Celebrate the end of hurricane season with Compound Boardshop on Saturday, November 30 from 5:00-8:00pm. The “End of Hurricane Season Blow Out Party" will be held at the Compound Boardshop and will mark a moment of celebration, reflection and gratitude for the local community after the challenging hurricane season.

From the flooding rains in June to the damage caused by Tropical Storm Debby, the storm surge from Hurricane Helene and the devastating impacts of Hurricane Milton, our region has shown remarkable strength and resilience and this event will serve as a tribute to that, honoring the spirit of togetherness and the collective efforts to rebuild and support one another.

The entertainment will include a special appearance by Jim Cantore, renowned meteorologist from The Weather Channel, live Music by Jah Movement, as well as games, giveaways and a live auction. Food and drinks are made possible through generous support from local businesses like Simon’s Coffee House, Origin Pizza, Peachey’s Baking Co, Calusa Brewing and Tap & Toast Mobile Bar.

“We’ve been fortunate to be a part of this community for the last 21 years and this party is our way of giving back and celebrating the unwavering support we’ve received over the years,” says Compound Boardshop owner, Jacob Shields. “By coming together as a community, we believe we can help lift each other up after such a trying year. We are incredibly grateful for the continued support from our community and look forward to sharing an evening of celebration and camaraderie with everyone.”

The End of Hurricane Season Blow Out Party is free and open to all. Donations to local relief efforts will be accepted, and all proceeds from the evening will go toward supporting recovery initiatives for those affected by the storm.

For more information visit www.compoundboardshop.com or contact the Compound #(941) 923-0430.  

Jessica’s Organic Farm, one of Florida’s original organic growers, reached out to the Sarasota-Bradenton community and all of Florida for help after substantial crop damage by Hurricane Milton. A GoFundMe campaign, titled “Save Jessica’s,” was launched to raise funds to assist with recovery efforts. The campaign has already raised over $10,000, more than 2/3 of a $15k milestone goal. For over 45 years, Jessica’s Organic Farm has been a staple in the Sarasota area. The farm has provided high-quality, organic, fresh-cut lettuces, greens, roots and other veggies for local families, co-ops and restaurants since 1979. Beyond selling organic produce, the farm has made significant contributions to the community, donating over 50,000 lbs of fresh produce to food banks in prior years, and supporting gardening programs for local schools. On October 9, 2024, Hurricane Milton passed directly over the farm, causing severe crop damage. Due to careful preparation, there was only minimal damage to structures and infrastructure, but Jessica’s estimates its total crop losses at over $25,000 in retail value. “We've already raised initial emergency funds, keeping our team paid during this crucial recovery period, and we’re very grateful to the community,” reads a statement from Jessica’s. “The fields can be replanted, and trees will regrow, but we're now turning to the community to raise at least $15,000, and ideally the full $25,000. This will secure our operations through the end of the season – and hopefully for years to come. We've had a big response thus far, both at our market and online!”
Jessica’s Organic Farm is more than just a place to buy local, organic produce. It is a community resource. The farm has supported numerous local initiatives and organizations, including partnering with a local non-profit to distribute fresh food to over 400 needy families during COVID-19. Jessica’s Organic Farm has been a trusted source of organic food for decades, and with the community’s help, they can recover from this challenging setback. Every contribution makes a difference, and the farm extends its heartfelt thanks to all who extend their support. If you would like to support Jessica's: visit the GoFundMe page: gofundme.com/f/save-jessicas, share the campaign on social media and encourage friends and family to support. Printable flyers are available and consider making a donation: Jessica’s Organic Farm, 4180 47th St, Sarasota, FL 34235 (saves on fees). 

