The Rotary Club at Wellen Park, in collaboration with the Wellen Park Welcome Center, is excited to announce the return of the “Thanks 4 Giving” Thanksgiving service project. This initiative runs from October 1 through November 19, inviting community members to contribute to a meaningful cause. The centerpiece of the project is the Thanks 4 Giving Tree, which will be displayed at the Wellen Park Welcome Center, adorned with tags indicating various dollar amounts.

Participating is simple. Visitors can stop by the Welcome Center, choose a tag that represents a donation amount, and purchase a gift card from either Publix or Walmart that matches the selected value. After acquiring the gift card, donors can return it to the Welcome Center, where it will be collected for distribution.

On November 20, the Rotary Club will gather these gift cards to purchase complete Thanksgiving dinners. Each dinner will include a frozen turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, and all the traditional sides that make the holiday special. This initiative has had a significant impact in previous years; last year, it provided Thanksgiving meals to 100 families associated with the Awaken Food Pantry, a local organization dedicated to supporting those in need.

This year, the Rotary Club aims to expand its reach and provide meals for over 125 families. To achieve this ambitious goal, they are collaborating with multiple organizations to identify those most in need within the community. On November 21, the Awaken Food Pantry will collect the meals, ensuring they reach families who rely on their support.

The Thanks 4 Giving Tree is not just about food; it embodies the spirit of community and generosity. By participating, residents can help create a memorable Thanksgiving for many deserving neighbors. Whether it’s picking a tag or spreading the word about the project, every contribution counts.

Wellen Park Welcome Center, 12275 Mercado Dr, Venice, wellenpark.com. 

Pictured: The Awaken Food Pantry services families in need of support with the help of Wellen Park's Thanks 4 Giving Program.

Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center (SPARCC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Melissa Ferlazzo as the new Philanthropy Officer on our development team. Melissa joins SPARCC with a wealth of experience in nonprofit fundraising and a deep commitment to supporting survivors of domestic and sexual violence. As Philanthropy Officer, Melissa will be responsible for strengthening relationships with SPARCC’s donors, expanding fundraising efforts, and helping to advance the organization’s mission of providing a safe haven and promoting empowerment, awareness, and social change to end domestic and sexual violence. Melissa was born and raised in New York city before moving to Sarasota, Florida in 2005. She brings 8 years of experience in fundraising and philanthropy, having previously worked with other nonprofit organizations where she successfully led various fundraising campaigns and community engagement initiatives. 

 Join us to explore exciting, tuition-free training opportunities for 2025 through Career Edge! Wednesday, October 30 from 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Free registration. Held virtually on the Zoom platform. Unlock your future with tuition-free training through CareerEdge in 2025! Discover how the Bridges to Careers Programs can fast-track your path to a rewarding career with hands-on training in high-demand fields such as CNA, HVAC, AVA, and more—all at no cost to you. Take advantage of this life-changing opportunity to gain the skills and experience needed to thrive in your chosen field. Register for our upcoming webinar and begin your journey toward a successful, fulfilling career today! 

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We hope this message finds you and your loved ones safe in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton. We understand that many members of our community are facing challenges, and we want to offer support where it’s needed most.At Manasota BUDS, we are committed to helping our families and neighbors recover. To do that, we need your input on what assistance is most urgently required. Whether it’s food, clothing, household items, or other resources, we aim to compile a list of needs so we can rally the community to provide help.How You Can Help: Tell Us What You Need. If you or someone you know has been impacted by the hurricane, please let us know what items or support you need by replying to this email. Donate to Help: Once we have gathered the list of needs, we will send out another message asking for donations. We’ll organize a drive to collect essential supplies and get them to those in need. Additionally, we are accepting donations of grocery store gift cards, gas cards, and canned food at the upcoming Buddy Walk event on October 26th at Bayside Community Church. Your feedback is invaluable in helping us direct resources where they are most needed. Thank you for your continued support and generosity as we come together to help our community recover. 

Waterline Villas & Marina, an Autograph Collection resort of Tampa-based Mainsail Lodging & Development, located on Anna Maria Island, Florida has reopened and has rooms available for displaced residents, as well as recovery, support, and construction teams in the aftermath of hurricanes Helene and Milton. The resort’s restaurant, The Chateau Anna Maria, is also open with a limited menu. For room reservations, call 844-863-9443 during office hours (Mon–Fri: 8 a.m.–7 p.m., Sat–Sun: 9 a.m.–5:30 p.m.). Online reservations are not available.

