Safe Children Coalition Hosts Inaugural 2023 Giving Breakfast

March 24, 2023 – Sarasota

 On March 23, Safe Children Coalition presented its inaugural Giving Breakfast – presented by The Steve and Natalee Herrig Family Foundation and the Terranova Equestrian Foundation – during which four “Champions for Children” were honored for their contributions to caring for children in our community. The 2023 honorees were: Michele Grimes, attorney, Williams Parker Attorneys at Law; Rick Oswald, senior vice president, CMSA Architects; and Bobbie and Floyd Price, Guardian Angels of SW Florida. 

SCC president and CEO Brena Slater and board member/philanthropy chair Lee Lipton welcomed the guests. After brief videos featuring the honorees and the presentation of awards, SCC featured the story of Monica, who was severely abused by her mother and was determined to break the cycle of abuse when she had her son; she found vital education and a sense of community through SCC’s CAPTA (Child Abuse Prevention Treatment Act) program. 

The final portion of the program featured an announcement by SCC vice president of communications & community outreach, Jacqueline House, of plans for a new Youth Shelter, to provide a safe place for homeless or unaccompanied teens. The capital campaign has been seeded with a $1 million leadership gift from the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation.

Through sponsorships and the paddle raise, SCC raised at least $118,000. Leadership Sponsor was Sunset Automotive Group; Honoree Sponsors were Tandem Construction, M.E. Wilson, Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, CMSA Architects, Williams Parker Attorneys at Law, and Gulf Coast Community Foundation.

The breakfast was energetically emceed by Joe Girvan of Alpert Enterprises.

“Safe Children Coalition is committed to strengthening families and protecting children but we simply can’t do it on our own,” said Brena Slater, president and CEO of Safe Children Coalition. “We are so grateful for Michele, Rick, Bobbie and Floyd, who have shown themselves to be true champions for children in Circuit 12.”

Safe Children Coalition is the lead agency for community-based care for Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties (Circuit 12), providing foster care, adoption, and prevention and diversion programs; nearly 9,300 children received services last year. Funds raised at the event will support these programs as well as youth prevention services, Schoolhouse Link (for children who are homeless or unaccompanied), the Youth Shelter, and more.

To learn how you can support SCC’s efforts to protect at-risk children and strengthen families, contact Jacqueline House: jhouse@sccfl.org or 941-225-6166.