The Board of Directors of the Circus Arts Conservatory has officially put its stamp of approval on a long-planned leadership transition: CAC executive Jennifer Mitchell has been named CEO & President. Originally hired by the CAC in 2008 (when it was still known as Circus Sarasota) as the Marketing & Public Relations Coordinator, she was then promoted to Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, a role in which she served for over a decade. Founders Dolly Jacobs and Pedro Reis will continue to provide guidance and support, contributing to the innovation, brand recognition, and future growth of the CAC.  The organization has also moved its administrative offices just off the CAC campus due to damage suffered during multiple flooding events this past summer. A complete site review of campus structural needs is currently underway. For more about the CAC, visit circusarts.org. 

The back-to-back hurricanes last month were hard on many arts organizations in the Sarasota community, including The Ringling. Yet, our story is one of resiliency and rebirth. Many of you have asked how you can help us. You can support us during Giving Tuesday, a global generosity movement, unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world. Your support will allow us to provide the Bayfront Gardens with the nurture, care, and attention needed to continue to be a place of wonder, curiosity, and peace for our community. Support The Ringling on GivingTuesday, December 3, 2024. 

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Congressman Vern Buchanan announced today that his bill, the VETS Credit Act 2.0 (H.R. 4850), which will expand eligibility for G.I. Bill benefits for student veterans has passed the U.S. House. His legislation was included as part of a broader bill, the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act. The new bill expands upon a Buchanan proposal passed into law last Congress, the Veterans Eligible to Transfer School (VETS) Credit Act, which aims to help student veterans by ensuring they are able to quickly and easily transfer their course credits to another institution should their school close or program end suddenly. Specifically, Buchanan’s bill required the VA to work with students and explain the school credit transfer process and to provide them with a certificate of eligibility from the VA providing proof of their restored benefits. Buchanan subsequently introduced the VETS Credit Act 2.0 this Congress to ensure the VA provides the same help and services to eligible student veterans whose schools closed or programs ended after August 1, 2021.Buchanan has a proven record of fighting for veterans and military families. On top of the passage of the VETS Credit Act, a Buchanan measure to reduce military training accidents following the death of Bradenton soldier Nicolas Panipinto was enacted into law in December 2021. Buchanan also reintroduced the Veterans Overmedication and Suicide Prevention Act, which requires the VA to study the link between addictive opioids and the alarmingly high rate of suicides among veterans. Buchanan is currently a cosponsor of the National POW/MIA Memorial and Museum Act.  

As the holidays approach, most of us are looking forward to gift exchanges and delicious meals shared with friends and loved ones. But for too many of our neighbors – especially with the devastation suffered during the recent hurricanes – financial challenges mean that they could be facing empty plates. Since its founding in 1989, All Faiths Food Bank has provided thousands of Thanksgiving turkeys during the holidays, steadily expanding its efforts through the ThankFULL Tummies campaign. This year, the organization’s goal is to distribute more than 13,000 turkeys and sides, and 3.6 million holiday meals. But we simply can’t do it without you. With a donation to All Faiths Food Bank’s ThankFULL campaign, you make it possible for our neighbors to enjoy a festive holiday celebration – complete with a healthy, delicious meal. Let’s come together to show we ALL have a reason to be “ThankFULL” this holiday season. Visit allfaithsfoodbank.org or call 941-379-6333 to learn more. 