Waterline Villas & Marina, Autograph Collection – 5325 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. 

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In response to the devastating impact of Hurricane Milton, the Baltimore Orioles have partnered with the Community Foundation of Sarasota County to support relief efforts through Season of Sharing, a long-running initiative that provides support to neighbors in need. The Orioles have committed to donating an initial $250,000 and matching every additional dollar raised up to another $250,000 to aid families and individuals affected by the hurricane across Sarasota and Manatee counties. With this support, the initiative could raise a total of $500,000 for critical resources to those in need. Furthermore, if the $500,000 target is reached, The Patterson Foundation will provide an additional $100,000. For over two decades, Season of Sharing has provided a vital safety net for residents by offering one-time financial assistance for essential living expenses. Now, as families face the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, donations will go directly to covering urgent needs such as rent, utilities, transportation, and childcare, helping families recover and regain a sense of security. Furthermore, all net proceeds from the Orioles’ 2025 Spring Training 50/50 raffle will be donated to All Faiths Food Bank. Following Florida Power & Light’s use of Ed Smith Stadium as a staging area for recovery operations, the Orioles will also partner with All Faiths Food Bank to host neighborhood food distributions, extending essential resources to those in need. Fans are encouraged to contribute to the Season of Sharing initiative by visiting cfsarasota.org/Baltimore-Orioles-Hurricane-Milton-Relief. With the Orioles’ matching challenge, donors have a unique opportunity to more than double the impact, bringing relief to those most affected by Hurricane Milton. For more information about Season of Sharing and to support Hurricane Milton relief efforts, please visit the Community Foundation of Sarasota County website at cfsarasota.org. 

The Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation (LWRCF) announces nominations are open for the 2024 Annual Humanitarian and Junior Humanitarian of the Year Awards. Nominations close November 4. For more information, visit www.LWRCF.org or call 941-208-6799. The Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation accepts nominations annually for the C. John A. Clarke Humanitarian of the Year Award. This prestigious award is in recognition of John Clarke’s lifelong dedication to humanitarian ideals that have perpetuated the high ethical, moral, and professional standards that epitomize his life. The foundation will honor an individual who has – or individuals who have—made outstanding, sustained, and unselfish contributions to community enrichment and whose commitment and dedication exemplify the ideal of service to the community. Past recipients include John Clarke, Don O’Leary, Pat Neal, Lorrain and Dick Vitale, Darrell Turner, Stuart J. Ruth, Bob and Billie Delaney, Lou and AnnMarie Marinaccio, Col. John W. Saputo, Robert Rosinsky, Lee Wetherington, Donald and Vanessa Baugh, Rick Fawley, John Fain and Angela Massaro-Fain, Diane Brune, Joe and Barbra Najmy, Robert Smith, and the 2023 winner Ted Lendenberg. In 2023, the Junior Humanitarian of the Year award was established. As with the tradition of the prestigious Humanitarian of the Year Award, this award honors a youth that embodies the spirit of philanthropy in their daily lives. In 2023, LWRCF honored Amy Kwakye-Amoah, an outstanding senior at the Out of Door Academy in Lakewood Ranch, along with two finalists, Brayan Hernandez-Valez and Marcela Hymes. The vision of the Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation is to use the power of giving to serve the community. Founded in 2000, LWRCF’s mission is to enhance the quality of life in our communities by responding to needs, granting funds, and building lasting relationships. Over the past 20+ years, LWRCF has given more than $1.53 million to 140 deserving nonprofits. For more information, visit www.LWRCF.org, email info@LWRCF.org, or call 941-208-6799. 

