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2020 AMBASSADORS
SPIRIT OF GIVING CHAMPIONS SHARE THEIR STORIES Philanthropically-minded companies and individuals engage with an incredibly vibrant and diverse ecosystem of nonprofit organizations powering good in Sarasota and Manatee.
ACTION AIR SARASOTA ALL FAITHS FOOD BANK BIG CAT HABITAT CAT DEPOT CHILDREN’S CANCER CENTER CIRCUS ARTS CONSERVATORY EDUCATION FOUNDATION OF SARASOTA COUNTY FLORIDA STUDIO THEATRE GOODWILL MANASOTA HUMANE SOCIETY OF MANATEE COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY OF SARASOTA COUNTY JFCS OF THE SUNCOAST MARIE SELBY BOTANICAL GARDENS MOTE MARINE LABORATORY & AQUARIUM NATE’S HONOR ANIMAL RESCUE NEW COLLEGE FOUNDATION RESILIENT RETREAT THE SARASOTA BALLET SARASOTA JUNGLE GARDENS SARASOTA MEMORIAL HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION SENIOR FRIENDSHIP CENTERS THE BISHOP MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND NATURE THE FLORIDA CENTER FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF SARASOTA-MANATEE TIGER LILY FLOWERS
IN THE SPIRIT OF GIVING CREATIVE MARKETING SECTION :: SRQ MAGAZINE DEC 2020
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ACTION AIR SARASOTA ACTION AIR OF SARASOTA HAS BEEN GIVING AWAY A FREE SERVICE THAT REDUCES COVID-19 CONTAGION RISK, ENVIRONMENTAL ALLERGENS, & IMPROVES INDOOR AIR QUALITY TO ALL OUR CUSTOMERS. In January of 2020, Action Air of Sarasota implemented this new practice, that focused on the number of high-risk individuals in our communities such as the elderly, children, and persons with chronic pulmonary disorders. We implemented this complementary Brushless Duct Cleaning & Sanitization Service which introduces a disinfecting agent into the HVAC system, ductwork, & structure’s indoor environment via the ductwork vents. It serves as a hand sanitizer treatment for your HVAC system and indoor air/surfaces. Using the same active ingredient as hospitals, the Sanitizer eliminates 99.99% of pathogens, bacteria, allergens, & other harmful microorganisms from the air and surfaces. This service, valued at $300 is offered as a complementary service to ALL our customers, while on-site, performing any service. We have maintained this free service throughout 2020 & 2021. We also offer a NASA engineered Air-Scrubber & Purification Unit. A scaled down system as used on the space shuttle, the air-scrubber is a combination of UV light, oxidizer, and deodorizer. This airscrubber is a FDA approved technology, verified by two independent university studies, as successfully eliminating 99.99% of germs, bacteria, & harmful microorganisms from indoor air & surfaces. The air-scrubber creates ionic particles that seek out harmful microbes and eliminates them. Verified by two independent studies confirms the eradication of COVID-19, pneumonia, STAPH, influenza, Streptococcus, Pseudomonas, MRSA, H1N1, SARs, & more. 4411 BEE RIDGE ROAD #506, SARASOTA, FL 34233 | 941-371-6677 | ACTIONAIRSRQ.COM
or over 25 years it has been the mission of Action Air of Sarasota to provide the highest quality HVAC products & services to all our customers throughout South West Florida, using only the most professionally courteous and qualified personnel. As a locally owned & operated business, we are completely dedicated to honestly delivering heating & cooling services, provided by our qualified staff. Our integrity is built on experienced management team & service technicians, who are never assigned sales quotas, are not commission-based, and clearly communicate to our customers which services are needed versus those recommended. Our goal is to not only meet our customer’s expectations but to exceed them each and every time by proving that, “Action Speaks Louder Than Words”!
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IN THE SPIRIT OF GIVING CREATIVE MARKETING SECTION :: SRQ MAGAZINE DEC 2012
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ALL FAITHS FOOD BANK FOR MANY OF US, THIS TIME OF YEAR BRINGS HIGH EXPECTATIONS AS WE ANTICIPATE TIME WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS, the exchange of gifts, and delicious holiday meals with the people we love. However, for those who have endured financial challenges—as well as those who are experiencing career and economic fallout more recently due to the coronavirus—the holidays will bring extra stress and pressure as budgets fall far short of holiday dreams. Even worse, while hunger has been a problem for many years in our region, the pandemic is likely to result in many more empty plates this holiday season. Since mid-March, All Faiths Food Bank has seen an overall increase in need of approximately 120%, with new clients increasing 45% at mobile pantry events. The organization has launched its “ThankFULL Tummies and Hearts” campaign, to fill plates and raise spirits this holiday season. All Faiths hopes that the ThankFULL campaign can raise enough to provide 4 million meals for those who are facing hunger. The holidays are going to be very different this year – the pandemic will likely change the way we all celebrate. But through your generosity, we can provide a joyful celebration and healthy meals for families who are struggling to put food on the table. With your help, we can ensure thankFULL tummies and hearts this holiday season.
8171 BLAIKIE COURT, SARASOTA FL 34240 | 941-379-6333 | ALLFAITHSFOODBANK.ORG
ll Faiths Food Bank is the only food bank and largest hunger relief organization in Sarasota and DeSoto counties. Together with our partners, we provide healthy solutions to end hunger in our community. A member of Feeding America and Feeding Florida, we provide millions of meals each year through robust programs and partnerships with charitable organizations in the community. In addition to food distribution, All Faiths Food Bank operates a roster of innovative direct service programs that not only solve the immediate problem of hunger but strive to end hunger by helping families and individuals gain long-term food security, better health outcomes and self-sufficiency.
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CREATIVE MARKETING SECTION :: SRQ MAGAZINE DEC 2020 IN THE SPIRIT OF GIVING
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at Depot is Sarasota’s leading feline-only free-roaming rescue, adoption, and education center recognized for excellence in serving the community and leadership in rescuing and finding homes for more than 17,000 homeless and abandoned cats and kittens since 2003. Cat Depot believes in treating every cat with humane kindness, love, and care.
