SRQ DAILY Mar 26, 2025
Wednesday Philanthropy Edition
"We decided to try and activate the community by spreading kindness and gratitude to all the wonderful people that we get to experience every day."
The Gulf Coast Community Foundation (GCCF) believes that every person in our community matters, and they’re launching a region-wide movement to spread this important message. From March 24-30, GCCF invites everyone in the region to participate by sharing YOU MATTER cards – a simple yet powerful way to brighten someone's day and spark a ripple of kindness. The foundation will distribute these cards to donors, nonprofit partners and the general public.
Here's how it works: Simply give a card to anyone who could use a little encouragement. Then, you can share your story by scanning the QR code on the card to join the YOU MATTER Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/1711979363087897and inspire others with your act of kindness!
“This year we wanted to do something focused on kindness. So, we decided to try and activate the community by spreading kindness and gratitude to all the wonderful people that we get to experience every day,” explains Director of Brand Engagement for GCCF, Kelly Borgia.
The inspiration for the campaign came from Jennifer Johnston, GCCF’s Director of Community Leadership, and her mental health initiative, alongside the generosity of an anonymous donor who funded a project aimed at helping human service organizations become trauma-informed. This project, known as Project Heal, provides organizations with the resources and training needed to better support those they serve. When the first workshops and gatherings were launched for the initial cohort, the team created small paper hearts with the words “you matter” written on them. “These simple construction paper hearts were given to everyone participating, and the response was really positive,” recalls Borgia.
Inspired by the impact of these small gestures, Borgia wanted to find a way to spread kindness on a larger scale. After conducting some research, she created the YOU MATTER kindness campaign. To launch the campaign, Borgia and her team selected 12 nonprofit partners serving diverse communities. They delivered kindness baskets filled with Kind bars, YOU MATTER cards and other small gifts, intending to inspire these organizations to activate their own teams.
Borgia herself tested the campaign’s potential by giving a YOU MATTER card to the barista who prepared her morning coffee, telling them how much she appreciated them. “My hope is that this small act helped brighten their day,” she says.
Join the Gulf Coast team at Embracing Our Difference’s “Celebration of Kindness” event at Bayfront Park in downtown Sarasota on Sunday, March 30, from 12–3pm. Come celebrate kindness, diversity, and the incredible people who make our community shine! 
Pictured: Baskets like this were delivered to nonprofit organizations to inspire teams to spread kindness during the YOU MATTER campaign. Photo by Barbie Heit.
Sarasota Jewish Theatre is proud to honor longtime Sarasota arts advocate Nancy Roucher on Tuesday, April 22, 11:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., during a luncheon at Michael’s On East in Sarasota. This special event will bring together friends, colleagues, and community members to celebrate Roucher’s incredible impact on Sarasota’s arts scene. To purchase tickets ($100), and for more information, visit SarasotaJewishTheatre.org.
Selby Gardens is pleased to announce that Phase Two of its transformative three-phase master plan for the Downtown Sarasota campus has reached 82% of the necessary funding, with a grand total of over $114 million raised for the entire project. Building on the success of Phase One, this next phase will further enhance Selby Gardens’ Downtown Sarasota campus, securing its resilience and expanding its beauty, research facilities, and educational offerings for the community and visitors from around the world. The capital goal for Phase Two stands at $60.9 million. $50 million has now been raised, which is 82% of the goal. The cumulative total of funds raised for both Phases One and Two has reached over the $114 million mark, including more than $8.2 million for endowment with 99% percent of all funds coming from private philanthropy.
Each year, SRQ Media invites the community to nominate individuals with hearts of giving who have made a significant impact with local nonprofit organizations — from volunteers and board members to individual staff members and donors. This year, attendees were thrilled to be together as we recognized these individuals at our annual Giving Coast and Good Hero Awards luncheon and panel discussion on Tuesday, January 28 at Michael’s on East in Sarasota. In the coming weeks, we are happy to feature each of the ten honorees in our Wednesday Philanthropic edition of SRQ Daily.
