On Saturday, October 5, take a walk to support NAMI’s mission to improve the lives of individuals, families and caregivers on their journey to mental wellness.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is an organization of families, friends and individuals whose lives have been affected by mental illness. The Sarasota and Manatee County affiliate is one of 24 Florida affiliates and more than 600 across the country and Colleen Thayer serves as the Executive Director. When she first started working with the organization over six years ago, she was the first employee and she was part time. There are now 25 local team members offering support and education as their core function. “We are not clinical or treatment providers at all,” Thayer explains. “We offer individuals living with any kind of mental health condition support programs and we do the same thing for families and caregivers.”

There are NAMIWalks all over the country supporting mental health for all. The October 5th NAMIWalk is NAMI of Sarasota and Manatee Counties’ main and only external fundraiser and awareness event for the year. “It's a fun walk, so it's not a 5K or 10K. It's really just come out, have a good time, create teams and raise money to support our mission,” says Thayer. “People can also make individual donations and they can sponsor us. It’s great because whatever we raise there is unrestricted so we can put it where we really need it.”  For a great warm-up before the walk, check out Jazzercise Lakewood Ranch who will also be at the Payne Park event.

To fuel mental health awareness, raise funds for NAMI's mission and let people know they are not alone, sign up for the NAMIWalk and join a caring community giving their time, their stories and their heartfelt dedication to the cause: Mental Health for All.

Saturday October 5, 2024, Payne Park, 2010 Adams Lane, Sarasota, 8 am- 12 pm, 4 Loops, NAMI Sarasota and Manatee Counties. To learn more, contact Jessica Polk, jessica@namisarasotamanatee.org. 

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The independent Sarasota County Sheriff's Office Charitable Foundation, Inc., a not-for- profit Florida Corporation with 501(c)(3) status, was established in 2015 by a group of concerned business leaders who recognized that, despite the incalculable contribution law enforcement make to our quality of life, their economic security is often inadequate in the face of unexpected, extraordinary personal or family circumstances. The mission of Foundation is to assist employees of the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office who are experiencing extraordinary personal or family need. To raise awareness of the Foundation and to fund grants, the SCSOCF hosts an annual Clays Shoot, this year on Friday, November 15. "Our complete focus is on those employees of the Sheriff's Office who are going through individual or family catastrophe,” said Mike Quillen, Chairman. "The commitment to the Mission by our donors these past several years has helped us develop into a respected, nimble Foundation in Sarasota County and we are committed to keep the momentum of supporting law enforcement moving forward.” Every dollar raised goes directly to supporting law enforcement through Foundation assistance grants. The Foundation has seen a 1400% increase in grants awarded since the first Foundation grant application was submitted and a significant and encouraging increase in the numbers of companies or individuals who joined as supporters of the Foundation. In addition to Quillen, the Board of Directors consists of: Debra Kaspar (Captain, Retired), Peter Abbott, John Walsh (Captain, Retired), Anne Rollings, Dennis Murphy, Lt. Chris Perz, SSO and Jason Toale. The Board serves on a voluntary basis. Interested donors may register for the event at www.scsocharitablefoundation.org and send tax-deductible contributions to: Sarasota County Sheriff's Office Charitable Foundation, Inc., c/o Kim Noyes, 6120 So. Lockwood Ridge Rd., Sarasota, FL 34231. 

Photo courtesy of Sarasota County Sheriff's Office Charitable Foundation, Inc.

SRQ Strong, the regional nonprofit that is raising awareness of the impacts of trauma and fostering healing and resilience across the Suncoast region, has launched a new phase of activity and impact.  The organization hired Tom Edwards as its first executive director.  Edwards began serving in the role in late August. Seventy percent of the general population will experience at least one traumatic event during their lifetime. “Our vision is to create a community that cares for itself, where neighbors support each other, regardless of differences,” said Dr. Andrea Blanch, founder and board chair of SRQ Strong.  “We’ve built a groundswell of engaged citizens and organizations that want to bring healing from trauma to all corners of our community.  Tom Edwards is the right leader to elevate our impact.” 

As Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Awareness Month is observed in September, The Florida Center for Early Childhood underscores its commitment to early diagnosis and intervention. In line with this commitment, the organization is pleased to announce the expansion of its FASD diagnostic services to the Panhandle region and is now offering comprehensive assessments in Pensacola. Launched in July 2024, this expansion is a critical part of the organization’s ongoing effort to enhance FASD support across the Panhandle region, building on its legacy of comprehensive care that began in Sarasota and extended to Orlando. 

 In the wake of Hurricane Debby, Manatee Community Foundation (MCF) partnered with donors to engage in relief efforts through generous contributions to its Disaster Relief Fund. Many nonprofit organizations in Manatee County affected by unprecedented flooding received Disaster Relief Grants, which enabled them to continue to serve their clients. “A reason our region can thrive is the presence of the strong nonprofit network we enjoy, unlike many other areas in our country where social services, animal welfare, education, and beyond rest only on the efforts of local government. The support our community receives from nonprofit organizations is crucial to the success of our community,” says Veronica Thames, MCF’s Executive Director. “Thanks to the incredible generosity of our caring donors and the unwavering support of our Board and staff, MCF was able to swiftly activate this fund in response to the impacts of Hurricane Debby and come to the aide of nonprofits that work tirelessly to uplift our citizens, ensuring that those most affected receive the help they need to rebuild and recover." 

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Embracing Our Differences (EOD) is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a $25,000 Strategic Partnership Grant from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. The funds will support two key educational initiatives. $20,000 will be allocated to support Unity Day, an initiative designed to foster student leadership and empower young leaders to promote kindness, inclusion, and respect within their schools. $5,000 will support the purchase of books for EOD’s annual Bucket Fillers Reading Day, an event aimed at promoting empathy and positive behavior through literature. 

Purple Fish Creative, a Sarasota-based creative design firm, proudly announces Sertoma Kids as the 2024 recipient of its prestigious Project SRQ Award. This annual award reflects Purple Fish Creative’s dedication to enhancing the digital presence of nonprofit organizations in the Sarasota/Manatee area, helping them amplify their impact through professional web design services. Sertoma Kids is a nonprofit organization offering vital services to children facing speech, language, literacy, and social skills challenges. Their play-based therapy model, rooted in evidence-based practices, provides personalized treatment for each child. The organization’s certified speech-language pathologists collaborate with families to develop treatment plans that improve communication skills, boost self-esteem, and foster stronger interpersonal relationships while equipping parents with strategies to support their child's development at home. Each year, the Project SRQ Award includes a custom-designed WordPress website package from Purple Fish Creative featuring: A fully customized website (up to 10 pages); Premium WordPress theme and design; Up to 10 high-quality stock photos; Social media integration and donation functionality; Tools to showcase services, events, and blog content. The Project SRQ initiative has a transformative impact on the recipient. It addresses a common challenge faced by nonprofits—limited access to the resources needed to expand their digital footprint and support their mission. For Sertoma Kids, this means a powerful new platform to connect with families, donors, and the community, amplifying their reach and impact. To nominate an organization for Project SRQ 2025, please visit www.projectsrq.com. Applications are now open, and a beneficiary will be awarded in May 2025.

With hurricane season at its peak, you’ve probably found yourself thinking back to your own brushes with the likes of Irma, Ian, and, more recently, Debby’s record-breaking rainfall. For many in our region, the lingering effects of these storms -- seen in their neighborhoods and communities, felt by children and families, and navigated financially -- serve as stark reminders of their power and impact. Activated by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County in response to Ian’s historic landfall, the Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund gives generous donors the opportunity to support long-term, long-range programs to sustain human service agencies serving Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee, and Sarasota counties. The Patterson Foundation has supported the Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund since its launch -- strengthening its potential to help our region recover from disasters with resiliency. TPF is proud to continue this support with a new $100,000 contribution to the Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund as it evolves to strengthen long-term disaster recovery beyond Ian or anyone named storm or moment in time. The Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund and its impact (raising more than $5 million from donors nationwide to date!) is further proof that everyone can be a philanthropist. Strengthening our region ahead of the next inevitable disaster is one of the soundest investments you can make for yourself, your loved ones, and your neighbors. Visit the Community Foundation’s website if you’d like to learn more and contribute. 