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Twenty-three dynamic community leaders from across the region graduated on Friday, November 1 from the Fall 2024 Gulf Coast Board Institute. The group made up the 18th class to participate in Gulf Coast Community Foundation’s (Gulf Coast’s) successful longstanding board development initiative. The following individuals who completed the 2024 Fall Gulf Coast Board Institute are Annie Berkness, ALSO Youth; Nicole Britton, The Twig Cares, Venice YMCA; James Caldwell, Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast; Nicole Carney, United Way of South Sarasota County; Joanna Cumiskey, Charlotte County Society for Human Resource Management (CCSHRM); Michael Donnellan, Venice Area Historical Society; Tom Edwards, SRQ Strong, Sarasota County School Board; Chaplain Kelvin Foster, American Red Cross, Resilient Retreat; Christine Griffith, Venice Art Center & Laurel Civic Association; Beth Hirsch, Asolo Repertory Theatre; Deb Metzler, Literacy Volunteers of South Sarasota County; Peter Offringa, The Hermitage Artist Retreat, Bridge Angel Investors, 26 West; Jackson Pitts, Florida Highway Patrol Auxiliary; Eli Rapaport, Jewish Congregation of Venice; Rita Rikka-Williams, Literacy Volunteers of South Sarasota County; Ferris Rinko, Jewish Congregation of Venice; Bruce Roorda, Bay Point Church; Robin Schoenewald, Jewish Congregation of Venice Sisterhood; Tracy Spalsbury, Spalsbury Marketing, LLC; Gareth Stevenson, Easterseals Southwest Florida; Jaime Still, Sarasota Contemporary Dance, Urbanite Theatre; Kristen Theisen, Amplify Connections Consulting; Sandi Wall, Sarasota Rising. Gulf Coast is now accepting applications for its Winter 2025 Gulf Coast Board Institute (GCBI). The online application and overview for the program are available at www.gulfcoastcf.org/GCBI. This high-demand program is delivered through Gulf Coast’s Invest In Incredible consultants to active and prospective nonprofit board members in the region. The deadline to apply for this governance training series is Sunday, December 15. Thus far, over 450 individuals have graduated from Gulf Coast Board Institute. The group will participate in four training sessions in February 2025 at Gulf Coast’s Sarasota Philanthropy Center. Topics will include fundamentals of nonprofit board governance, becoming an ambassador for your organization, financial and legal oversight responsibilities, fundraising and resource development, and more. The training is led by certified consultants who are part of Gulf Coast’s Invest in Incredible nonprofit capacity-building initiative. Participants will be selected through a competitive process with the intent of creating a group of individuals with a variety of experiences. Gulf Coast provides all training and resources at no cost to participants in exchange for their commitment to serve as advocates for good board governance in current and future nonprofit board roles. Applicants are encouraged to be current, active board members at a nonprofit in the region, although prospective board members will also be considered. Because of strong demand for this high-quality training opportunity, applicants also must sign a commitment that they will attend all four days of training if selected. 

Pictured: Photo Caption: Graduates from the 2024 Fall Gulf Coast Board Institute gather outside of Gulf Coast Community Foundation's Venice Headquarters.

The Patterson Foundation is providing a $250,000 contribution to the Center for Disaster Philanthropy’s (CDP) Atlantic Hurricane Season Recovery Fund. This gift will strengthen CDP’s support for medium- and long-term recovery efforts in communities in the months and years following severe storms. The current Atlantic hurricane season has produced 17 named storms to date, including five major hurricanes. The storms have killed hundreds and will cost billions in damage and economic loss across the U.S. The CDP Atlantic Hurricane Season Recovery Fund is focused on medium- and long-term needs in the impacted regions, such as rebuilding homes and livelihoods, meeting the needs of more vulnerable populations, supporting mental health services, and addressing other urgent challenges identified by the affected communities that arise as recovery efforts progress. According to CDP’s State of Disaster Philanthropy report, 82 percent of all funds donated by foundations, corporations and public charities to disaster response in 2022 were for immediate relief efforts, while less than 5 percent were for long-term recovery. CDP works to connect donors with insight and information from experts in philanthropy and frontline organizations to increase donors’ impact before and after domestic and international disasters. The CDP Atlantic Hurricane Season Recovery Fund is a resource for donors interested in contributing to disaster relief and recovery efforts to give proactively. This will help ensure a more solidified medium- and long-term recovery effort. Since 2013, The Patterson Foundation has given more than $6 million to CDP for operations and recovery efforts in the aftermath of disasters around the world. This latest gift is intended to catalyze additional donations from other funders monitoring the impact of these severe storms on communities in the U.S. and abroad. To learn more about the Center for Disaster Philanthropy and to contribute to its CDP Atlantic Hurricane Season Recovery Fund, visit disasterphilanthropy.org. Please visit thepattersonfoundation.org for more information on The Patterson Foundation. 