TOGETHER – WE ARE CAT DEPOT! Cat Depot saves lives, finds loving homes, and provides resources and education needed to improve the destiny of homeless cats. Simply put— we serve cats and the people who love them. Never have they needed us more than in a year like 2020. With your help, our priority focus is to keep everyone safe, keep cats in homes, and keep our lifesaving programs running at full capacity: •
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Rescue: Cat Depot works daily to rescue abandoned, abused, injured, and free-roaming community/feral cats and kittens. In 2019, Cat Depot assisted with local and national rescues due to both natural and man-made disasters. Adoption: Our goal is to find a good match and loving home for every cat who enters Cat Depot. Nearly 1,400 cats and kittens found forever homes in 2019 through Cat Depot’s adoption program. Community Food Bank: Cat Depot provides food for over 500 community cats and underserved personal pets each month. Cat Care Clinic: In an effort to care for sick and injured cats and their distressed owners, Cat Depot opened an affordable care clinic in November 2014. Over 6,000 cats and kittens receive treatment each year in the Cat Care Clinic. Humane Education: Cat Depot Is continually working to offer and develop pertinent educational programs and activities that will meet the needs of both homeless cats and members of the community.
2542 17TH STREET SARASOTA, FL 34234 941-366-2404 CATDEPOT.ORG
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he Children’s Cancer Center was founded in 1974. Mac and Cecile Burnett, whose daughter Helen passed away from leukemia, and Dr. Janifer M. Judisch envisioned an organization that would help alleviate the stress of coping with a child’s life-threatening disease. The philosophy of our original founders was that when a child is diagnosed, the entire family is really diagnosed. The Children’s Cancer Center has been serving families in the Sarasota area for over 45 years and has opened its first satellite location this year. Having a permanent location here will allow these families access to more of our regular programs.
CHILDREN’S CANCER CENTER YOU CAN MAKE AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT IN THE LIVES OF LOCAL CHILDREN AND FAMILIES BATTLING PEDIATRIC CANCER. The Children’s Cancer Center exists through the generosity of individuals, foundations and businesses. Donations received by the Children’s Cancer Center fund over 24 support programs offered to all members of the family. The Children’s Cancer Center is dedicated to serving children and their families who are battling cancer or chronic blood disorders with the emotional, financial, and educational support necessary to cope with their life-threatening illness. While other existing organizations are working to find a cure tomorrow, the Children’s Cancer Center is committed to helping families cope today. The Children’s Cancer Center’s programs focus on the following areas: EMOTIONAL SUPPORT: Kids need more than medicine to be well which is why our programs allow opportunities to connect, laugh and learn. Throughout treatment, children and their families are often isolated. We have programs from respite opportunities to individual counseling, all designed to improve the coping skills of not only the child but everyone in the family. EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT: Upon receiving a pediatric cancer diagnosis, all family members can benefit from educational support. Our programs offer the entire family educational opportunities through resources, guest speakers, experts in the field, as well as tutoring and interactive learning opportunities for the parent, diagnosed child and their siblings. FINANCIAL SUPPORT: Families who care for a child with cancer incur considerable costs during the diagnostic treatment. Financial concerns often emerge as a significant factor at a time when these families already are consumed with the challenges of the diagnosis. The economic burden can have long term effects on the financial security, quality of life and future wellbeing of the entire family. This is why we provide programs with financial support to offset expenses such as rent, car payments, and electric bills as well as grocery and gas cards. CHECKS AND GIFT CARDS CAN BE MAILED TO: 1343 MAIN STREET, SARASOTA, FL 34232 CHILDRENCANCERCENTER.ORG
CREATIVE MARKETING SECTION :: SRQ MAGAZINE DEC 2020 IN THE SPIRIT OF GIVING
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THE SAILOR CIRCUS ACADEMY, A CIRCUS ARTS CONSERVATORY OUTREACH PROGRAM has transformed the lives of youth in our community for more than seven decades. It’s an empowering program and a magical experience! Students are inspired by their coaches to work hard; know the thrills of performing; feel the incredible sense of accomplishment and experience the sheer fun that circus brings! Through this interdisciplinary, athletic performing arts program, students develop life management skills, self-discipline and confidence, while learning the circus arts. These experiences provide an environment where young people of differing abilities and backgrounds connect and learn the value of collaboration, teamwork, trust, respect and leadership in meaningful ways. And all of this takes place in a $5 million newly renovated Sailor Circus Arena, the largest state of the art youth circus arts training facility in the nation. The Circus Arts Conservatory has launched a special, limitedopportunity fundraising program to name seats in the Sailor Circus Arena. Naming proceeds will help build the new Sailor Circus Fund. This Fund will provide scholarships, equipment and maintenance, performance costumes and more to future generations of young artists. Please contact Karen Misantone at KarenM@circusarts.org or call 941-355-9335, Ext. 311 for naming opportunities.
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he Circus Arts Conservatory is a non-profit organization whose mission is to keep the Circus Arts Alive and Thriving. The CAC’s innovative programs enhance the incredible value and impact of the Circus Arts to both young and old in our community and beyond. Through world class performances, excellence in youth training and educational outreach, The CAC inspires a passion for the performing arts while offering quality opportunities to learn life skills as well as entertain appreciative audiences. 2075 BAHIA VISTA ST. SARASOTA, FL 34239 | 941.355-9335 | CIRCUSARTS.ORG
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he mission of the Education Foundation of Sarasota County is to enhance to the potential of students, promote excellence in teaching and inspire innovation in education, guided by strategic philanthropy. We believe that education can be transformative, and we help students graduate with purpose, prepared to lead successful lives. These words frame the Education Foundation of Sarasota County’s story and serve as our ultimate goal. Today, the Education Foundation annually serves nearly 44,000 students and 5,000 instructional staff and support personnel in 53 public schools in the Sarasota County Schools district. With the addition of families, employers, and citizens who depend on an educated population, we serve many more thousands. Behind these figures are individuals whose unique stories, along with our community’s needs, serve to guide our expanding narrative. We remain the only organization exclusively dedicated to supporting students and teachers in Sarasota County Schools. We are dedicated to creating an educational ecosystem for our community that captivates learners and instructors at all levels of K-12 education.
