Safe Children Coalition Announces Public Launch of Youth Shelter Campaign

December 11, 2024 | Sarasota

On December 9, child welfare organization Safe Children Coalition (SCC) held a special gathering at Gulf Coast Community Foundation’s Sarasota Philanthropy Center to launch the public phase of its Youth Shelter campaign. The fundraising effort – which began 24 months ago – will support the construction of a new Youth Shelter, which will enable the organization to serve more at-risk youths in the coming years.

During the event, SCC leaders announced that nearly 80% of the $9M goal for Phase I of the fundraising campaign – representing over $7M – has been raised; the public fundraising campaign will continue until the goal is met.

The event included a welcome by SCC Board Chair Tony Gamelin; a message of thanks delivered by SCC President & CEO Brena Slater to the organization’s donors, the Youth Shelter construction team (CMSA Architects, Tandem Construction and Stutler Strategies), volunteers and legislative delegation; and additional thank-yous by SCC Vice President Jacqueline House to the SCC board and the area foundations and their representatives who served on the Youth Shelter Feasibility Study and Quiet Phase Committees as well as a comprehensive update on the Youth Shelter Campaign.

Special gratitude was extended to: Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation for the first $1M gift to the campaign; the Roberta Leventhal Sudakoff Foundation for its $1.5M gift (the largest single gift to the campaign to date); Bob and Joan Geyer, who provided a $500,000 matching gift to inspire giving; and Veronica Brady and Keith Monda for their support as well as for hosting the very first Youth Shelter Campaign event.

In attendance was Florida State Rep. Fiona McFarland, who participated in a ceremonial check presentation acknowledging the state’s most recent $1M appropriation (in addition to last year’s appropriation of $750,000); Rep. McFarland took a few moments to talk about her support of the effort and the Youth Shelter’s importance in keeping at-risk children safe. Others in the crowd of nearly 50 attendees were current and prospective donors, and Safe Children Coalition volunteers and staff leaders.

Phillip Lanham, President | CEO of Gulf Coast Community Foundation, addressed the attendees, sharing how Gulf Coast has partnered with SCC through the campaign’s “quiet phase” and why the collective support of the community is so important in making a difference for the future of our community. Other speakers included Joan Geyer, Gary Bucholtz (Roberta Leventhal Sudakoff Foundation), Matt Sauer (Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation), and – by video – Dr. India White, a former Youth Shelter program participant who is now a national education consultant; in 2022, Dr. White gave a speech for TEDx Ocala called “The Power of Grit” that included her experience in the shelter.

In Florida’s 12th Judicial Circuit (Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties), there are more than 2,000 youths who are homeless, have run away, or are ungovernable or truant. A recent count in Sarasota County found that more than 400 teens and young adults were homeless and living without the support of a guardian. The consequences of youth homelessness include mental health problems, substance abuse,  victimization, and short- and long-term barriers to education and employment.

SCC’s Youth Shelter is the only facility designated for homeless teens for Sarasota and Desoto counties; it serves youth from Manatee County as well. Many of the teens served enter the shelter because of a mental health crisis and/or a parent’s inability to cope with a youth who is out of control. The shelter provides wrap around services focused on reuniting teens with their families and preventing them from entering foster care or juvenile justice programs.

For the past four years, the SCC Youth Shelter has been first or second in facility utilization out of the 16 shelters in the Florida network, exceeding contracted bed days.

SCC’s new Youth Shelter will be located on Sawyer Road in north Sarasota; currently, the shelter is housed at a smaller, temporary location until the new facility can be built. The groundbreaking for the new facility is expected to be held by the end of January 2025.

For more about or to contribute to SCC’s Youth Shelter Campaign, visit sccyouthshelter.org.