Bat City Comic Professionals, an award-winning comic shop and non-profit company is celebrating its second year in Old Manatee.

The organization began in 2018 as a delivery service in Austin, TX. Husband and wife team of Matt and Shannon Live along with their friend Stan Baldwin founded the company and met monthly at a comic friendly restaurant, allowing customers to come and pre-order comics that would then be delivered to them throughout the Greater Austin area. Bat City soon became a charity, awarding three college scholarships and hosting comic creation workshops with local libraries. By March 2021, they were nominated for Best of Austin by the Austin Chronicle. That year, they organized numerous workshops and donated over $10,000 in graphic novels to local schools. With another Best of Austin nomination in 2022, Bat City moved to Bradenton, seeking a new space for comics, community and charity. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit, they focus on educational opportunities through comics education, offering resources developed by volunteers, including reading specialists and educators, to enhance reading, writing and emotional development.

Bat City Comic Professionals is inviting the community to celebrate with them on September, 28. Shoppers can browse through thousands of new, backstock and graded issues of comics, all while benefiting the charity’s educational programming. The event runs from 11am-4pm at 915 Manatee Ave E in Bradenton. The celebration includes a chance to meet local artists and vendors, free comics for all-ages, crafts in the classroom, free food, extraordinary deals throughout the store, the return of the sidewalk sale, and more.

“The last two years in Bradenton have been absolutely amazing, ” said Shannon Live, president and director of outreach at Bat City. “We’ve had the opportunity to partner with so many amazing organizations, like the Manatee Public Library System, The Boys and Girls Clubs, the Girl and Boy Scouts, the Manatee and Sarasota County school systems, The Patterson Foundation, the Bradenton Marauders, and many more. We’ve also hosted numerous workshops on-site, helping students explore their imagination while sharpening reading and writing techniques.” The organization has taught nearly 2,000 students through its writing programs in 2023, with another 700 students using their comic-based reading programs. "I hope that new people from the community come to our celebration and get a chance to not only see what we have to offer but also discover some of the other local vendors and creators that are going to be here. We love to see so much talent in the community, from both children and adults."

Bat City Comic Professionals funds its nonprofit goals through sales of new, vintage, and graded comics at their Bradenton location. Customers can make one-time purchases, subscribe weekly, or use preservation services like cleaning and grading. Since relocating, they’ve been named one of Bradenton's Best Specialty Shops.

“The community we’ve found in Bradenton is like an extended family,” Live said. “Seeing the way people here show up and support each other, and especially the kids, is a daily reminder that Bradenton is our forever home."

Bat City Comic Professionals, 915 Manatee Ave E, Bradenton, 941-714-0402. 

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Meals on Wheels Sarasota is excited to announce a grant received from Gulf Coast Community Foundation (Gulf Coast) to help fund their Home Delivered Meal Program along with their March for Meals Take the Wheel Sponsorship. This grant is made possible through the Gould Family Trust Foundation at Gulf Coast Community Foundation, which is a donor-established legacy endowment. With over 500 clients who receive their meal for free, there becomes a gap of 60,000 in funding. This grant will enable the elderly and homebound to live independently in their home and receive a nutritious meal delivered each day. Rhonda Leiberick, Executive Director of Meals on Wheels Sarasota, shares how grateful she is to receive this grant funding; “We are immensely grateful for the Gould Family Trust Foundation at the Gulf Coast Community Foundation. Their investment toward a healthier community is demonstrated through volunteering, capacity, building, and program support. Thank you for helping us deliver more than a meal to our vulnerable neighbors.” To donate, volunteer, get meals, or learn more about Meals on Wheels, visit www.mealsonwheelsofsarasota.org or call 941-366-6693. 

The Patterson Foundation is proud to present Suncoast Connect: Innovating and Thriving in the Digital Age, a two-day symposium exploring efforts to strengthen access to digital connectivity, devices and skills for more people. This free symposium will take place Tuesday, Oct. 15 and Wednesday, Oct. 16 at The Ora in Sarasota, Florida. Suncoast Connect attendees will have the opportunity to learn from expert presenters covering topics such as artificial intelligence, partnerships in digital access, digital device skills and support, tech jobs and economic mobility, cybersecurity, digital navigation, and more. Day one of Suncoast Connect will include a networking and community-building dinner with a special interactive keynote presentation from Luke Bencie, managing director at Security Management International, LLC. Day two will feature a full day of panels, exhibitors, breakout sessions, flash presentations and innovative learning opportunities. Suncoast Connect is a free gift to the region held in celebration of the fourth year of The Patterson Foundation’s Digital Access for All initiative. Since 2020, Digital Access for All has explored the efforts of multiple sectors working to enhance access to technology that connects people in ways that foster inclusion and well-being. Admission to Suncoast Connect is free through funding from The Patterson Foundation, however registration is required. Attendees are welcome to participate in one or both days of the symposium. To register and learn more, visit bit.ly/Symposium-SuncoastConnect.  