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EDUCATION FOUNDATION OF SARASOTA COUNTY TODAY IN SARASOTA COUNTY, A STUDENT, ENERGIZED BY THE WORK WE DO, IS ADVANCING ON A LEARNING PATHWAY LEADING TO A PURPOSEFUL, SUCCESSFUL LIFE. Our work is driven by a collective vision that each and every student graduate with purpose, fully ready to succeed in life. It’s about providing connections, access, and support for teachers, students and families, that give students the innovative resources they need to progress toward learning goals and aspirational dreams. Collaborating with community partners, we can create a greater generation of learners and future leaders by opening up more opportunities and working together to build a coherent network of resources to help all students and families throughout the education continuum. We are proud to be champions of public education with a vision to help each and every student succeed to reach their full potential and support our incredible teachers who show up and give their best. Your support of our students, teachers, and education community demonstrates that you believe, as we do, that education is the best investment we can make to change lives. Join us in creating brighter futures for our children. HEADQUARTERS | 1960 LANDINGS BLVD. #120, SARASOTA, FL 34233 COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER | LAUNCHPAD4U 1413 BLVD OF THE ARTS, SARASOTA FL 34236 941-927-0965 | EDFOUNDATIONSRQ.ORG
CREATIVE MARKETING SECTION :: SRQ MAGAZINE DEC 2020 IN THE SPIRIT OF GIVING
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Goodwill Manasota’s mission of “CHANGING LIVES THROUGH THE POWER OF WORK” continues Goodwill’s 118-year-old commitment to provide employment and training opportunities for individuals facing significant barriers to self-sufficiency. Among these obstacles are disadvantaging conditions that range from having a criminal record, being an older worker, or lacking a GED to more disabling conditions, like veterans struggling with PTSD, or individuals with severe physical or learning disabilities.
GOODWILL MANASOTA OUR MISSION STANDS ON THE CONVICTION OF GOODWILL’S FOUNDER, Reverend Edgar J. Helms, who believed that “everyone has the potential to work, and work provides dignity and empowerment for all individuals.” Goodwill Manasota’s mission provides a variety of services and programs that address the unique needs of our local community, and positively transform the lives of the individuals and families we serve, by offering them a “hand up, not a hand out” – not charity, but a chance. EMPLOYMENT IMPACT: Goodwill Manasota provides meaningful, long-term employment opportunities to people who have long struggled to find work. Through education and training, we help them overcome barriers that result from disability, lack of education, poor language skills, or a myriad of other obstacles that have kept them from entering or remaining in the workforce. EDUCATIONAL IMPACT: We provide opportunities for people to further their education and advance their careers. Our programs teach practical, real-world skills needed for success, skills that people might never gain without the help of Goodwill. ECONOMIC IMPACT: Goodwill Manasota has a positive local economic impact of more than $80.3 million, which in turn is invested right back into the community. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: Each year, we protect and preserve our natural resources by diverting roughly 40 million pounds of materials that would have otherwise ended up in landfills.
2705 51ST AVE. E. BRADENTON, FL 34203 | 941-355-2721 | EXPERIENCEGOODWILL.ORG
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umane Society of Manatee County is a 501(c) 3 not-for-profit animal welfare organization and is the lead animal welfare agency in Manatee County. The Humane Society of Manatee County operates the Second Chance Adoption Center located at 2515 14th Street W. and a veterinary clinic / high volume spay and neuter clinic at 2415 14th Street W. in Bradenton. Each year the Second Chance Adoption Center re-homes more than 800 dogs and cats through the adoption program. In September of 2015, Humane Society of Manatee County opened a 10,000 sq. foot state of the art veterinary clinic that includes a high volume spay and neuter clinic, wellness services, x-ray, dentals and vaccines. The veterinary clinic provides high quality, low-to-moderate cost veterinary care for cats and dogs in Manatee County and neighboring counties. HSMC Veterinary Clinic is now a full service veterinary clinic that is open to the public by appointment.
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HUMANE SOCIETY OF MANATEE COUNTY PHILANTHROPY ABOUNDS IN MANATEE COUNTY and Sarasota County year after year as donors, supporters and the business community continue to support hundreds of area non-profits. This support has not only allowed the Humane Society of Manatee County to continue its life saving mission based work on behalf of the animals, but has allowed for an expansion of its veterinary clinic services. In addition to re-homing more than 800 cats and dogs each year through our Second Chance Adoption Program, Humane Society of Manatee County’s Pet Retention Program works to keep animal companions and their human families together. Pet retention programs include a cat and dog food pantry, behavioral training assistance and low-to-moderate cost veterinary services. Two great programs that need your support are the Angel Fund, which provides funding to help financially challenged owners get their animals the veterinary care they deserve and need for emergency cases. The Animal Cruelty Victims Fund has been established to fund veterinary care needed for animals who have suffered from neglect or cruelty and are being cared for by our medical team. Online donations can be made by going to www.humanemanatee.org and donations can be mailed to 2515 14th Street W. Bradenton, Florida 34205. Humane Society of Manatee County’s strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency have earned it a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator for the fourth consecutive year. 2515 14TH STREET W., BRADENTON, FL 34205 | 941-747-8808 | HUMANEMANATEE.ORG
CREATIVE MARKETING SECTION :: SRQ MAGAZINE DEC 2020 IN THE SPIRIT OF GIVING
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s the area’s premier no-kill shelter, the Humane Society of Sarasota County (HSSC) engages the hearts, hands, and minds of the community to help animals. A home is found for every adoptable pet in our care. We also offer volunteer opportunities for teens and adults, humane education programs, pet therapy, fostering, obedience courses, and a full-service veterinary clinic that is open to the public. HSSC is a private, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. We receive no federal funding, nor are we funded by or affiliated with any other humane organization—local or national. HSSC is the only animal welfare organization in Florida (and one of just three nationwide) with a 4-star rating and a perfect score from Charity Navigator, America’s premier independent charity evaluator.