Gulf Coast Community Foundation’s Rapid Response Fund has awarded a $25,000 grant to Community Assisted and Supported Living, Inc. (CASL) to provide critical mental health support and life-sustaining services, including housing, to its permanent supportive housing clients in Sarasota and Charlotte Counties. CASL, and many of the residents it supports, currently are facing significant financial challenges due to the damage caused by Hurricane Milton, compounded by the prior impacts of Hurricanes Helene and Debbie.CASL’s primary expenses include the need for additional staff time and resources to meet the heightened needs of its clients, many of whom are dealing with exacerbated mental health conditions, emotional trauma, and the challenges of managing substance use during this crisis. Staff are working to provide essential case management, access to counseling, and emergency support to clients, while coordinating services and supplies to ensure their well-being.In addition to mental health and support services, CASL is grappling with property damage to several of its housing units, requiring repairs, while CASL works to maintain the residents within the properties. CASL will cover financial support of residents, costs for smaller repairs that would fall below the insurance threshold, and after-hours staff time. CASL is also facing increased costs for necessities such as food, clothing, and medical care, while investing in debris removal, mold prevention, and structural repairs to ensure safe access to its properties. This grant from Gulf Coast Community Foundation will be instrumental in helping CASL continue providing vital services to some of the most vulnerable members of the community during this challenging time. 

The Peanut Butter Challenge is an annual jar collection for local food pantries hosted by UF/IFAS Extension and Florida A&M University (FAMU) Cooperative Extension. Launched in the Florida Panhandle counties in 2012, it is again spreading statewide this year. Unopened jars of peanut butter can be donated to the Manatee County Extension office, located at 1303 17th St W, Palmetto, FL, from Oct. 1-31. You can also follow along on social media, at LINK(S). Coordinated by UF/IFAS Extension and FAMU faculty, staff and volunteers, the competition among counties – for bragging rights only – was conceived as a way to feed hungry families ahead of the holidays in addition to promoting a Florida-grown crop. The peanut, which is produced mainly throughout the northern regions of the state, contributed $137 million to the state economy in 2023, according to the Florida Agricultural Statistics Service. Last year’s Peanut Butter Challenge collected a total of 27,769 pounds of the nutritious spread from 44 Florida counties. "This program grows each year through grassroots community support and simple word of mouth,” said Jennifer Bearden, agricultural agent for UF/IFAS Extension Okaloosa County and co-organizer of the Challenge this year. “I love that we had our partners at FAMU join in the friendly competition last year. It’s such a great way to highlight not only the importance of the crop to our agriculture industry, but also the nutritional value peanuts can offer our neighbors who are food-insecure.” To join or partner with Manatee County’s collection this year, call (941) 722-4524. 

Safe Children Coalition has recently announced its 2025 Champions for Children: philanthropists Keith Monda and Veronica Brady, Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation President | CEO Teri A Hansen, and Bridge A Life Executive Director Jody Jester. These individuals, who have been chosen for their contributions to caring for children in our community as well as for their support and advocacy on behalf of Safe Children Coalition, will be honored during SCC's third annual Giving Breakfast on March 27, 2025. 

The Florida Center for Early Childhood announces its inaugural “Wonder Gala,” a newly reimagined fundraiser poised to make an even greater impact than its predecessor, the Winter Gala. The event will take place December 6, 6:30 p.m., at The Ora, 578 McIntosh Road, Sarasota. Individual tickets are $375, and a variety of sponsorship opportunities are still available. To learn more or to purchase tickets, visit TheFloridaCenter.org or call 941-371-8820. 

Pictured: Students and their teacher at The Florida Center's Starfish Academy in Sarasota.

Sunshine From Darkness, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the funding of local mental health services and programs and mental health research, has announced its 2025 Inspiring Hope Dinner program. The organization’s annual fundraising event will take place on Friday, January 17, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. at the Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota (1111 Ritz Carlton Drive). This evening promises to be one of inspiration, connection, and hope, while raising critical funds for youth mental health initiatives. The keynote speaker this year is educator and Broadway performer Dr. Chester Gregory, who turned personal tragedy and internal struggles into motivation for promoting mental wellness. After a transformative experience through therapy allowed him to navigate self-doubt and imposter syndrome, Gregory recognized the importance of community in the healing process. He launched THE C.H.E.S.S. BOARD! (Collectively Healing Every Single Soul) with the belief that mental health is a journey no one should have to walk alone. The evening – with the theme "Creating a Spark" – will also feature the bestowing of the 2025 Lee and Bob Peterson Legacy Award to devoted supporter Elisabeth Waters, in honor of her extraordinary contributions. Guests will witness powerful testimonials by community members and participants from Sunshine From Darkness-supported programs, participate in a lively paddle raise, and enjoy dancing to the live music of Quintessence as well as the special performance by Gregory. Proceeds from this year’s event will benefit two Sunshine from Darkness initiatives: enhanced “Blue Door Services,” which focus on empowering youth through emotional literacy, and youth mental health research, to discover impactful mental health treatments and explore mental health disorders.Nearly 370 were in attendance for the Inspiring Hope Dinner in January of 2024. The event grossed more than $165,000, with proceeds designated for Sunshine From Darkness’s Blue Door Services and youth mental health research. Founded as a subsidiary of the Lee and Bob Peterson Foundation, Sunshine From Darkness hosts events throughout the year that bring mental health and addiction awareness and education to the forefront of the community, providing professionals and philanthropists with the opportunity to engage with the broader mental health community. Its mission is to enhance and promote mental health wellness in our community. Co-chairs are Amie Austin, Ph.D. and daughter Amara Oliva, Sydney and Madison Koffman, and Kelvin and Cindy Foster. Tickets are $350 and sponsorships are still available. Visit sunshinefromdarkness.org or call 941-504-6717 for more information. 

