All Faiths Food Bank Presents Inaugural FriendsGiving Fundraiser

October 28, 2022 – Sarasota

On October 23, All Faiths Food Bank presented its first-ever FriendsGiving fundraiser, which will become the organization’s annual fundraiser and signature event for the holiday season. The event raised $188,000 in support of the food bank’s ThankFULL Tummies campaign, an annual effort to distribute turkeys to neighbors facing hunger during the holidays.

During the event, which took place at Mattison’s Forty-One, co-chairs Dawn Doughty and Elaine Burton welcomed the 150 guests, then All Faiths Food Bank’s CEO Sandra Frank spoke about community needs as well as the food bank’s efforts related to Hurricane Ian and what looks to be a long recovery ahead. Chef Paul Mattison emceed the live auction and paddle raise, and then a powerful video was shown highlighting two of the food bank’s team members with lived experience of food insecurity.

Guests enjoyed a delicious family-style meal, featuring Roasted Turkey Galantine. Major sponsors for the event were Mariner Wealth Advisors, Bruce and Elaine Burton, Dennis and Dawn Doughty, and Ron and Jo Jadin. 

“Challenging economic conditions, surging costs of living throughout the state and now the impacts of Hurricane Ian are hitting the most at-risk in our community hard, especially children, families, and seniors on fixed incomes,” said Frank. “We are so grateful to all of our sponsors and guests, who have ensured that thousands of our neighbors who are facing hunger will have the opportunity to enjoy a delicious, healthy holiday meal.”

This holiday season, All Faiths’ goal is to distribute more than 13,000 turkeys, and a total of 3.6 million holiday meals, through its own distributions as well as through its network of 200 partner agencies. For more information, or to make a gift to the ThankFULL campaign, visit allfaithsfoodbank.org.