Around Town: Elizabeth Moore

By Julie Milton • Right header photo by Lori Sax • October 2023

She’s earthy, exciting, and energetic. Quite possibly your life may just be a bit better because of her.  She is Elizabeth Moore—a woman of strong purpose and character, whose convictions and dedication to causes dear to her heart impact our community, and ultimately our daily lives.  We asked this dynamic supporter of science, conservation, natural history, and education more about herself and what moves her as we caught up with her “Around Town.”

The philanthropic impact you have made on our community is undeniable. Is there a specific moment in your life that fueled you to do more, give back, and make a difference? I think the community realized I was making an impact before I did—I was just following my heart when amazing opportunities came my way to improve our world. I must say it does feel good to be recognized as a leader in areas of land conservation, education, and natural resource resiliency. Our natural world has changed a lot over my lifetime and a “man-made” environment that suits humans seems to have eclipsed nature. Yet humans still desire the peace and serenity of forests, meadows, and waterways. When my family invested in a major science center at our children’s elementary school, I realized that by touching young hearts early with the beauty and importance of our natural world, that sensitivity would likely guide them through life. That is what happened to me as a child when I would play in forests and streams and encounter animals. I expanded my passion when we moved to Florida by building a Marine Science Center at Saint Stephen’s Episcopal School so every student from kindergarten to 12th grade can learn about marine life and ocean ecology. The curriculum is called One Ocean. I was then inspired to name the Mote EMIC2R3 in the Keys for young scientists to do research on coral health.

(Elizabeth Moore International Center for Coral Reef Research & Restoration) 

Your life experiences have enabled you to better realize how things work, what is important, and how to get things done.  What advice do you have for others who want to be more involved and how they can get behind a cause and use their specific knowledge skills?I often work with other individuals and groups to accomplish a great goal, e.g., a gala, a building, a campaign, a land project, a conference, or other event. Collaboration and being present to the big picture are superpowers. I ask a lot of questions and I listen to what people have to say. Before I commit my funds and time to an endeavor, I want to know that others have weighed in and value it as well. The output will be most impactful and successful when others are heard; that being said, I still lead with my heart, my intuition, and always with conviction. I also appreciate it when people, especially leaders, listen to and involve others. And my advice to others who seek to get involved—look for these qualities in leadership and be passionate about your cause.

Your name is on buildings, on scholarships, on arts and cultural events and productions, and even on an ATP challenger tennis tournament in Sarasota. 

Let’s start with education and your support of USFSM, New College, Saint Stephen’s, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County. You see educational support as critical to our growth and future.  Tell us more about your support of children and young adults.I want my name publicly associated with meaningful buildings, scholarships, art and cultural events, even a lemur forest and tennis tournament because I seek to be a role model for other potential philanthropists and so people can know what I stand for and why. Each event, building, initiative has a deeper story to tell and not surprisingly, many have underlying common themes of education and preservation of our natural world. Many of the events that I chair and projects I undertake have to do with boosting the next generation of decision makers and ensuring they have the tools to intelligently steward our communities. It has been very satisfying to support students at New College, USF, and Saint Stephen’s in their wide range of aspirations in science, athletics, and civics. They are vital to our future and hopefully be well equipped to address problems that come their way. 

You are known for your support of conservation initiatives and are a staunch supporter of Mote Marine. Your name graces Mote’s International Center for Coral Reef Research & Restoration in the Florida Keys. You also created an 1,100-acre conservation easement on the property you saved—Triangle Ranch—near Myakka River State Park. How do these environmental efforts help us locally and globally?Two major projects I undertook in our region were dramatically brought into focus over the last year. My 1,143-acre Triangle Ranch in Myakka which I placed in a conservation easement bore a huge responsibility for receiving water from all over the region in the wake of Hurricane Ian last year. Nearly the entire ranch was flooded, and we had to move herds of livestock, repair cottages, and lost hundreds of trees. My ranch looked like an ocean! Yet, this was a cautionary tale that we must ensure that enough land is left undeveloped to absorb rainfall. At a conference hosted by Climate Adaptation Center last year, I presented with striking visuals the need to conserve open space, especially wetlands rather than develop everything with impervious surface.

With the rapid heating of our oceans over the last several months, at the Mote EMIC2R3, the coral scientists have successfully selected coral strains in the lab that can survive hotter ocean temperatures and certain diseases. Mote takes the leadership in worldwide coral research and restoration. Not being a degreed scientist, it still gives me great satisfaction to know I can help build a foundation for addressing this crucial global problem. We are immensely proud that Mote’s SEA (Science Education Aquarium) will bring huge numbers of visitors to learn about the vast and vital science of marine ecology.