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HUMANE SOCIETY OF SARASOTA COUNTY A PLACE TO CALL HOME—it’s what all pets long for. At the Humane Society of Sarasota County, we are a safe harbor on an animal’s journey to its “furever” family. During their stay with HSSC, animals receive the essentials—nutritious food, medical attention, and safe shelter—but they also receive affection, attention, and enrichment. For some of these animals, we are the place where they first experience compassion and hope. Time after time, we see scared, hurt, and sick animals blossom while in our care. Their transformation continues when they are adopted into loving homes. When you support HSSC, you make this happiness possible. You give animals a home. Our HSSC “home” is also transforming. We are undergoing the most extensive renovation and expansion in our nearly 70-year history. Our new facility, located at our existing location on 15th Street in Sarasota, will be complete by May 2021. We already provide a temporary home for more than 1,800 animals each year. Our new campus will enable us to save 900 more each year. We are heading into our most exciting and lifesaving chapter, and you can be part of it. You can help us build the future. We envision a community where all animals are cared for and loved. You can be part of making that vision a reality. Adopt, foster, volunteer, or donate this holiday season, and, together, we will Bring Love Home. 2331 15TH ST., SARASOTA, FL 34237 941-955-4131 | HSSC.ORG
IN THE SPIRIT OF GIVING CREATIVE MARKETING SECTION :: SRQ MAGAZINE DEC 2020
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arie Selby Botanical Gardens provides 45 acres of bayfront sanctuaries connecting people with air plants of the world, native nature, and our regional history. Established by forward thinking women of their time, Selby Gardens is composed of the 15-acre downtown Sarasota campus and the 30-acre Historic Spanish Point campus in the Osprey area of Sarasota County, Florida. The downtown Sarasota campus on Sarasota Bay is the only botanical garden in the world dedicated to the display and study of epiphytic orchids, bromeliads, gesneriads and ferns, and other tropical plants. There is a significant focus on botany, horticulture, education, historical preservation, and the environment. The Historic Spanish Point campus located less than 10 miles south along Little Sarasota Bay has one of the largest preserves showcasing native Florida plants that is interpreted for and open to the public, and celebrates an archaeological record that encompasses approximately 5,000 years of Florida history.
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MARIE SELBY BOTANICAL GARDENS THIS YEAR MARKS MARIE SELBY BOTANICAL GARDENS’ 45TH ANNIVERSARY. We are proud to uphold Marie Selby’s wish of providing a Botanical Garden “for the enjoyment of the general public.” Since our founding, Selby Gardens amassed the world’s best scientifically-documented collections of orchids and bromeliads and made significant contributions to their study and conservation. Selby Gardens provides access to nature and educational programming for more than ten thousand school children annually. In May of this year, Selby Gardens adopted Historic Spanish Point as a companion campus to our Downtown Sarasota location. With an additional 30 acres of bayfront to enjoy, Selby Gardens remains committed to being a place of respite for the community. As we move towards protecting Selby Gardens for the generations to come, the Downtown Sarasota Compromise Master Site Plan will preserve our history, safeguard our invaluable collections, and sustain our future. Additionally, we continue to expand our access to underserved youth and families, to contribute to the study and conservation of plants, to share our regional history, and to offer innovative programming that connects all with our mission. Today, you can make an impact for Selby Gardens creating a lasting legacy for the future of our bayfront sanctuaries in the region. Will you join us?
DOWNTOWN SARASOTA CAMPUS HISTORIC SPANISH POINT CAMPUS
1534 MOUND ST, SARASOTA, FL 34236 337 N. TAMIAMI TRAIL, OSPREY, FL 34229 941-366-5731 | SELBY.ORG
CREATIVE MARKETING SECTION :: SRQ MAGAZINE DEC 2020 IN THE SPIRIT OF GIVING
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IN 1955, MOTE MARINE LABORATORY & AQUARIUM STARTED AS A SMALL, ONE-ROOM LABORATORY IN A SOUTHWEST FLORIDA TOWN. Originally focused on sharks, Mote has grown to include more than 200 employees, including more than 30 Ph.D. scientists. Mote conducts groundbreaking research with more than 20 diverse research programs focusing on the challenges facing our oceans today while addressing future impacts. Knowing that our existence is tied to the fate of our oceans, the advancement of this kind of research is vital to unlocking potential solutions to some of today’s most daunting global challenges. The research and conservation on degraded Florida reefs conducted at Mote has expanded to include restoring hundreds of thousands of coral fragments onto degraded Florida reef; restocking populations of common snook, one of Florida’s most important sportfishes that contributes to our thriving tourism and outdoors economy; rescuing and rehabilitating hundreds of sea turtles and dolphins entangled in fishing gear or struck by boats; using technology to find solutions to harmful algae blooms; protecting the ever-growing number of sea turtle nests on local beaches; and much more. The oceans support life as we know it, providing the food we eat, the recreation we enjoy, the very air we breathe. Oceans cover about 70% of Earth, and the challenges they face are equally vast. Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium is advancing research-based solutions to ensure our oceans can heal and thrive. Help us put leading-edge marine science and ocean conservation into action.
MOTE MARINE LABORATORY & AQUARIUM
t Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, we are scientists, explorers and stewards of the ocean. We are an independent, nonprofit marine research institution comprising world-class marine scientists committed to the belief that the conservation and sustainable use of our oceans begins with research and education. Through our working labs, various research programs, public Aquarium and outreach & educational programs, we work together to create a better environment for ourselves and our children. The ocean is our passion. Science is our catalyst to help the ocean heal, thrive and continue to be a haven of sustainable life, life-improving science and life-giving solutions.