Dunkin' Joy in Childhood Foundation recently awarded five different Tampa Bay organizations with grants, and one of them was a Sarasota-based non-profit Suncoast Charities for Children, which was awarded $10,000 to provide 2,000 meals for 1,039 at-risk preschool children over 12 months. Each classroom also engages in hands-on nutritional literacy activities that teach age-appropriate nutrition lessons, provide experiential activities and result in food for preschool children to eat.  

Resurrection House, Inc., has been awarded a $7,500 grant from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, which will empower Resurrection House to upgrade its giving platform. Called Bloomerang, it will allow Resurrection House staff to streamline donation management, automate tasks and strengthen relationships with its community of supporters. Resurrection House does not accept funding from the city, county, state or federal government. Donations from individuals, businesses, foundations and religious groups form the core of the operating budget for the day resource center. “We are so grateful to the Community Foundation of Sarasota County for granting us the funding to implement the Bloomerang Giving Platform,” said Mason Ayres, Resurrection House’s Interim Executive Director. “It will provide us a much stronger platform to build even deeper engagement with our donor community.” 

The Child Protection Center, Inc. (CPC) is awarded $90,000 from the McCune Family Foundation to support their mission of the prevention, intervention, and treatment of child abuse. Since its inception in 1980, the Child Protection Center has worked to protect thousands of children each year. The four core programs that work towards the mission of CPC include: Personal Safety and Community Awareness (PSCA), Child Protection Team (CPT), Children and Families Supervised Visitation Program (CFSVP), and Therapy programs. Last fiscal year the Child Protection Center served over 65,000 individuals. PSCA provides primary abuse prevention education to children from preschool through high school. The program also facilitates workshops on sexual child abuse prevention, internet safety, and properly identifying and reporting suspected abuse for caregivers, childcare professionals, teachers, school board staff, and the greater community. CPT is a legislatively mandated program working in partnership with the Florida Department of Children and Families and local law enforcement agencies in cases of children who are suspected victims of sexual abuse, physical abuse, and neglect. This multidisciplinary program provides expertise in evaluating allegations of abuse and neglect, assessing risk factors, and providing recommendations for interventions to protect children. CFSVP provides a safe place for children to interact with their parents. Over 70 Sarasota County citizens serve as CFSVP volunteers, who supervise visitation between children and families who have been identified as being at heightened risk of physical or emotional harm due to parenting behaviors. The Therapy programs serve children and adult survivors of child physical and sexual abuse at no cost, with a trauma treatment focus that helps them lead a healthy, restored life. 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. 

Celebrate the holiday season and help support the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots, serving Sarasota and Manatee counties. Local schools will provide musical entertainment in the Museum of Art Courtyard. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Admission to this event is free with one unwrapped toy per person. Regular admission will apply without a toy donation ( $15 Adult / $5 Child). Don't forget, toys are available for purchase in the Museum Store! Guests are encouraged to shop in the Museum Store, which has a large selection of toys under $20. Please enter through the Visitor's Pavilion.

Dec 5 and 12, 5:00pm, Museum of Art Courtyard, Free with one unwrapped toy per person. 

