCSDC, Jeff will be responsible for overseeing all financial functions, including accounting processes, budgeting, property management, annual audits, and the administration of property and liability insurance. As a key member of the senior management team, he will help lead the strategic vision for the organization’s future, ensure the accurate and timely completion of daily accounting functions, and oversee the preparation of grant and financial reports.Jeff holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance from the University of South Florida and his expertise spans a wide range of financial disciplines, including cash flow analysis, budgeting, internal audits, and risk management. For more information on BGCSDC, please visit bgcsdc.org or call 941-366-3911. 

Gulf Coast Community Foundation’s (Gulf Coast) Board of Directors approved over $1.3 million in grant awards during its June meeting, including $785,000 in funding for the region’s cornerstone arts and cultural organizations. The Foundation conducted a review of its former Arts Appreciation Grants, which are now rebranded as the Empowering Arts Grant Program aimed to not just appreciate, but to empower the community’s world-class arts and cultural organizations to meet their full potential. “The Empowering Arts Grant Program is a true example of trust-based philanthropy. We cut the administrative red tape for these incredible organizations that serve as the underpinning of our region’s vibrant culture,” said Gulf Coast’s President | CEO Phillip Lanham. “Not only do these organizations enrich our lives, they also serve as a powerful economic force in our region, generating $342,000,000 in economic impact in 2022. Support is needed now more than ever to sustain these economic assets.” The 13 Empowering Arts recipients are Asolo Repertory Theatre, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Florida Studio Theatre, Sarasota Ballet, Sarasota Orchestra, The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Sarasota Opera, Venice Theatre, Circus Arts Conservatory, Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, Embracing Our Differences, Hermitage Artist Retreat, and Venice Symphony. Additional grants were approved by the Gulf Coast Board to support vital community projects and causes and include: $50,000 to Friends of The Legacy Trail for the Beneva Road Sidewalk Replacement to connect The Legacy Trail with the Nature Park at Bobby Jones Golf Club, Nathan Benderson Park, and MoteSEA. Gulf Coast has provided strong support for the extension of The Legacy Trail. This grant was supported by the Maria Haber Charitable Fund. $150,000 to Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Foundation to continue support for the regional workforce development program, CareerEdge Funders Collaborative. In 2023, 461 individuals took part in training resulting in 281 earned industry credentials, 158 raises, and 98 promotions earned by workers. These represent a cumulative increase of workers' earnings of $1,793,626, a total economic impact roughly equivalent to $2.7 million dollars (based on US Department of Commerce Bureau of Economic Analysis direct effect multipliers). This grant was supported by Gulf Coast’s Venice Endowment Fund and the Ed and Barbara Strobel Fund. $209,979 to Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties for the third and final installment of Gulf Coast’s $1 million commitment to support the rebuilding of the Gene Matthews Club in North Port destroyed by Hurricane Ian. The new club will provide services to over 500 members annually, plus approximately 300 young people in the summer, and over 250 in the school year. This grant was supported by Gulf Coast’s Venice Endowment Fund, the Gould Family Trust Foundation, and the Anna V. Pfister, Nellie Mae Koss and Helen K. Hadden Memorial Endowment Fund. $70,000 to Education Foundation of Sarasota County for PLANit Sarasota, the local college access network, to support young adults with the resources to enroll in post-secondary education, and to launch an educational navigation program. This grant is supported by Gulf Coast’s Venice Endowment Fund and the James M. Maestranzi Charitable Fund. 

Pictured: Gulf Coast Community Foundation announces over $1.3 million in grant awards during its June Board meeting, including the Empowering Arts Grant Program to support arts and cultural organizations like Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, pictured here

The kickoff to July means the kickoff to another incredible year of the prevention, intervention, and treatment of child abuse at CPC! While the hard work is only just beginning, we want to take this time to remind each of you that change is not only possible, it is happening, and all because of the support you give by believing in our mission. As we enter our 45th year of service, we'd like to talk about ripples. Every day at CPC, we see the ripples created by seemingly "small" acts of kindness, acts of generosity, and acts of courage. While you may never have the chance to see first-hand the long term effects these "small" acts have on our clients, know that your support is changing countless lives for the better. To create even further positive change for those affected by child abuse, we urge you to send a 'Ripple of Hope' through matched monthly donations starting at just $5/month. Visit our incredibly generous friends at the Flanzer Trust to send forth a ripple today and bring healing to these little survivors. 

To make a matched donation click here.

The Mayor’s Feed the Hungry Program (MFTHP) recently announced a new fundraising project to help reinvigorate the organization, which has been struggling with steadily increasing operating costs and diminishing donations over the past few years. The new project will help MFTHP cover expenses and strengthen its ability to serve the growing needs of communities in Sarasota and Manatee counties while simultaneously providing real-world training opportunities for future leaders in philanthropy. The project is made possible with support from The Patterson Foundation in collaboration with the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. To help support MFTHP, The Patterson Foundation is sponsoring a student intern from Lilly Family School of Philanthropy who will assist with fundraising efforts over the summer semester and with a variety of other tasks, including the development of a long-term strategy to advance MFTHP. Since 1987, MFTHP has distributed more than 650 tons of food and $4.4 million USD in food assistance to families and individuals in need. Implemented by former Sarasota Mayor Fredd Atkins, the Mayors’ Feed the Hungry Program is endorsed this year by the following mayors and county commission chairs: Anna Maria Mayor; Bradenton Mayor; Bradenton Beach Mayor; Holmes Beach Mayor; Longboat Key Mayor; North Port Mayor; Palmetto Mayor; Sarasota Mayor; Manatee County Commission Chair; and Sarasota County Commission Chair. 

Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center (SPARCC) has announced the new appointments within its Board of Directors for the fiscal year 2024-2025. This dedicated team continues to bring a wealth of experience and commitment to further SPARCC's mission of providing a safe haven and promoting empowerment, awareness, and social change to end domestic and sexual violence. Patrick Duggan has been elected as Board Chair. He has served on the SPARCC Board of Directors for eight years and is an Equity Partner at Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick LLP.  Patrick Duggan currently serves as the General Counsel for the School Board of Sarasota County. Prior to joining Shumaker, he served as an Assistant State Attorney at the State Attorney’s Office in both Sarasota and Manatee Counties for 5 years and as in-house counsel for the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office for 8 years. Besides his service to SPARCC, Patrick Duggan is currently a Board Member of the Sarasota Tiger Bay Club and the Sarasota County Gator Club and is an Executive Committee Member of the Sarasota Chapter of the Federalist Society. He currently serves on the Federal Middle District of Florida’s Judicial Advisory Commission for the 118 Congress. In addition to Parick Duggan, newly elected officers include Shelley Walters-Walker as 1st Vice Chair, and Captain Deb Kiner as 2nd Vice Chair. Joan Castellani will remain as Secretary, and Andrea Hunt as Treasurer. Additional continuing board members are Gwen Arcara, Barbara V. Gardner, Sue Ghezzi, Jami Goodlad, JoAnn Heffernan Heisen, Charlotte Hinman, Bonnie McIntyre, Diane Muldoon, Luisa M. Oliveira, David Rayner, and Charles S. Wilson. "We are excited to continue working with this exceptional group of individuals. While some of their board roles and responsibilities have changed, collectively their ongoing enthusiasm and diverse expertise are invaluable as we continue to foster a safe and supportive environment for survivors in our community," said Jessica Hays, President & CEO of SPARCC. For more information about SPARCC and its free and confidential programs and services for survivors of domestic and sexual violence, please visit www.sparcc.net or contact SPARCC at (941) 365-0208.