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1600 KEN THOMPSON PKWY, SARASOTA, FL, 34236 | 941-388-4441 | MOTE.ORG/GIVE
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ur mission is simple: save as many dogs and cats as we can. Since 2008, Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue has been dedicated to helping neglected, abandoned and mistreated dogs and cats find loving homes. Each year, with the help of countless volunteers and an incredibly supportive community, we are able to save thousands of at-risk animals and care for them at our eight-acre, no kill shelter and adoption facility on Lorraine Road in Lakewood Ranch. With your continued help, we can expand our campus and increase our scope of services to save even more homeless animals every year.
NATE’S HONOR ANIMAL RESCUE MEET TIFFANY, A BRAVE DOG RECENTLY FOUND HIDING BEHIND A BUILDING, INJURED, DEHYDRATED AND TRYING TO KEEP HER 10 NEWBORN PUPPIES ALIVE. Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue answered the call for help, not only getting Tiffany the medical care she needed to mend her fractured pelvis and leg, but also finding a foster family to bottle feed her puppies while she recovered. Tiffany is just one of the thousands of helpless and homeless dogs and cats that we rescue each year. But we can save even more animals if we have the room and resources to do so. That’s why we have embarked on a $10 million campus expansion campaign, called Journey Home, that will double our current life-saving capacity and create an all-new kitty city. The enhanced campus plans include a new 20,000-sq.-ft. welcome and adoption center; a 4,000-sq.-ft. behavior and training center; and a 5,000-sq.-ft. intake building that will allow us to house and treat sick and special needs animals being transferred from other shelters where they would have otherwise been euthanized. Other site improvements include a veterinary clinic, children’s education center, community event rooms, a dog pool, walking path to help dogs learn to walk on a leash, and a fenced play area. We have reached about 70% of our fundraising goal and hope that you’ll join us on the final stretch of our Journey Home. Together, we can answer the call of so many more animals in distress in our community and help them find a loving home.
4951 LORRAINE ROAD, BRADENTON, FLORIDA 34211 941.538.6206 | NATESHONORANIMALRESCUE.ORG
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e raise funds to support the students and faculty of New College of Florida, a nationally recognized institution of higher learning that educates intellectually curious students for lives of great achievement.
NEW COLLEGE FOUNDATION
FEARLESS LEARNING. FORWARD THINKING. Founded in Sarasota in 1960, New College of Florida is the state’s legislatively designated Honors College of Florida and the nation’s #2 public liberal arts college. With more than 90 percent of students receiving some form of financial aid and nearly every admitted student being offered a scholarship, New College is one of the most affordable small colleges in the country. New College prepares intellectually curious students for lives of great achievement by providing each student with a highly individualized education that integrates academic rigor with career-building experiences and culminates with a senior capstone project. Students choose from 45 undergraduate majors in arts, humanities, social sciences, and STEM fields; a master’s degree program in data science; and certificates in technology, finance, and business skills. A higher percentage of New College graduates go on to earn PhDs than graduates of any other public university in the country. The beautiful, 110-acre campus on Sarasota Bay houses three century-old mansions once owned by the Ringling family and the Caples family. The college’s iconic Pei Residences and Hamilton Student Center were designed by the legendary architect I.M. Pei. The Pritzker Marine Biology Research Center is the only marine biology research center in the country located on a liberal arts college campus.
5800 BAY SHORE RD, SARASOTA, FL 34243 | 941-487-5000 NCF.EDU/ALUMNI-AND-FRIENDS/THE-FOUNDATION
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he mission of Resilient Retreat is to empower survivors of trauma to thrive through self-care and community. Based on the pillars of trauma informed care, Resilient Retreat’s variety of evidencebased and multi-disciplinary programs are designed to heal the whole person—mind, body and spirit. In addition to workshops and educational opportunities, Resilient Retreat will host multi-day retreats and day programs where participants will have the opportunity to try a variety of treatment modalities like yoga, neurofeedback, art and music therapy, experiences in nature, and more. These treatments will be hosted on the stunning 84 acres of conservation land that will house Retreat and Community Centers which will serve as a place to empower participants towards a life of resiliency and hope.
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Far left: Free and confidential programs available now. Above: 30-bed Retreat Center to open December 2022.
THE AFTERMATH OF TRAUMA LASTS A LIFETIME AND RIPPLES THROUGH A COMMUNITY MANIFESTING IN ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, RISKY BEHAVIOR, CHRONIC ILLNESS, OR VIOLENCE TOWARDS OTHERS. Often those who suffer do not seek help. Stigma, shame, limited financial resources, lack of health insurance and disjointed services prevent those suffering from accessing care. With everything that is happening in the world today, the need to address the impact of trauma is now more important than ever. Advancements in neuroscience have also expanded our understanding of the ways that individuals who are indirectly involved in a traumatic incident also experience its impact. That is why Resilient Retreat is committed to serving both those who have experienced trauma themselves and those in helping professions, such as police officers, fire fighters, teachers, health care professionals and many non-profit workers. Resilient Retreat was founded in 2018 with the mission of empowering survivors of trauma to thrive through self-care and community. We provide a variety of workshops, trainings, and programs that are evidence-based, data driven and organized around the guiding principles of trauma-informed care, such as support groups, neurofeedback, yoga, journaling and animal therapy. Indeed, research suggests that participants that complete our programs report lower levels of depression and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and higher levels of happiness and emotional clarity. The chance to create a new model to help those suffering from trauma heal motivates us. The partnerships between trauma experts, community members, and people with real-life experiences of struggle and perseverance energize us. The generosity of our community bolsters us. We hope that you, too, are inspired and will join us in supporting our mission. Together, WE thrive. 1207 SARASOTA CENTER BLVD., SARASOTA, FL 34231 | 941-343-0039 | RESILIENTRETREAT.ORG
CREATIVE MARKETING SECTION :: SRQ MAGAZINE DEC 2020 IN THE SPIRIT OF GIVING
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THE SARASOTA BALLET THIS YEAR, THE SARASOTA BALLET CELEBRATES OUR 30TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON of infusing our community with the highest quality and diversity of dance in America. Since Director Iain Webb’s appointment as Director in 2007, the Company has received national and international acclaim, as well as invitations to perform in some of the Country’s most prestigious dance venues. Additionally, The Sarasota Ballet School provides professional instruction for students of all ages, and The Margaret Barbieri Conservatory prepares pre-professional level students for a performing career in classical ballet. We invite you to join us this Season as we mark thirty years of enriching lives, captivating emotions, and strengthening our community through the art of dance.