The Columbia Restaurant Group will once again be supporting Suncoast Charities for Children, and several other local non-profit agencies, during their 27th Annual Community Harvest program during the entire month of September. The Tampa-based restaurant group is donating 5% of all diner’s checks to local charitable organizations in communities near their various restaurant locations. Here in Sarasota any customers dining inside or ordering takeout, at either the Columbia Restaurant or Cha Cha Coconuts, can choose a charity from a ballot that is included with their check or write in the charity of their choice. Both restaurants are located on beautiful St. Armands Circle and once the program ends, the Columbia Restaurant then provides each charity with gift certificates that can be used for up to 12 months. “As we look ahead to Columbia’s 120th anniversary in 2025, I’m reminded that great restaurants are more than just places to eat; they’re part of the fabric of the community,” said 4th generation caretaker and president Richard Gonzmart. “I started this program to help many of the worthy non-profits so important to the people who live near our restaurants across Florida. The simple concept is to ‘Eat Well And Do Good.’ It’s a delicious way to help these organizations.” Over the past 26 years, the Columbia Restaurant Community Harvest has donated $4 Million to non-profit organizations throughout Florida. Columbia locations include Ybor City in the historic district of Tampa, St. Armands Circle in Sarasota, the historic district of St. Augustine, Sand Key on Clearwater Beach, Central Florida’s town of Celebration, the Columbia Cafe on the Riverwalk in downtown Tampa at the Tampa Bay History Center and the Columbia Restaurant Cafe at Tampa International Airport. Cha Cha Coconuts also is on St. Armands Circle in Sarasota. Ulele, Goody Goody, and Casa Santo Stefano are all in Tampa. For reservations, visit the websites of the participating restaurants. 

As students have settled into the routine of a new school year, there are tens of thousands who benefited this summer from nutrition assistance provided by All Faiths Food Bank and trusted community partners, powered by generous donors, businesses, and foundations. Nearly 40,000 children in Sarasota and DeSoto counties rely on free and reduced-cost meals at school; when school ends, they lose access to these meals. All Faiths Food Bank (AFFB) is continuously looking for ways to more effectively reach areas that are underserved; thanks to funding from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, AFFB launched a new summer food pantry pilot program in Newtown – as well as continued previously offered nutrition assistance efforts – which provided food for Sarasota children over the summer. The $25,000 grant, from the Leslie and Margaret Weller Fund of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, supported the pilot food pantry program at the Betty J. Johnson North Sarasota Library. Within North Sarasota, AFFB has identified a subset of nine census blocks, including Newtown, with high meal deficits. This area also has a SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) gap of 50% – meaning half of the residents qualify for benefits, but are not currently accessing them. Newtown’s median household income is $32,500, significantly below Sarasota’s median household income of $42,500. This pilot served to enhance AFFB’s Campaign Against Summer Hunger, which has become our community’s strongest line of defense against child hunger since it was introduced 11 years ago. The Betty J. Johnson North Sarasota Library, located in Newtown Estates, has been a partner of AFFB for several years, distributing summer "BackPacks" of food for children during the summer months when school is not in session. A typical bag includes eight to 10 nutritious, child-friendly, ready-to-eat foods – including two breakfasts, two lunches and several snacks. Building on this partnership, the first pilot pantry at the library was launched last November, connecting food insecure neighbors to emergency food and opening the door to AFFB services that provide consistent access to nutritious food, benefits assistance, nutrition education and case management. The library supplied food boxes containing 12 meals, food distribution schedules, and benefits eligibility and assistance resources. In addition to the food boxes, the library pantry continued to distribute BackPacks of food to children all summer long. Offering an additional box of food to the parents or guardians was an invitation to engage with AFFB’s available services and gain food security and assistance toward improved financial stability. The traditional summer BackPack program also includes other partnerships in the Newtown area: Roy McBean Boys & Girls Club, Newtown Estates Boys & Girls Club and the Robert L. Taylor Community Complex. These locations distributed BackPacks provided by AFFB to the children enrolled in summer programs. The food in the bags is purchased – not donated – to ensure quality and nutritional value. AFFB projected the distribution of 6,180 backpacks by partners in Newtown from June through August of 2024. 

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