Spectrum Sailing (501c3), the only National Autism Sailing Camp, will be providing a free camp hosted by Sarasota Youth Sailing and Sarasota Sailing Squadron, September 20-22. The goal of the camp is to help kids between the ages of 10 and 17 learn the basics of sailing–a rare opportunity for children with autism. The nonprofit group offers maritime education, programming and outreach for individuals with autism and sailing is the platform that they use to positively impact the physical, mental and social health of participants.

Spectrum Sailing was born out of necessity. The group’s executive director and founder, Scott Herman, was looking for a sailing camp for his son, Daniel to attend about seven years ago. Sadly none of the camps would allow Daniel to participate. “We have five programs in Charleston, South Carolina and none of them would take Daniel because of his autism diagnosis. They didn't have staff or anything they felt they needed for that type of camp. That was a little disheartening to me and to my wife," shares Herman. "We learned about a group called Surfers Healing, a national organization that goes around the country and hosts surfing events for autistic youth, and Daniel was lucky enough to attend one. I left there with the determination that we were going to start a sailing camp the next summer, and we did. The first year, there were 10 spots, and we had 70 kids apply. That's when we realized, we're on to something--we haven't even run a camp yet, and we had this much interest.” Founded in Charleston, the Hermans built the only sailing camp for children with autism in South Carolina. The local program grew and proved successful. It was then that Scott decided kids across the country needed this opportunity.

Through the generosity of both the Autism and Sailing communities, Spectrum Sailing now offers camps in multiple locations at no cost to the sailors. This year alone, they’ve hosted ten camps in ten cities across the country. “We started the year in Newport Beach, California, went all the way to Portland Maine,” says Herman. “We already have a number of cities and new locations that want us to come and so we're working on putting next year's calendar together as we speak.”

With 200 kids nationally, 20 local Sarasota Autistic youth will have the life changing opportunity to attend this year's three day free camp. Campers will be provided with opportunities for skill development, social interaction, and confidence building. They will learn knots, parts of the boat, why the boat sails, and most importantly, how to sail. 

Camps are always free and donations are always appreciated. To learn more and to donate, visit spectrumsailing-bloom.kindful.com.

Spectrum Sailing Sarasota will take place September 20-22 at Sarasota Youth Sailing at 1717 Ken Thompson Pkwy, Sarasota. 

Pictured: For the third year in a row, Spectrum Sailing is returning to Sarasota for another amazing camp. Photo courtesy of Spectrum Sailing.

To learn more, visit.

For nearly two decades, the Boys & Girls Club of Sarasota and Desoto Counties has hosted the Leadership Breakfast, an event where the community gathers to honor individuals who have been instrumental in empowering youth to achieve great futures. On the early morning of September 6th, at the Lee Wetherington Boys & Girls Club, philanthropic leaders, students, and staff came together to celebrate Dr. Harriet Moore, Director of Strategic Engagement at Sarasota County Schools, and Jack Cox, President and Owner of Halfacre Construction Company. The gym, typically filled with bouncing basketballs and the sound of tennis shoes running from wall to wall, was transformed with tablecloths, centerpieces, and a stage with a podium, ready for the event to begin. As the event started, chatter filled the building, as students spoke with leaders within their own community and friends caught up with one another. The morning became so much more than a commemoration; it was a chance for the community to come together.

Before the gym filled with community leaders, the teens participated in an activity to prepare them for the world of networking they were about to enter. With exercises in eye contact, handshakes, and elevator speeches, the teen staff ensured that the participants were ready to embark on this networking journey. The Boys & Girls Club of Sarasota and Desoto Counties prides itself on “enabling all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, and responsible citizens.” This morning, it was evident how important the continued success of our young people is to both the Boys & Girls Club and the community in attendance. We heard voices such as Lisa Carlton, a former House Representative and Senator, Bill Sadlo, CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Sarasota and Desoto Counties, and current high school students making great strides in their careers. Club alumna Margot Andrich noted, “It was at my Club that I found myself, found my voice, and where I continue to return. I am forever grateful to be a Club kid.”