Today we are recognizing one of three Storm Heroes, a category of hero in our ceremony. The nominator of our first Storm Hero recounts the selflessness shown during hurricane Milton “After exhausting hours/days of hurricane debris cleanup from Hurricane Helene, I decided to evacuate from SRQ to NYC prior to Hurricane Milton. Unfortunately, Milton's tremendous hurricane winds destroyed structures, while toppling a 50-year-old ficus tree approximately four stories high in our front yard which uprooted the concrete driveway and ripped apart the sewer line. Kari Jo rode her bike all the way to Siesta Key to update me on the damages at my childhood home. She called me when she arrived. I never asked; she simply did it out of the goodness of her heart!" Her nominator notes. “Rebuilding our Siesta Key home may take a year or more; however, I will be forever grateful for Kari-Jo Koshes–a storm trooper and hero! Hurricane hugs to Kari-Jo, if there is such a thing as "hurricane hugs" (which I coined because this phrase makes hurricane cleanup a bit more comforting."
Pictured: (l-r) Kari Jo Koshes with Wes Roberts, Executive Publisher, SRQ Magazine. Photo by Wyatt Kostygan.
First up, see horses and riders from around the world take on the thrill of three-day eventing at The Event at TerraNova on March 29th and 30th! Cheer them on as they tackle huge obstacles, cross water, and navigate different terrain on the cross-country course, then head back to the arena where power and speed take center stage in show jumping. Visit the following weekend for dressage on April 5th - often referred to as the ballet of equestrian sports - this internationally recognized dressage competition showcases athleticism to the highest degree! VIP Brunch tickets are on sale now for both events! Your table in the pavilion includes a gourmet brunch buffet, preferred parking, and access to exclusive ringside lounges. Get tickets: General admission is free!
The Florida Camera Club Council (FCCC) will host its annual statewide Photography Conference at Manatee Technical College in Bradenton, FL, from March 28-30, 2025. Founded in 1959, the FCCC is a nonprofit organization that unites approximately 51 camera clubs from across Florida. The Council’s mission is to enhance its members' photography skills through a variety of resources, including idea exchanges, competitions, technical Zoom presentations, and its signature annual conference.
Robert Gibbs is considered one of the foremost urban retail planners in America. For more than two decades, his expertise has been sought by some of the most respected mayors, renowned architects, and successful real-estate developers in the country. Profiled in The New York Times and The Atlantic, Gibbs is said, “to have a sensibility unlike anything possessed by the urban planners who usually design downtown-renewal efforts.” He is also a founder and recognized leader in the Congress for the New Urbanism, having pioneered the implementation of its sustainable principles of Traditional Town Planning as an antidote to suburban sprawl. For the past 20 years, Gibbs has taught “Urban Retail Planning” at the Harvard Graduate School of Design Executive Education program. He has been active in developing innovative methods for applying traditional urban planning principles to more than 500 new town centers, cities and universities across the Americas and Pacific Rim. Gibbs lectures frequently throughout the country, is the author of Principles of Urban Retail Planning and has contributed to numerous books and publications. In January 2025 Hoyt Architecture Lab opened the 2025 Urban Studies Speaker Series with Jarrett Walker, urban transit expert and author of Human Transit: How Clearer Thinking about Public Transit Can Enrich Our Communities and Our Lives. Upcoming scheduled speakers in the 2025 Urban Studies Speaker Series line up include Chuck Marohn (founder and president of Strong Towns) and traffic engineer Wes Marshall (author of Killed by a Traffic Engineer.) Sponsored by the Downtown Improvement District (DID). Media Sponsor: SRQ MEDIA.
Aloft Sarasota Hotel, 1401 Ringling Boulevard Sarasota
Spearheaded by community advocate Sheila Birnbaum, the agency will be collecting donations of new books for children ages 5 and under to promote the importance of literacy. The books will be distributed to the children and families enrolled with Children First, as well as distributed to the agency’s local nonprofit and education partners.Children First, Inc., the exclusive provider of Head Start and Early Head Start services for Sarasota County, kicked off its second annual “Today a Reader, Tomorrow a Leader” book drive on February 1. Spearheaded by community advocate Sheila Birnbaum, the agency will be collecting donations of new books for children ages 5 and under to promote the importance of literacy. The books will be distributed to the children and families enrolled with Children First, as well as distributed to the agency’s local nonprofit and education partners.
Children First, 1723 N Orange Ave, Sarasota, FL 34234
Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center (SPARCC) is thrilled to announce its highly anticipated annual SPARCC Runway Fashion Show, "Sarasota Seascape – Tides and Trends," set to take place on Friday, March 28, 2025, at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota. This premier fundraiser combines style and purpose, as all proceeds directly benefit SPARCC's mission to provide a safe haven and promote empowerment, awareness, and social change to end domestic and sexual violence.