haring the artistry of ballet with the Sarasota community has been integral to The Sarasota Ballet since our very beginning. Many of you may already be familiar with our professional Company through our performances of ballets by some of the greatest choreographers of the 20th century, and some may also know our Education Programs through classes with The Sarasota Ballet School, or a student’s enrollment in The Margaret Barbieri Conservatory. A shining gem of ours, however, that often goes overlooked and in which we take great pride is our student outreach program, Dance – The Next Generation. In 1991, Dance – The Next Generation (DNG) was founded by Jean Weidner Goldstein and was designed as a dance program to directly impact underserved children in the local community. Each year DNG averages an enrollment of around 165 students, from third to twelfth grade, regardless of background, ability, or financial status. The Sarasota Ballet provides tuition-free dance education and enrichment to children in Title 1 schools who are considered at risk of dropping out. In addition to dance instruction, students are transported in DNG vans from their schools to our dedicated facilities where they receive healthy snacks through a partnership with All Faiths Food Bank. They also receive dance clothes and shoes, and participate in an hour of mentor-supervised homework in classrooms and state-of-the-art computer labs. But DNG is more than a dance program. The goal was and remains to nurture the development of the entire individual with emphasis on discipline, self-esteem, and the desire for higher education.
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5555 NORTH TAMIAMI TRAIL, SARASOTA, FL 34243 941.359.0099 | SARASOTABALLET.ORG Top photo by Matthew Holler | Below photo by Fred Doery
IN THE SPIRIT OF GIVING CREATIVE MARKETING SECTION :: SRQ MAGAZINE DEC 2020
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SARASOTA JUNGLE GARDENS GIVING BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY, OUR YOUTH AND OUR PLANET IS SARASOTA JUNGLE GARDENS’ FOCUS. Our programs are designed to inspire appreciation for nature through education. We offer hands-on learning to well over 140,000 local, international and student visitors every year. And 95% of our profit is reinvested into our mission. We sponsor elementary schools; we donate hundreds of admission tickets and allow other non-profits use of our facility for their events at no charge. We have supported Muscular Dystrophy, Lighthouse for The Blind, The American Cancer Society, Autism Speaks, Make a Wish, YMCA, The Sarasota County Library, and others for years. Every August we hold our Back to School Bash where purchasing one adult admission allows 3 kids in for free. We also participate in Sarasota County’s Ed/Explore program giving school age children hands-on opportunities to fulfill state education standards at reduced admission rates. We feel that reading about an alligator and holding one are vastly different things. Face to face with a beautiful, yet peculiar, flamingo hand feeding and walking among them make for lasting memories. While founded in 1939, Sarasota Jungle Gardens has been family owned and operated since 1971. We are hopeful that through the generosity of others we may further support migratory bird conservation programs, including flamingos and water fowl, offer Zoo Camp (summer camp) scholarships and invest more into enriching the lives of our over 300 animals, most rescued and some endangered species. We are proud to be beloved by generations of families.
3701 BAY SHORE ROAD, SARASOTA, FL 34234 | SARASOTAJUNGLEGARDENS.COM
CREATIVE MARKETING SECTION :: SRQ MAGAZINE DEC 2020 IN THE SPIRIT OF GIVING
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SARASOTA MEMORIAL HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION BRINGING HOPE HOME When it comes to cancer, no one should have to leave home to receive the best cancer care. That’s why Sarasota Memorial’s vision to bring comprehensive cancer care to Sarasota has finally become a reality. In 2019, the health system broke ground on the Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute Radiation Oncology Center at University Parkway, which opened in August 2020, and the Oncology Tower on the hospital’s main campus—slated to open fall 2021. Patients and families facing a cancer diagnosis will finally get the care and support they need here at home. The Healthcare Foundation and its generous community of donors are playing an integral part in helping to ensure that the programs, patient care, technology and more are state-of-the-art and accessible to all. To date, our campaign has raised over $50 million toward our $75 million goal. Knowing that cancer has touched the lives of most of us, we are counting on community support to help bring hope home. If you are interested in supporting the Jellison Cancer Institute, please visit our website at smhf.org/hope or call 941-917-1286.
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arasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation is the philanthropic partner that helps Sarasota Memorial Health Care System bring world-class care to our community. Today, the Healthcare Foundation’s Leading with Care campaign is helping Sarasota Memorial bring comprehensive cancer care to our region.
SARASOTA MEMORIAL HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION | 941-917-1286 | SMHF.ORG
IN THE SPIRIT OF GIVING CREATIVE MARKETING SECTION :: SRQ MAGAZINE DEC 2020
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SENIOR FRIENDSHIP CENTERS
enior Friendship Centers is a nonprofit organization serving older adults in four counties in Southwest Florida by promoting health, dignity and quality of life throughout the journey of aging. We are the safety net for close to 15,000 seniors living in our service area, providing services such as home delivered meals, dining centers, caregiving resources, adult day services, exercise classes, lifelong learning, economic assistance, and socialization. A belief in “People Helping People” has been the foundation of Senior Friendship Centers for more than four decades. Volunteers serve in nearly every facet of the organization, helping older adults to live active, healthy lives and maintain their independence. Through essential programming, support, and state and local partnerships, Senior Friendship Centers is improving the health of thousands of uninsured seniors on limited incomes and helping older adults in our community feel connected in powerful ways.