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The Child Protection Center, Inc. (CPC) announces Nicole Estilow, B.S.B.A has assumed the role of Chief Financial Officer as of July 2024. Nicole joined the team in 2023 as a Senior Accountant, bringing government fund management experience to the team as CPC continues expand at the Campus of Healing in North Port and was awarded a federal earmark. Douglas Staley, Executive Director of the Child Protection Center, commented that “Nicole taking the vital role of CFO comes at the perfect time as our needs, programming, and staff continue to grow. Nicole is passionate about the non-profit sector, and her expertise and vast knowledge makes her a tremendous asset to CPC as we continue opening new doors as an organization and for our clients.” Nicole has been in the industry for 20 years and earned her degree in accounting from St. Joseph’s University. “I’ve always picked roles for organizations who gave back to their communities,” Nicole says. “In fact, it was a deal breaker for me while interviewing. When presented with the role at CPC, I felt there was an element of complex accounting (government contracts for example), and as a mother, a mission that I just couldn’t say no to.” 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. 

Described by Musical America as ‘one of the finest venues for opera in the United States,’ Sarasota Opera produces impassioned opera performances true to the vision of the composer, to entertain, enrich, educate, and inspire a life-long love of opera in our diverse and growing communities. Join us for the 2024/25 Opera Season and be part of an exciting musical adventure featuring four world-class opera productions, special events, our special Fall concert, and our annual Youth Opera production. We welcome our community of opera lovers to the Sarasota Opera House to enjoy the excitement of live opera together.  Subscriptions and single tickets are on sale now at www.sarasotaopera.org. Purchase your tickets before September 30th and we will waive your fees. 

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As part of its “Elevating Women’s Voices” campaign, the Women’s Resource Center (WRC) has launched a new series of videos starting with one that encourages more women to run for public office. The 35-minute segment, developed in partnership with Manatee Educational Television (METV), is hosted by WRC CEO Ashley Brown. It includes interviews with female office holders State Representative Fiona McFarland and Bradenton City Council Representative Lisa Gonzalez Moore, as well as former Sarasota County School Board candidate Dawnyelle Singleton.  

Pictured: WRC CEO Ashley Brown, Representative Fiona McFarland, Bradenton City Council Representative Lisa Gonzalez Moore, and former Sarasota County School Board candidate Dawnyelle Singleton.

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 Administered by the Community Foundations National Standards Board, a supporting organization of the Council on Foundations (COF), Gulf Coast Community Foundation (Gulf Coast) recently received accreditation with the nation’s highest standard for philanthropic excellence. Community Foundations National Standards® establish legal, ethical, effective practices for community foundations everywhere. “Meeting the National Standards benchmarks is a rigorous, comprehensive process,” said Susie Nelson, board chair of National Standards. “This accreditation is a significant accomplishment that indicates Gulf Coast Community Foundation demonstrates a commitment to transparency, quality, integrity, and accountability as it carries out its mission.” The Community Foundations National Standards® program requires community foundations to document their policies for donor services, investments, grantmaking, and administration. With over 550 community foundations already accredited nationwide, the program is designed to provide quality assurance to donors and their legal and financial advisors. “This achievement is critically important to our donors,” said Gulf Coast’s President | CEO Phillip Lanham. “When individuals make a charitable bequest or establish a fund, they put their trust in Gulf Coast Community Foundation. They are counting on us to manage the investment wisely, honor their charitable wishes, and, in some cases, provide lifetime income to a loved one. The National Standards accreditation says our house is in order. Maximizing the opportunity to operate at the highest level and strengthen our policies enables us to provide the best possible service to our region.” The Council on Foundations introduced the program in 2005, and Gulf Coast was among the first foundations to achieve accreditation, in early 2006. “Grantmaking closely resembles investing,” said Gulf Coast’s Chief Financial Officer Carol Martin Brown. “We need to assess risks, weigh potential gains, diversify assets, monitor performance, and operate fairly. With our National Standards accreditation, you can be assured we are doing just that.” Community Foundations National Standards® is the first program of its kind for charitable foundations in the United States. 

Pictured: Gulf Coast Community Foundation received accreditation with the nation’s highest standard for philanthropic excellence, Community Foundations National Standards®, a recognition the Foundation has achieved since 2006.