The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota, 1111 Ritz Carlton Dr, Sarasota, FL 34236
After stormy weather postponed its January grand opening, Embracing Our Differences has reimagined the celebration as "Embracing Our Community: A Celebration of Kindness."; This free event takes place on Sunday, March 30, from noon to 3 p.m., at Sarasota’s Bayfront Park. The celebration features three performances by the phenomenal musician, singer and songwriter, Shelby Sol. Local arts and education organizations will be in attendence.
Sarasota's Bayfront Park, 5 Bayfront Dr, Sarasota, FL 34236
Join All Faiths Food Bank to kick off the 2025 Campaign Against Summer Hunger with a walk around Nathan Benderson Park. The walk will mark the start of a six-week-long campaign to raise funds to feed children at risk of hunger over the summer.
Nathan Benderson Park, 5851 Nathan Benderson Circle, Sarasota, FL, 34235
We invite you to join us for the 12th Annual Blue Ties and Butterflies, an inspiring night of bringing transformational healing to victims of child abuse. This year’s gala will be an unforgettable experience as we celebrate 45 years of protecting the innocence of childhood. The evening will begin with a cocktail reception to be followed with a delicious dinner, dazzling live and silent auctions, and a mission moment with a survivor who resonates hope and empowerment. The celebration will culminate in music and dancing as we rejoice in all that’s been made possible in the prevention, intervention, and treatment of child abuse. We encourage guests to dress in cocktail or formal attire.
The Ritz Carlton, 1111 Ritz Carlton Dr, Sarasota, FL
Lace up your walking shoes and join us for an opportunity to meet and walk with other members. Feel free to bring a friend who wants to learn more about Impact100 SRQ. All walks take place weather permitting.
Downtown Sarasota - Bayfront Park, 5 Bayfront Drive Sarasota, FL 34236
Learn to have the confidence to own every room and conversation, whether its with a client or a partner. This interactive workshop includes tips for dressing, body language, conversation queues, and follow up that will help you approach every situation with confidence and grace.
Sarasota Chamber, 1945 Fruitville Rd, Sarasota, FL 34236
The Humane Society of Sarasota County (HSSC) will host its annual fundraising luncheon, PAWS 2025: Mission Pawssible at the Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota. You don't want to miss the fun-filled annual event! At Mission Pawssible, guests will be immersed in an exciting, interactive experience with animal “agents” on a mission to find their forever homes. It will be an inspiring afternoon featuring live entertainment, heartwarming stories, and an opportunity to support the lifesaving work of HSSC. It’s a chance to make a real impact on the lives of homeless cats and dogs. The mission is simple: raise crucial funds to help provide shelter, medical care, food, and enrichment activities for more than 3,000 animals yearly.
Ritz-Carlton Sarasota, 1111 Ritz Carlton Dr, Sarasota, FL 34236
With Peter Rothstein, producing artistic director of Asolo Repertory Theatre. When Peter Rothstein stepped into Michael Donald Edwards’ shoes, his vast experience gave him just the background he needed to guide Asolo Rep to exciting new heights. Rothstein will share his vision for Asolo’s future.
Sarasota Yacht Club, 1100 John Ringling Blvd, Sarasota, FL 34236
Perlman Music Program Suncoast and Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe present a unique collaboration featuring the Renaissance String Quartet and WBTT singers Jacob Smith and Raleigh Mosley. The evening features a quartet recital followed by a collaborative performance of selections from “Ransom Place,” an operetta re-orchestrated for string quartet and voice.
Various Locations, Various Location
We’re back with the incredible 2025 TGIF | BEST OF SRQ LOCAL PARTY celebrating the winners recognized and voted on by our readers in SRQ Magazine’s epic 2025 Best of SRQ Local Readers Competition. Join us on Friday, April 4, 2025, from 5-8 pm at the Aloft Hotel in Downtown Sarasota to taste and experience some of this year's "Best of SRQ Local" restaurants and cocktails. Share a hip evening with our area’s passionate localvores and foodies.