Pictured: Chester Gregory. Photo courtesty of Sunshine From Darkness.

In response to the devastation caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, Manatee Community Foundation (MCF) has partnered with key community organizations and national corporations to provide critical rapid relief and long-term recovery efforts. Together with organizations like the Early Learning Coalition, Meals on Wheels Plus, Family Initiative, Hope Florida, and support from corporate partners like Mosaic and FPL, MCF is addressing both the urgent needs of those affected and planning for sustained community resilience alongside Manatee County government. Immediate Needs Addressed: The impacts of Hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton disrupted food security, housing, employment and life as we know it, across Manatee County. MCF immediately activated its Disaster Relief Fund, and with the support of its donor families, issued dozens of emergent grants to nonprofit organizations delivering life-sustaining support to affected communities. One of the areas that felt the greatest impact is Anna Maria Island, where the community’s only childcare center was destroyed post Hurricane Helene. MCF and the Early Learning Coalition immediately issued grants to temporarily relocate the childcare facility to the Center of Anna Maria Island, ensuring that families have continued access to these essential services​​. Simultaneously, MCF worked hand in hand with Meals On Wheels Plus to fund and deliver much needed water, food, and cleaning supplies across nearly all mobile home estates throughout the county post Hurricane Milton. MCF also launched a survey designed to capture the immediate and long-term needs of the many nonprofit partners supporting those in need. MCF’s Disaster Relief Fund is actively channeling resources to provide direct support. Beyond The immediate focus is on distributing cleaning supplies, food, and essentials to affected residents and first responders, MCF was honored to host Family Initiatives onsite to distribute much needed resources to foster care and adoptive families. Additionally, MCF has compiled a critical resource guide for citizens and county officials and assisted gathering volunteers and Mosaic funded the provision of food so they could conduct door-to-door needs assessments throughout the community. Partnerships for Recovery - Key partnerships are enabling MCF to extend its reach. The Knight Foundation has contributed $100,000, and Mosaic $50,000, while local fundraising efforts have brought in an additional $12,000 for relief and recovery thus far​. MCF has also Southern Smoke Foundation and the Realtors Association to provide direct financial support to displaced families​. MCF has issued grants to local nonprofits in hard-hit areas like Anna Maria Island, Myakka, Rubonia, Parrish, and Palmetto, allowing organizations to meet immediate needs while preparing for the long-term rebuilding process​. Looking Ahead: Long-Term Recovery and Support: As Manatee County begins its recovery, MCF is focused on sustainable efforts. The Foundation has initiated convening with community leaders to assess ongoing needs in affected areas, with a goal of not only restoring what was lost, but ensuring these communities are better prepared for future storms​. If you need assistance, or want to support those who are, visit www.ManateeCF.org.

Pictured: Meal and Cleaning Supply Distribution at Mobile Home Parks. Courtesy of MCF.

Sarasota Memorial Research Institute and First Physicians Group urologic surgeon Robert Carey, MD, are participating in a research study evaluating a new diagnostic product designed to provide more detailed images of prostate cancer tumors and accurate staging of the cancer prior to treatment. Accurate staging is critical in guiding treatment decisions, especially when recommending surgical options, said Carey, the local investigator in the multi-state clinical trial. 

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