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THE POWER OF CONNECTION. Over the past few months, we have all come to know and understand the importance. All at once, we recognize the things we’ve taken for granted – leaving the house, connecting with friends and family, sharing a meal, giving someone a hug. Not being able to do these things affects our physical and mental health. As the founder of Senior Friendship Centers Brother Geenen said, “Isolation is the malnutrition of the elderly.” Imagine if there was no end to the isolation. That’s how homebound seniors feel every day. In Sarasota County alone, more than 40,000 seniors, or about 23% of the population, live alone. As the only safety-net nonprofit for seniors in the four counties we serve, our most vulnerable population needs us now more than ever. Many of the seniors we help have been isolated for weeks…months…years…and are experiencing the devastating effects that loneliness can have on your mind, health and wellbeing.
SARASOTA - 1888 BROTHER GEENEN WAY, SARASOTA, FL VENICE – 2350 SCENIC DRIVE, VENICE, FL 941-955-2122 | FRIENDSHIPCENTERS.ORG
CREATIVE MARKETING SECTION :: SRQ MAGAZINE DEC 2020 IN THE SPIRIT OF GIVING
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THE BISHOP MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND NATURE THE BISHOP MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND NATURE IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE REGION’S EDUCATIONAL, ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL LANDSCAPES. We are grateful to our supporters for making it possible for the Museum to help people understand the world around them through “wow” moments at the Museum and during our programs, learn about Florida’s natural history, explore the universe and help manatees in need. A gift to The Bishop affects tens of thousands of visitors every year who come from Manatee and Sarasota counties, all 50 states and more than 25 countries. We also provide field trips virtually and at the Museum, in addition to offering a variety of resources for students. The Museum continues to grow and evolve to meet the needs of the community and the region. In response to public health issues created by COVID-19, the Museum added virtual programming and digital resources to its offerings. Our Museum from Home webpage (www.BishopScience.org/museum-from-home/) provides engaging videos for students, parents, home schooling families and curious people of all ages. New protocols are in place to keep Museum visitors, volunteers and staff as safe as possible. As a private nonprofit, the Museum relies on philanthropy and revenue from admissions and the Museum store to support day-to-day operations. Even though the Museum is open, revenues are dramatically reduced. During this time, support from our community is critically important and very much appreciated. For information about making a gift, please contact Senior Advancement Officer Declan Sheehy at (941) 746-4131, ext. 149 or DSheehy@BishopScience.org.
201 10TH ST. WEST, BRADENTON, FL 34205 941-746-4131 | BISHOPSCIENCE.ORG
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or more than 40 years, The Florida Center for Early Childhood has been the leading provider of therapeutic services, early education and healthy development for young children in southwest Florida. We offer a seamless delivery of services for the whole child and their family. Today, the agency is nationally recognized for its early childhood expertise in a variety of specialties. The Florida Center provides developmental therapies, mental health counseling, Starfish Academy preschool, the Healthy Families home-visiting program and the state’s only Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders clinic. For more information, visit www.thefloridacenter.org or call 941-371-8820.
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THE FLORIDA CENTER FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD A STRONG NON-PROFIT IS LIKE A WELL-MADE QUILT; IF STITCHED TOGETHER WITH PURPOSE AND COLLABORATION, IT SELDOM UNRAVELS. The Florida Center for Early Childhood, which serves more than 3,500 children and their families annually, is one such organization. Its eight programs are funded through a patchwork of sources from individuals, foundations, community partners, and state and local government. Like the pieces utilized when creating a quilt, each donation, no matter the size, becomes an integral part of the fabric of the organization. This helps local children overcome developmental delays, disabilities and emotional trauma through critical therapeutic services, and other supports. Nothing has tested the seams of our programs like 2020. But our strong network of individuals and community partners have helped The Florida Center stitch any tears in the system and become a stronger organization in the process. Here’s how they contributed: •
With the goal of raising at least $100,000, businesses and individuals supported a virtual event in place of the agency’s annual gala. Others participated in the “Achieve 100 Challenge,” completing 100 of an activity of their choosing in 100 days or less, to inspire donations from their peers.
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Multiple community foundations and partner organizations have contributed funding to help The Florida Center expand its critical care services virtually, reaching families during a time of their greatest need.
We invite you to become part of our quilt! Any contribution will become a treasured addition to the fabric of our organization.
4620 17TH ST., SARASOTA, FL 34235 | 6929 OUTREACH WAY, NORTH PORT, FL 34287 941-371 – 8820 | THEFLORIDACENTER.ORG
CREATIVE MARKETING SECTION :: SRQ MAGAZINE DEC 2020 IN THE SPIRIT OF GIVING
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TIGER LILY FLOWERS
iger Lily Flowers is dedicated to providing extraordinary floral services to individuals, couples, families, and businesses in Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, and Bradenton. Our team is led by Linda Domenico who is inspired by almost 40 years of experience as a floral designer, a lifetime of travelling, and her adventures in entrepreneurship. Linda and our team see each new floral design as an opportunity to tell a different story; an opportunity to innovate and be creative in a unique and unforgettable way. As a whole, the team at Tiger Lily Flowers has dedicated decades to learning how to use the language of floral design to bring clients’ love, friendship, romance, sympathy, empathy, hospitality, and gratitude to life.
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1619 DESOTO ROAD, SARASOTA, FL 34234 941-355-5661 | TIGERLILYFLOWERS.COM
WE BELIEVE THAT THE TRUE SPIRIT OF GIVING IS MOST ALIVE WHEN COMMUNITIES COME TOGETHER. As a floral studio we may be a little biased, but we love being able to bring people joy through the gift of flowers. We frequently donate our time and talents in the form of creating and delivering floral arrangements to local organizations. We also pride ourselves on finding creative ways to inspire the spirit of giving in others like our petal it forward event in Sarasota. We packed our delivery truck full of beautiful bouquets and drove from St. Armand’s Circle through the heart of downtown Sarasota handing out flowers to everyone we could. We gave each person two bouquets: one to keep for themselves, and one to “petal it forward” and give to someone else so they too could help spread some joy. The most wonderful part of this event was seeing people walking around the city with our flowers, just because someone cared enough to share. We are proud to be an active, positive influence in our community and are so grateful to have the opportunity to work with many incredible local businesses and organizations like SRQ Media’s Women Who Roar, The Lighthouse of Manasota, Mote Marine, and Women of Influence.
