April 6, 2018

From the heart: Gulf Coast Giving

All Faiths Food Bank Kicks Off Annual Campaign Against Summer Hunger
The hiring of three new Summer Outreach Workers will help increase the number of families receiving services
On April 3rd, All Faiths Food Bank hosted the Campaign Against Summer Hunger kick-off, launching the annual effort to end summer hunger for thousands of children throughout Sarasota and DeSoto counties.
The event launched a 45-day dollar-for-dollar match challenge of raising $1.3 million to fund food programs aimed to feed 40,000 school-aged children and their younger siblings who are at risk of going hungry this summer.
CEO Sandra Frank also announced the hiring of three Summer Outreach Workers who will assist in identifying the most vulnerable and at-risk families who may not know there are services available to help them through the summer months.

“The Outreach Workers will not only increase the number of families receiving services but will also reach families who need the additional information and support to help get access to nutritious food during the summer.” – Sandra Frank, CEO

Last year, 35,815 children were served, providing nearly 2.3 million meals over the summer months throughout All Faiths’ 2-county reach – a 15% increase from summer 2016. This dollar-for-dollar match runs April 3 through May 15 and is central to providing nutritious meals over the summer for 52% of Sarasota county children and 92% of DeSoto county children eligible for free- and reduced-price meals during the school year.
Lead investors for this year’s Campaign Against Summer Hunger include the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee, and The Observer Media Group.

Veronica Brandon Miller, vice president of Goodwill Manasota, with Arthur Lerman, executive director of ITN SunCoast

Goodwill and ITN SunCoast partner for seniors
The “Be the One – Let’s Go Places” campaign aims to raise money and awareness to help seniors or adults with vision challenges
The mission of the “Be the One – Let’s Go Places” campaign is to raise money and awareness of the resources available in the community to help seniors or adults with vision challenges, who are limited or isolated because of transportation issues, to have the ability to be engaged and connected in the community.

Funds will be raised primarily through the community-wide 2018 Giving Challenge on May 1-2, and each organization is accepting donations directly as well.

Some of the program components will include scholarships for limited-income individuals to utilize ITN SunCoast’s transportation services, the recruitment of volunteer drivers, the creation of new social and educational programs, computer classes for seniors, and support for job skills training for older workers going back to work. Some of the activities and classes will be provided through Goodwill’s Good Neighbor program, which offers numerous free, instructor-led classes on a variety of topics and volunteer-directed activities.

For more information on how you can support this effort, call the Goodwill Foundation at (941) 355-2721, ext. 103.

Kirk Pinkerton sponsors Operation Patriot Support’s clay shoot
Kirk Pinkerton, PA recently made a $1,000 sponsorship donation for the 5th Annual Florida Fun Shoot presented by Operation Patriot Support, an all-volunteer organization that is dedicated to supporting veterans, law enforcement, first responders that have been wounded, injured or are otherwise in need and their families, including this area’s Gold Star Families.

Cindy McGrew, Charles Lemon, Keith Hagen, Bill Robertson and John Robertson

On Friday, Feb. 16, over 180 participated in the Florida Fun Shoot at Sarasota Gun Club, including Kirk Pinkerton’s CEO Bill Robertson, attorney Elisha Robertson, combat-wounded veteran Charles Lemon, Keith Hagen and John Robertson. The sporting clay event honored the Gold Star Families, veterans, law enforcement and first responders in attendance.

Said Dave Pfeiffer, president of Operation Patriot Support. “The donations through these events allow us to provide for these veterans, fire responders and law enforcement officers.”

In years past, the event celebrated Medal of Honor recipients, wounded Special Operations warriors and many others. This year, the MAC-V-SOG Special Forces were recognized. The Green Berets assigned to MAC-V-SOG retain the record as the most decorated with 12 Congressional Medals of Honor, 102 Distinguished Service Crosses and hundreds of Silver Star Medals and Bronze Star Medals.

The event has raised over $250,000 in four years, with an average growth of approximately 30 percent per year. 

Child’s Wish to Swim with Dolphins Granted
Osprey Resident Gets a Respite from Critical Illness
The life-changing experience was made possible by Make-A-Wish® Southern Florida, which maintains a regional office in Sarasota.
Cooper and his family traveled to Key Largo for a dream vacation that included private time with dolphins at Dolphins Plus and visits to Theater of the Sea and John Pennekamp State Park.
Seven-year-old Cooper suffers from Chiari malformation, a congenital neurological condition in which brain tissue extends into the spinal canal. It occurs when part of the skull is abnormally small or misshapen, pressing on the brain and forcing it downward. Effects of the condition include seizures, pain, loss of bladder and bowel control, legs and feet falling asleep, ringing in the ears, heat intolerance, sleep disturbances, fine motor skill delays, balance, coordination, and swallowing issues.

Says Rebecca Blitz, regional director of Make-A-Wish Southern Florida, “We hope the special memories created by this wish will help sustain Cooper and his family through difficult times and be a reminder to the rest of us that these experiences are necessary to those living every day with a child’s critical illness.”