Sarasota continues to thrive as leaders unite to empower our youth. This morning, in this gym, we did more than just commemorate the efforts of Jack Cox and Dr. Harriet Moore—we celebrated the students, alumni, non-profits, Club staff, and community leaders present. The power of partnership shone brightly this morning and continues to fuel the greatness Sarasota has to offer. 

Pictured: Caption: Honoree Dr. Harriet Moore pictured with Bill Sadlo and student Nazaria.

In observance of the 23rd anniversary of September11th, CR Fitness Holdings, the top, fastest-growing franchisee of Crunch Fitness, willonce again host its annual 9/11 Stair Climb Challenge on Wednesday, September 11th.This event serves as a powerful tribute to the first responders who bravely served onthat tragic day in 2001 and those who continue to protect our communities today.  Open to members, non-members, and first responders, the 9/11 Stair Climb Challengeoffers a unique opportunity to come together in honor and remembrance. Participantswill climb 110 flights of stairs or 2,071 steps, symbolizing the 110 floors of the WorldTrade Center. The event will be open to all fitness levels, and participants can choosetheir level of involvement, whether they climb a single flight of stairs or complete the full110-story challenge. Following the challenge, participants are invited to sign their namesand note their step contributions, fostering a collective effort to complete the challengemultiple times as a unified community.  As part of the lead-up to the event, Crunch Fitness team members visited various firestations from Tuesday, September 3rd through Thursday, September 5th, to expresstheir gratitude for the tireless dedication of first responders. During these visits, the teamdelivered pizza, Crunch T-shirts, and tokens of appreciation as a gesture of admirationfor their selfless service. First responders are invited to participate in the 9/11 Stair Climb Challenge at any of CR Fitness’ 21 Tampa Bay area Crunch locations from 5 amto 11 pm. The following Sarasota area locations will be participating. Crunch Bee Ridge 3762 Bee Ridge Rd, Crunch West Bradenton 4836 14th Street W, Bradenton, Crunch Lakewood Ranch 8475 Heritage Green Way, Bradenton, Crunch Parrish 8840 US-301, Parrish and Crunch University 8440 Lockwood Ridge Rd, Sarasota. 

Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College of Art and Design is creating more opportunities for people of all backgrounds to experience the arts through a two year grant from the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation. Through this investment, Sarasota Art Museum will enhance programs designed to break down barriers that often prevent underserved populations from experiencing the transformative power of art while offering more thought-provoking exhibitions reflecting the diversity of our community. Among the programs made possible through the Barancik Foundation’s funding is Free Second Sundays at SAM, a monthly event series that provides visitors with free admission to Sarasota Art Museum. In addition to free Museum admission, Free Second Sundays at SAM includes live music, interactive storytelling and performances, and hands-on studio art activities for all ages that draw from the Museum’s current exhibitions. The investment also powers Sarasota Art Museum’s WELCOME to SAM Program. Launched in 2023, WELCOME to SAM invites residents from underserved communities to experience the Museum as a place for enjoyment, connecting, learning, and healing through the arts. Working alongside partners including local nonprofits and schools, the program provides customized experiences and tours of the Museum and its exhibitions prior to each Free Second Sunday at SAM event. Participants also take part in follow-up workshops at the Museum or partner sites based on their feedback and interests. One of the exhibitions WELCOME to SAM Program participants will experience during the Museum’s current season is Future Now: Virtual Sneakers to Cutting-Edge Kicks, on view Feb. 9-May 4, 2025. Made possible through the Barancik Foundation’s grant, Future Now explores the intersection between design innovation and technological advancements in footwear. Future Now features over 70 futuristic designs from the Bata Shoe Museumʼs holdings as well as loans from other prominent institutions, collectors, designers, and inventors. Sarasota Art Museum is one of five museums participating in the exhibition’s national tour, co-organized by the American Federation of Arts and the Bata Shoe Museum, and curated by Elizabeth Semmelhack, director and senior curator, Bata Shoe Museum. WELCOME to SAM Program participants will be invited to engage with Future Now’s content before its installation and experience an early access celebratory opening. Additional programming will include sneaker design workshops for middle and high school students to introduce them to career opportunities within the creative economy. 