Aloft Sarasota, 1401 Ringling Blvd, Sarasota, FL 34236
Selby Gardens presents an exciting exhibition that explores the deep and meaningful connection between musician George Harrison – best known as the lead guitarist of the legendary rock band The Beatles – and the pastime of gardening, which became his greatest passion. The resulting multi-sensory experience highlights George’s connection to nature and celebrates his life and legacy through the power of plants!
Downtown Sarasota Campus, 1534 Mound Street Sarasota, FL 34236
Celebrate the women who have captivated the world with their dynamic personalities and fierce vocals. Starting in the 1960’s, female artists such as Cher, Barbra Streisand, Whitney Houston, and Celine Dion have been pushing boundaries and shattering records with hits such as, “Turn Back Time,” “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” and “My Heart Will Go On.”
John C. Court Cabaret, 1265 1st St, Sarasota, FL 34236
The Women’s Resource Center (WRC) announces “Creating Your Success,” a dynamic six-part workshop series designed to empower women with personal and professional growth tools. From mastering stress and improving communication to developing negotiation skills and building better relationships, this free series is a comprehensive roadmap for achieving success and balance in life.
Women's Resource Center Sarasota, 340 S Tuttle Ave, Sarasota, FL 34237
The Florida Suncoast Watercolor Society was founded in 1983 with 17 Charter members and 24 Associate members. The original purpose to foster the advancement of and promote excellence in the art of watermedia painting remains their focus today. As of August 2023, 90 of their 170 members attained Signature status and 27 are Master Signature members.
ArtCenter Manatee, 209 9th St West Bradenton, FL 34205
Works by Dominic Avant, a professor at Ringling College, the artist and educator blends impressionism and realism to create dramatic, light-filled works. The exhibit is part of “Beyond Regional Boundaries,” an initiative created to amplify the voices of Black artists across the Sarasota-Manatee region. Suncoast Black Arts Collaborative’s (SBAC) “Beyond Regional Boundaries” initiative continues its powerful exploration of Black artistry with a dynamic exhibition, “Celebrations of Form and Grace." An opening reception, with the artist, is Monday, March 10, 5-6:30 p.m., in the Selby Lobby.
Sarasota Opera, 61 N Pineapple Ave. Sarasota, FL 34236
Every Wednesdat at 6 pm a 5k Fun Run starts and ends at 99 Bottles. Course runs through Downtown Sarasota and along the Bayfront, all skill levels, all fun. Each time you finish a run, you must get yout card punched to get an attendance credit and receive 99 bottles prizes. All runners are expected to obey all traffic laws, be courteous to other runners, pedestrians, cyclists, animals, etc.on the route and to know your limits - running and/or drinking!
99 Bottles, 1445 2nd St Sarasota, FL 34236
Introducing, Booked for Lunch: Supporting Manatee Libraries 2025. The Library Foundation of Manatee County is thrilled to announce our return to our in-person author events this spring! Join us for a luncheon celebrating and supporting Manatee County's wonderful public library system. While guests enjoy a beautiful lunch prepared by GROVE, our Library Services Manager, Tammy Parrott, will moderate a fireside chat with our special guest, Jenna Bush Hager. Attendees will have an opportunity to get a photo with and/or a book signed by Jenna at the conclusion of the luncheon.
Grove Ballroom, 0670 Boardwalk Loop, Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202
Architecture Sarasota’s prestigious annual award honors today’s pioneers and champions of innovative design within the global built environment and commemorates the legacy of Philip Hanson Hiss III (1910-1988). Hiss was a driving force and major proponent of the Sarasota School of Architecture. Past Award recipients include architects Toshiko Mori and Lord Norman Foster.
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Downtown Sarasota, 1534 Mound Street Sarasota, FL 34236
SRQ DAILY is produced by SRQ | The Magazine. Note: The views and opinions expressed in the Saturday Perspectives Edition and in the Letters department of SRQ DAILY are those of the author(s) and do not imply endorsement by SRQ Media. Senior Editor Jacob Ogles edits the Saturday Perspective Edition, Letters and Guest Contributor columns.In the CocoTele department, SRQ DAILY is providing excerpts from news releases as a public service. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by SRQ DAILY. The views expressed by individuals are their own and their appearance in this section does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. For rates on SRQ DAILY banner advertising and sponsored content opportunities, please contact Ashley Ryan Cannon at 941-365-7702 x211 or via email |
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