IN THE SPIRIT OF GIVING CREATIVE MARKETING SECTION :: SRQ MAGAZINE DEC 2020
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BIG CAT HABITAT
Big Cat Habitat & Gulf Coast Sanctuary is a 501c3 non-profit organization. Our mission is to provide a safe, loving and permanent home for exotic and domestic animals in need, and to educate our guests on the importance of species preservation to ensure the survival of these magnificent animals for future generations. We are firmly committed to keeping alive the HumanAnimal connection in our world and in our community. BIG CAT HABITAT IS ABLE TO PROVIDE CARE AND SUPPORT to Big Cat Habitat is able to provide care and support to over almost 200 animals thanks to the generous donations from our supporters, and from gate admission revenues. All of the funds that we receive directly impact the lives of the animals in our care: from our goats, tortoises and primates to our wolves, bears and big cats! Every animal is provided with special diets, enrichments and habitats that are specifically designed for their species’ needs. We share this community and world with all of these beautiful fauna, and it is important that we each do our part to secure their future existence; therefore we make it our goal to educate children and adults about the importance of animals and the conservation of their habitats. 7101 PALMER BLVD., SARASOTA, FL 34232 941-371-6377 | BIGCATHABITAT.ORG
JFCS OF THE SUNCOAST
Since 1986, JFCS of the Suncoast has provided a wide variety of services including counseling, personal support, and temporary financial assistance to residents of Sarasota and Manatee Counties. We help youth navigate the challenges of being a teenager, adults get beyond living day to day, veterans secure the supports they need to prevent or no longer be homeless, and seniors struggling with social isolation and loneliness. Inspired by the Jewish tradition of helping all people, services are provided regardless of religious background.
THIS PAST SPRING JFCS OF THE SUNCOAST RAISED AND DISTRIBUTED over $500,000 through its COVID Emergency Hardship Fund that helped over 400 area families. Most of the funds were used for rent and mortgage relief. Here is one of those stories.Shaterra has been taking care of her sister’s three children for the past two years. She worked as a cook at a Sarasota restaurant and was laid off due to the coronavirus pandemic on March 19. Shaterra slipped into depression that would last for the next six months. She lost the job she loved, had no money to pay bills and had three children living with her. The praying she did every day stopped. Her world was coming to an end. Shaterra’s water was shut off in March shortly after she lost her job. She paid portions of what bills she could. By June, she worried that her truck would be repossessed and she would be homeless. “Unemployment only carries you so far.” JFCS of the Suncoast provided $1,500 that paid Shaterra’s rent in July, and $632 from Season of Sharing paid her past-due water bill. Karen Lang from JFCS described Shaterra as a “fighter”. “We see people at their hardest, most desperate moments. Shaterra not only came back to say thank you, she sent me a heartfelt message that I will never forget.” The combined help bought Shaterra some extra time to find work again and renewed her spirit. It took her over six months to find another job. She’s now working at a distribution facility in Sarasota. JFCS OF THE SUNCOAST 2688 FRUITVILLE ROAD, 34327 JFCS-CARES.ORG
CREATIVE MARKETING SECTION :: SRQ MAGAZINE DEC 2020 IN THE SPIRIT OF GIVING
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FLORIDA STUDIO THEATRE
1241 NORTH PALM AVE., SARASOTA, FL, 34236 | 941.366.9000 FLORIDASTUDIOTHEATRE.ORG
THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF SARASOTA-MANATEE
Florida Studio Theatre (FST) is Sarasota’s contemporary theatre. Founded in 1973, FST has grown to a village of five theatres. FST is the largest subscription theatre in the state and among the largest in the country, serving more than 230,000 live attendees each year across its six core programs: Mainstage, Cabaret, Stage III, Children’s Theatre, Education, and New Play Development. Hip and historical, entertaining and challenging, we are the theatre where everyone is welcome to engage in the art of theatre. FLORIDA STUDIO THEATRE IS FIRMLY COMMITTED to making the theatre accessible and affordable to as many people as possible. Our ticket prices are some of the lowest in the nation. Ticket revenue covers only about 70% of our actual operating costs. We rely on generous contributions from our individual donors along with support from Foundations to make up the difference between our low ticket prices and the actual costs of all our programming. FST develops theatre that speaks to our dynamic, ever-evolving world. FST believes the theatre is a vital part of human life and we strive to provide affordable, quality theatre programming that reflects the diversity of the world. We believe that if you put the world on the stage, you will find the world in your audience. Photo credit: Stuart Alexander in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time. Photo by Matthew Holler.
For over 60 years, The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee has been the center of Jewish life for Sarasota and Manatee counties. Our mission is to strengthen Jewish life and identity in our community, provide for Jewish people in need and promote support for Israel. With a local Jewish population that has almost doubled in twenty years, we are now reimagining our 32-acre campus on McIntosh Road to better serve the needs of our growing community.
TIKKUN OLAM, OR REPAIRING THE WORLD, IS A MAJOR TENET OF JUDIASM. That value was deeply evident during this Covid 19 pandemic. Beginning in March, our Jewish community came together to help those struggling from the crisis by donating more than $330,000, including a $100,000 from a Federation board restricted fund, to the STRONGER TOGETHER: Coronavirus Relief Fund at The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee. Using those monies, Federation granted $285,189 to 15 different Jewish organizations and synagogues. Monies were given at three different intervals, in the spring, summer and fall. Needs ranged from food security to personal protection equipment (PPE) to much-needed technology upgrades at synagogues to provide virtual services and programs for many in our community who are isolated and alone due to the pandemic. Photo credit: Shabbat Meals for those less fortunate at Chabad of Bradenton & Lakewood Ranch
THE LARRY AND MARY GREENSPON FAMILY CAMPUS FOR JEWISH LIFE 580 MCINTOSH ROAD, SARASOTA, FL 34232 | 941-371-4546 | JFEDSRQ.ORG
IN THE SPIRIT OF GIVING CREATIVE MARKETING SECTION :: SRQ MAGAZINE DEC 2020