The Child Protection Center, Inc. (CPC) has been named a 2024 Best of Florida Regional Winner for Charitable Organizations. The nonprofit is recognized for 45 years of excellence in providing child abuse prevention, intervention, and treatment services in Sarasota and DeSoto Counties. Best of Florida is an annual competition hosted by Guide to Florida, allowing all Floridians to use their voice and voting power to support local businesses and organizations of superior quality. CPC’s Executive Director Douglas Staley said, “Recognition such as this raises awareness of CPC and the vital work we do in protecting children from abuse, which leads to more advocates using their voices to speak out, more children being educated in personal safety, more volunteers joining our team, better opportunities for funding....all of which means more safe childhoods.” Last year alone, CPC reached over 65,000 individuals through its four core programs, each of which provides vital services for children and families who are vulnerable to or have experienced the traumas of child abuse. The Personal Safety and Community Awareness Program is Florida's longest tenured prevention program. Through providing essential child abuse prevention education, it has reached 800,000+ individuals throughout its history. The Child Protection Team is a state-mandated program that facilitates medical examinations, forensic interviews, and court testimonies. Locally, CPT is the only authorized provider of these services. The Children and Families Supervised Visitation Program provides a safe, neutral environment for non-custodial caregivers to rebuild relationships with their child. 70+ volunteers make this program possible. CPC's Therapy Programs help survivors live a healthy, restored life after their traumas. We are the only no-cost provider in Sarasota County specialized in child physical and sexual abuse treatments. The Child Protection Center’s (CPC) mission is the prevention, intervention, and treatment of child abuse, as the organization envisions a community where children are safe from abuse and free to thrive. For 45 years, CPC has been serving Sarasota and DeSoto Counties in the State of Florida and is accredited by the National Children’s Alliance. For more information on CPC or to inquire about ways to get involved, please visit them at www.cpcsarasota.org or call 941-365-1277. 

The Florida Center for Early Childhood’s “Wonder Gala” will be 6:30 p.m. Dec. 6 at The Ora, 578 McIntosh Road, Sarasota, FL 34232. The Florida Center for Early Childhood community, including current families, educators, leaders and friends will celebrate a sparkling and festive night at the inaugural Wonder Gala (formerly the Winter Gala) and will include a cocktail reception, a delicious dinner, catered by Michael’s on East, and music by Soul Sensations, one of Florida’s hottest bands. A silent auction and a live auction will give participants the chance to bid on memorable and luxurious items. Individual tickets are $375. A variety of sponsorships are available. All proceeds will benefit The Florida Center for Early Childhood. Visit www.thefloridacenter.org/schedule/the-wonder-gala or call 941-371-8820. 

The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art (The Ringling) is proud to announce a grant of $55,000 from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County to support Health and Accessibility programming. This year’s grant is the second of a three-year grant agreement for the program totaling $135,000 from 2022 to 2025. The grant supports program staff, Community Gallery exhibitions, and innovative programming. The grant enabled a new paid position integral to the development and maintenance of a growing arts and health program exploring the links and mutual benefits between the arts and the healthcare sector. Community Foundation of Sarasota County is the lead sponsor of the Community Gallery, a free public exhibition space dedicated to displaying works of art produced by community-based, non-profit, and student groups in the local area. The innovative programs offered by The Ringling provide access to the museum for people of all abilities. This year’s funding will support the soon-to-be announced MakerSpace Mondays that will include free artmaking in the MakerSpace Studio on the museum’s Legacy Day, a day of free admission to the Museum of Art.Funding for this program is provided by the Conniff Memorial Fund, the Lentini Fund, the Allen Fund and the Esslinger Memorial Fund of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County.