Education Foundation Funds Immersive Meteor Grant for Venice Schools
The “Great Impact” Meteor Landing is designed to bring earth space science and geology to life for students.

Students of Venice Elementary School (VES) and adjacent Venice High School (VHS) returned from spring break on Monday, April 2, 2018, to discover a meteor had skidded across the lawn and landed on campus. This science-based inquiry project allows for unique cross-curricular or interdisciplinary opportunities for all students. Elementary (K-5) classes took part in the discovery throughout the day, interacting with the scientists, asking questions, and recording their own findings. Classroom projects will occur at both VHS and VES in addition to collaboration between the schools.

The Patterson Foundation Commits $250,000 to Caribbean Disaster Response Program
This catalytic contribution is intended to spark additional funding support for NetHope’s efforts

With the Caribbean still recovering from last year’s hurricanes and the start of hurricane season less than two months away, The Patterson Foundation is providing $250,000 in catalytic funding to its international partner NetHope to create the Caribbean Disaster Response and Preparedness Program. The Patterson Foundation is one of the first supporters to answer NetHope’s appeal for funding and hopes to inspire other funders to support the program.

It’s been more than six months since the Caribbean faced back-to-back hurricanes which caused over $150 billion in damage, and communities are still struggling to recover. In Puerto Rico, more than 100,000 are without power and many lack access to clean drinking water. One of the biggest challenges for recovery has been the lack of an emergency communications system. As the next hurricane season quickly approaches, the need for restoration of power and improved access to information technology and communication is becoming even more urgent.

“Being able to communicate digitally can be as vital as food and shelter,” said Debra Jacobs, president and CEO of The Patterson Foundation. “Historically, NetHope expertly leverages resources to help meet critical communications needs in the aftermath of disasters. This proactive program for the Caribbean will further support recovery now, while also helping communities be better prepared and more resilient in the future.”

NetHope works with global leaders in technology and philanthropy – including Microsoft and Facebook – to change the world through the power of technology. Through their Caribbean Disaster Response and Preparedness Program, NetHope plans to develop coordinated rapid information and communication technology (ICT) emergency response, improve access to data for data-driven response and give affected communities a voice.

The program will expand on previous work implemented by NetHope in the region. During the 2017 hurricane season, NetHope deployed its teams across the Caribbean to provide emergency telecommunication services, including the provision of connectivity to first responders and communities in over 80 locations across Puerto Rico, Dominica, Barbuda, the British Virgin Islands and St. Martin.

Since 2010, The Patterson Foundation has provided more than $1.6 million to strengthen NetHope’s operations around the world. The funds have gone toward response efforts for disasters like the Syrian refugee crisis, the Ebola epidemic, Hurricane Matthew in Haiti, the Nepalese earthquake and Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines.

Jim Schier and Niki Miller

Neal Communities Contributes $5,000 for 10th Annual Robinson Preserve 5K/10K
The race was held at the conservation property, located at 840 99th St. W. in Bradenton.
This year, racers ran through Robinson Preserve’s new expansion — an additional 150 acres obtained through The Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast — that was not yet open to visitors.
Following the race, runners attended the Fit2Run after party, featuring food, refreshments and music. Medals were awarded to all finishers, including children, with the top finishers receiving Fit2Run gift cards and other awards.
Proceeds from the 10th annual Robinson Preserve 5K/10K benefited the continuing management and improvement at Robinson Preserve and PACE Center for Girls of Manatee. 
The Robinson Preserve is northwest Bradenton’s largest conservation property, featuring six miles of kayak and canoeing trails, 10 miles of walking and jogging trails, two miles of paved trails, fishing piers, a 500-foot long boardwalk and a 56-foot observation tower, among other amenities.

Anna Maria Island Preservation Trust
The Historic Anna Maria City Pier was dealt a mortal blow when Hurricane Irma pounded the island in September 2017.
The Pier celebrated its 100th Birthday in May of 2011, when The Anna Maria Island Preservation Trust, Inc. presented the City with a State of Florida Historic Marker.

It is estimated that the costs to rebuild the pier will run into the millions, all of which will not be realized with the funds the City is presently counting on through County, State, and Federal agencies.

The Anna Maria Isand Preservation Trust, Inc. (AMIPT) is a 501c3 charitable organization, enabling donations to be tax-deductible, and donations will be matched by the $1.5M grant from the Tourist Development Council of Manatee County.

Donations may be made at: https://www.gofundme.com/sissy-quinn-president-amipt

Manatee Performing Arts Center to Host Concert with a Cause
Three area nonprofit organizations will benefit from vintage R&B and smooth jazz concert.
Saturday, April 14 | 7:30 p.m. | $27 – 37
Headlining the concert are two professional area bands playing R&B and smooth jazz. Proceeds from Concert with a Cause will benefit three area nonprofit organizations: Take Stock in Children, Inc., The Panda Foundation, and Manatee Performing Arts Center’s Conservatory Program.
Tickets are available through Manatee Performing Arts Center’s box office, by phone, or online:
502 Third Avenue W, Bradenton
(941) 748-5875 | www.ManateePerformingArtsCenter.com
Box office hours: Tuesday–Friday, 10 a.m.–5p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.