You love to empower others to meet their goals. Because of this, you serve as a director or trustee on many local boards including Mote, Conservation Foundation, Tree Foundation, and the Lemur Foundation. How have you, working along with your fellow directors and trustees, helped make these organizations stronger?Yes, pushing people upward in their capabilities is very satisfying; no one person can solve these oncoming challenges. People working together with different skill sets and resources allow for the best outcome on projects. It is about collaboration, always respecting the input of others. That is why I so appreciate the camaraderie and effectiveness of the boards on which I sit such as Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast, Mote Marine Research and Aquarium, Lemur Conservation Foundation, Tree Foundation, Climate Adaptation Center, and Gulf Shellfish Institute. At every board meeting I participate in I feel that I sit with “my people.” We get stuff done because we are aligned and passionate.

You are a star gazer and have a fascination with the night sky.  Please tell us more about this. Understanding our place in the cosmos is very important. In fact, even as a social science/humanities major in college, I would say that astronomy was the most transformational course I ever took. To realize that we humans and all other life as we know it ride around on a precious dynamic planet with an atmosphere which protects and sustains us is just astounding. We go about our daily business and often forget about our impact on our natural world. Although we are beset with issues like light pollution and loss of biodiversity, our ingenuity to solve problems and make changes gives me hope. We can never give up hope to keep our one Earth a thriving home. Everyone should go outside and look at the stars and planets to remind ourselves how lucky we are. Our group, Suncoast Stargazers (suncoaststargazers.com), seeks to bring people together to learn about our cosmos. It has drawn people of all ages to look through telescopes, see distant worlds and wonder…

Which events can we expect to see Elizabeth Moore supporting during the 2023/2024 season?This fall will be a robust one for me, as it was last year come to think of it! Sarasota is a socially lively and culturally rich city. I love my home city! Sarasota Art Museum has asked me back, not as Gala chair this time, but as an Art Bash committee member. This is a super lively event which will be held December 8. Our Conservation Foundation has changed the format of the elegant Palm Ball to now be the festive Party in Paradise on February 4. After 14 years in the community, I finally joined the Ringling Museum and on November 17, I am sponsoring an exhibit and reception for Michele Oka Doner, the artist who made the iconic sea life floor at Miami Airport. I am once again the lead sponsor of the Science & Environment Council’s Eco-Summit (December 5 – 6) and Green Living Expo (December 2 – 3). Our keynote speakers are author Carl Hiaasen and world-renowned Australian documentary filmmaker Damon Gameau. I am very excited and honored to co-chair the New College Clambake fundraiser this year. Under new leadership with a vision to build enrollment and new programs in marine mammal, educational leadership and environmental economics, New College is rebounding with a new energy that I want to be a part of. New College has also asked me to join its Foundation. Mote’s Oceanic Evening (October 28) is a must attend for me every year and no one designs and orchestrates a wondrous event like that one better than Laurie Graham, my fellow trustee. And finally, this year I am on the Advisory Board for WUSF and will sponsor its Listen Up Luncheon at Sarasota Yacht Club (October 27). The speaker is Mary Louise Kelly from NPR.

Your hobbies include tennis, reading, scuba diving, and gardening.  Tell us about your love of tennis, what you like to read, your favorite flowers to grow, and where you love to scuba dive.I am stuck on non-fiction books on the dangers of extinction, climate change, and dark sky awareness.  Currently, I am reading The Darkness Manifesto: On Light Pollution, Night Ecology and the Ancient Rhythms that Sustain Life by Johan Eklöf. I am also reading Love Stories by Trent Dalton. I still have hope! One of the prettiest places I have dived is Garden of the Queen off the southern coast of Cuba—pristine coral reefs. I also had a great time diving on a Mote Marine board retreat with Dr. Crosby and other Mote board members and scientists.  We dove off Summerland Key with Mote coral scientists and my daughter Merry, a budding marine scientist, during coral spawning. I hope one day to dive with Mote scientists in the Red Sea. As for tennis, I have given up league tennis for now since I am so involved with non-profit activities and my ranch. I still play at Field Club and Payne Park and on some private courts in Sarasota. I look forward to sponsoring next year’s ATP tournament, the Elizabeth Moore Sarasota Open at Payne Park. As for gardening, I have a new property on Bliss Road.  But before I can do any extensive gardening there, I am working with soil scientists, educators, community food waste people and New College students to build rich biodynamic soil. My vision is to take sandy, poor soil and transform it into rich, arable soil to grow food in an urban environment. It’s a big science project and all parties involved are very engaged and excited about this!

What are some of your favorite spots around our town? I love The Bay, Selby Gardens, Sarasota Art Museum, Payne Park, the Downtown Farmers Market on Saturday mornings, and Sarasota Opera! Every season is filled with excitement and intrigue!  I also like to go to Waterworks, a business and social member club.