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As the holiday season kicks into high gear, an area foundation and church have continued to give generously to ensure that area veterans and their families can enjoy a delicious holiday meal this Thanksgiving.For many years, First United Methodist Church of Sarasota has donated turkeys and boxes of sides to be given to veterans served by Goodwill Manasota's Veterans Services program. Thanks to additional funds from the Gail Baird Foundation, the number of turkeys – along with boxes containing sides, a roasting pan, and some extra food for later – to be distributed this year will jump from 100 in 2023 to 300 this year. The food will be distributed to area veterans during the Turkeys for Troops Giveaway & Resource Fair at Goodwill’s Corporate Campus (2705 51st Ave. E., Bradenton) on Tuesday, November 26, from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. All area veterans are welcome to attend. Additionally, the Resource Fair will feature representatives from organizations dedicated to supporting veterans and their families, such as Veterans Affairs, the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs, SRQ Vets, Veterans Affairs Law, and many others. This is the second year that the Gail Baird Foundation has contributed funds toward the turkey giveaway. Goodwill’s Veterans Services program works to help eliminate barriers to employment, provide opportunities for higher-paying positions for veterans and their families, and connect veterans with needed social services. It also offers networking opportunities and emergency financial assistance – which is particularly important as already at-risk veterans continue to face challenges related to higher costs of living and the recent hurricanes. For more about Goodwill’s Veterans Services program, visit experiencegoodwill.org. 

Sarasota County Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman is pleased to announce the sheriff’s office is hosting its 8th Annual Holiday Toy Drive benefitting the 12th Judicial Circuit of Florida’s Guardian ad Litem (GAL) Program, Teen Court of Sarasota, and All Star Children’s Foundation. The toy drive has evolved into a holiday project the agency and Sarasota County citizens look forward to every year. Launched in 2017, the sheriff’s office has donated more than 15,000 gifts and $45,585 in gift cards with the assistance of agency members, residents, local businesses, and organizations. Working with the GAL program for the past seven years and partnering with Teen Court of Sarasota and All Star Children’s Foundation for the last two, children in Sarasota County have benefitted from this toy drive and the community has made it successful and helped it grow. The toy drive will provide for children ranging in age from newborn to 18 with a specific request for new, unwrapped toys and gift cards. We are unable to accept clothing or stuffed animals. The collection period begins Friday, November 29, and continues through Friday, December 13. New this year, residents can deliver gifts to two locations: the agency headquarters at 6010 Cattleridge Boulevard, Sarasota, seven days a week between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. or the South County Office at 4531 Annex Road, Venice, Monday thru Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Additionally, toys and gift cards can be ordered and delivered from our Amazon Wishlist. Please follow our social media platforms for details. 

November 14, 2024 – Manatee Community Foundation (MCF) has strengthened its commitment to local disaster recovery by awarding nearly $250,000 in critical grants through its Disaster Relief Fund following the unprecedented hurricane season and gear now to prepare for the impacts of another potential storm. Made possible by MCF’s partnership with generous donors, these funds support recovery efforts, rebuild essential facilities, and deliver aid to vulnerable families and individuals. Among the numerous grant recipients, Easterseals received $20,000 for crucial building repairs sustained in the recent hurricanes, enabling them to continue serving our special needs community. Harvest House, which provides affordable housing and hunger relief throughout Manatee County, was also awarded $20,000 for capital repairs due to hurricane damage. Additionally, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee received $10,000 for capital repairs. Other organizations which received aid are Ability to Include, Inc., Big Brothers & Big Sisters of the Suncoast, Better Together, Bradenton Women’s Club, Bridge a Life, Bring on the Ministry, The Center of Anna Maria Island, Centerstone, Centro Restauracion Pacto Eterno, Inc., The Crossings, Food Recovery, Glasser Schoenbaum Human Services Center, Guardian Angels of SW Florida, Habitat for Humanity, Keep Manatee Beautiful, Manatee Children’s Services, Meals on Wheels, Mothers Helping Mothers, Operation Warrior Resolution, Palma Sola Botanical Gardens, Parenting Matters, Praying Pelican Missions, Rosalyn Walton Education and Enrichment Services Inc, Rubonia Community Center, Samaritan Counseling, Selah Freedom, Step Up Suncoast, Inc., Take Stock in Children of Manatee County, Inc., and United Community Center. MCF is grateful to all donors and partners who have joined in these recovery efforts, enabling rapid response and sustained support for nonprofits. For more information on the Disaster Relief Fund, please visit https://manateecf.org/donors/support-our-community-after-a-disaster/. To discover more ways to invest in our community, visit www.manateecf.org.