Pines of Sarasota Foundation Receives COVID Impact Grant

July 26, 2022 – Sarasota

Pines of Sarasota Foundation has received a $25,000 grant from the COVID-19 Response Initiative of Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation and Gulf Coast Community Foundation. The funding will help combat pandemic related healthcare worker challenges at Pines of Sarasota, a not-for-profit senior care community providing skilled nursing care to medically fragile seniors, with a special commitment to serving those who have outlived their financial resources. 

The COVID-19 pandemic put stress on the healthcare workforce across the United States, leading to workforce shortages as well as increased worker burnout. These challenges created a limitation on the number of residents Pines has been able to serve. At the same time, the need for Pines services has not abated. This generous grant will enhance Pines’ ability to attract, employ, and retain highly qualified staff and serve more of our community’s seniors who are in need of the level and quality of care found at Pines of Sarasota. 

Pines of Sarasota Foundation President, Ruth Frazier said, “We are so grateful to Barancik Foundation and Gulf Coast Community Foundation for recognizing how important Pines of Sarasota is to so many in our community. Their generosity will allow more residents to call Pines home, and provide them with the compassion and care they deserve.” 

Jon Thaxton, Senior Vice President of Community Investment for Gulf Coast Community Foundation said, “Workforce shortages from the COVID-19 pandemic have been felt throughout our region, particularly in nursing and caring for our senior residents. We are honored to award this grant to Pines of Sarasota Foundation to serve more of our region’s seniors now and in the future.” 

Pines of Sarasota is a unique community resource that provides skilled nursing care to approximately 500 seniors annually. Pines is one of the largest providers in Southwest Florida for our community’s seniors who are reliant on Medicaid for their healthcare, and cares for a large number of seniors with dementia in its skilled secure memory care unit, which includes a one-of-a-kind park-like and climate-controlled atrium activity area.