Florida Studio Theatre (FST) is proud to announce that Gulf Coast Community Foundation (Gulf Coast) has awarded the regional theatre a $65,000 Empowering Arts Grant Award, funded through the Mildred and Garrett Eelman Charitable Fund at Gulf Coast Community Foundation. This grant will underwrite FST’s upcoming three-show Winter Cabaret Series, four-show Winter Mainstage Series, and 2025 Summer Mainstage Series. With the Empowering Arts Grant, Gulf Coast will also serve as the lead sponsor of FST’s Annual Shindig, the theatre’s annual fundraising event, scheduled for Spring 2025. For fiscal year 2024, Gulf Coast awarded Empowering Arts Grants to thirteen arts organizations in the region, including FST, recognizing the positive impact they have on the economy and community. During the 2024-2025 season, FST presented over 20 theatrical productions, weekly performances by its resident improv troupe, two New Play Festivals, the 14th Annual Sarasota Improv Festival, and brought its award-winning youth playwriting program, WRITE A PLAY, to schools across the country. Funding from foundations like Gulf Coast enhances FST’s ability to continue to offer these programs and produce high-quality, contemporary theatre. For more information on the Empowering Arts Grant Awards contact Gulf Coast Community Foundation. For more information about FST’s mission and contribution opportunities, please contact Matthew Glover, FST’s Director of Development, at 941.366.9017 x326 or MGlover@floridastudiotheatre.org. 

Legal Aid of Manasota has raised an additional $29,000 in donations, moving closer to bridging the significant budget gap caused by recent public funding cuts. This influx of support follows attorney and developer Hugh Culverhouse Jr.’s $100,000 donation, made in response to the Sarasota County Commissioner’s decision to deny $172,000 in funding from the organization.  The $29,000 raised came from private donors to meet the critical need for pro bono legal services in the region, especially since the denial of public funding came days after Tropical Storm Debby and the ongoing local housing crisis. Legal Aid of Manasota provides essential legal assistance to over 5,000 vulnerable individuals each year, including disabled veterans, domestic violence survivors, and families facing eviction. Legal Aid of Manasota has faced consecutive years of funding cuts from Sarasota County, making private donations even more essential to its operations. Despite these challenges, the organization remains committed to raising the remaining $43,000 in funding to fulfill its mission of providing legal representation to vulnerable populations within the community. To learn more about Legal Aid of Manasota or to make a donation, visit legalaidofmanasota.org. 

Sarasota Orchestra has received a $65,000 Strategic Partnership Grant from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, which comes from the Martha Leiter and Nancy Streetman Fund II. In addition to being the Foundation Title Sponsor for Sarasota Orchestra’s 2024-2025 Dinner Series, the Community Foundation’s grant funding will support the Orchestra’s brand-new Pops Supper Club event, as well as the free, public encore performance of the annual Young Person’s Concert. Sarasota Orchestra’s Young Person’s Concerts (YPC) have been presented since 1953. This live orchestra concert experience for fourth and fifth grade students combines a year-long curriculum in schools with a field trip to see the professional Sarasota Orchestra in concert. With grant funding from the Community Foundation, the Orchestra is able to offer a free family concert for the public at 7:00 pm on Friday, October 11, 2024 at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. Like YPC, this encore concert will feature conductor Rei Hotoda, along with the return of popular narrator Gregory Smith. In the 2024-2025 season, the Orchestra is debuting a new special event: the Pops Supper Club. This exciting evening will feature inventive cocktails, an elegant dinner, and a one-night-only Pops performance by the Orchestra. Grant support from the Community Foundation means that fan-favorite Stuart Chafetz will join the Orchestra to conduct the performance. The Pops Supper Club will be held Wednesday, April 16, 2025 at The Ora. With the Community Foundation as the Title Sponsor, the Orchestra’s Dinner Series offers an opportunity to meet renowned maestros and dine with them at Sarasota’s most distinguished venues. Each unique dinner features a short performance by select Sarasota Orchestra musicians and a moderated conversation with the featured guest conductor. This season, two of the dinners will feature the Orchestra’s newly named Music Director Designate Giancarlo Guerrero. By funding the Dinner Series, the Strategic Partnership Grant from the Community Foundation also provides essential support for Sarasota Orchestra’s full artistic season, which begins this month and runs through May 2025. Sarasota Orchestra’s season of programming includes performances in a variety of venues and formats and is comprised of concerts in five different series: Masterworks, Discoveries, Chamber Soirées, Pops and Great Escapes. The season concludes with the ever-popular Outdoor Pops concerts at Ed Smith Stadium. To learn more about Sarasota Orchestra’s 2024-2025 season and programs, visit www.SarasotaOrchestra.org. 

How LECOM is Shaping a New Generation of Healers, September 2024.

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