Beacons of Hope

December 2021—A mix of local philanthropic organizations take the spotlight.

Aviva Senior Living

Aviva Senior Living is Sarasota’s only single-site, not-for-profit rental community with a full continuum of care including independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing and rehabilitation. 

What is Aviva’s mission?

Aviva was founded more than 25 years ago by Marie Brown, based on traditional values and a reverence for life. She believed in building a community that was stimulating, where seniors could live extraordinary lives. 

Since its founding in 1993, Aviva has lived up to this promise by creating an intimate, friendly atmosphere and pioneering wellness programs, life-enriching activities, and surrounding its residents with knowledgeable and skilled healthcare services. 

What is it like to live at Aviva? 

Nestled in The Meadows in the heart of Sarasota, Aviva offers a 27-acre, park-like campus complete with walking trails and a resort-style pool. Approximately 250 people call Aviva home, enjoying a full range of compassionate care coupled with intellectual opportunities and programs focusing on wellness and the arts.

Through the Benevolent Care Program, funds are made available to qualified residents who need financial assistance to remain at the place they call home, Aviva—honoring the founder’s dream of a just and benevolent community. 

How can the community help?

During the pandemic, Aviva provided a safe haven for both residents and staff, thanks to a generous $1.2M of community support. We invite everyone to help us raise funds for benevolent care and ongoing needs at these signature events:

Join us for Aviva’s signature brunch, “Eight Over 80” Sunday, March 13, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. at Michael’s On East honoring eight community members.

Help us “Keep the Dream Alive” Sunday, May 15, 2022, by raising funds for Aviva’s Benevolent Care Program.

Please join us to help Aviva Senior Living continue to fulfill a dream based on compassion and kindness.

(941) 377-0781 • www.avivaseniorlife.org

Designing Women Boutique

Opened in 2002 as a non-profit consignment shop supporting the Sarasota arts community, Designing Women Boutique will soon celebrate 20 years of philanthropy.  Through the success of the store along with sponsorships and fundraising, DWB has given $8 million in grants and merchandise to over 100 community arts and human service organizations. 

DWB’s ability to provide these grants is made possible by their many event sponsors, numerous volunteer hours, generous monetary donations, and high-end merchandise donations.

Notable non-profit organizations who have received DWB grants through the years include:  All Faiths Food Bank, Arts & Cultural Alliance, Meals on Wheels, Face Autism, The Sarasota Ballet, Sarasota Youth Orchestra, Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, Easter Seals, Children First, Forty Carrots Family Center, Sarasota Opera, Circus Sarasota, Pines of Sarasota, Asolo Repertory Theatre, The Sarasota Opera, and many others.

In 2018, DWB launched GroundWorks, an innovative program to channel the lucrative consignment market for the benefit of other non-profit groups. This unique partnership with well-respected area organizations generates ongoing funds for educational advancement.  GroundWorks celebrates its partnership with eight leading non-profits: Girls Inc., Ringling College of Art + Design, Arts Advocates, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, The Out of Door Academy, Asolo Rep, The Players Centre for Performing Arts, and The Roskamp Institute. 

GroundWorks has already exceeded initial expectations and has become one of Designing Women’s most successful ventures. Additionally, Designing Women offers successful concierge estate liquidation and downsizing services.

Designing Women is proudly inducted into the Diamond Society of Asolo Rep, with over $750,000 in donations to their endowment program. Through millions of dollars of donations to worthwhile organizations, Designing Women continues to make a difference in Sarasota County.  

DWB is located at 1226 North Tamiami Trail. For information, call 941-366-5293 or shop online at DesigningWomenSRQ.org. 

(941) 366-5293 • www.designingwomensrq.org

Goodwill Manasota

With the mission of “Changing lives through the power of work,” Goodwill Manasota provides job skills training and employment opportunities to people who have barriers to self-sufficiency.

How does Goodwill Manasota achieve these goals?

Many people are familiar with the Goodwill brand, which dates back to 1902 in Boston, founded by Rev. Edgar J. Helms, a Methodist minister and early social innovator. 

Yet people are often surprised to learn that Manasota Goodwill is a fully local nonprofit with a local board and leadership team.  Much of our mission is supported via the sale of donated goods at multiple retail sites throughout the area.  Those who donate or shop at Goodwill are helping support programs that benefit individuals with disabilities, veterans, and individuals getting back on their feet after serious life challenges.

What are some notable programs?

Our Supported JobsPlus program helps individuals with physical, psychiatric, and/or intellectual disabilities gain positive personal and workplace behaviors and skills while earning a paycheck through job opportunities at Goodwill.  The program features workplace accommodations and access to job and life coaches. Our coaches work with individuals so that they can achieve their employment, family, and personal goals.

Our program for American veterans and their families helps veterans re-acclimate to civilian life, as well as assisting them with employment and other services.  We provide information, referral, and case management services and we assist with basic services for those veterans who are not seeking employment.  Our Lutz Buddy Up Manasota program provides opportunities for veterans to enjoy camaraderie with other veterans.  We have chapters of Lutz Buddy Up Manasota in Sarasota and in Venice.

How can we help?

You are invited to donate unwanted household goods at our drop-off locations, stop and shop at our retail locations, and visit us online at experiencegoodwill.org.

(941) 355-2721 • experiencegoodwill.org

Harvest House

Since 1992, Harvest House has transformed lives and revitalized neighborhoods through supportive housing campuses and affordable rentals. Individuals who are ready to work towards independence as they overcome life’s challenges, can find a hand-up at Harvest House.

What is your mission? 

Harvest House serves individuals who are experiencing homelessness and/or addiction through supportive housing, case management, affordable rentals, life-enrichment classes, and food security. We have programs uniquely designed for families, young adults ages 16-24, and adult men and women with a history of addiction and incarceration. Our mission is to champion hope and transform lives by revitalizing neighborhoods and providing service-enriched housing programs.

In 2020, we served 1,071 individuals with supportive housing and community-based case management. That was an average of 383 people served every single day. Eighty-nine percent of clients exited to stable housing, and eighty-eight percent remained housed after one year.

What is supportive housing?

Supportive housing means that we don’t just offer a house or a safe place to sleep, but a home. Life-enrichment classes, empowering activities, wrap around case management services, and spaces of love and belonging are essential for client success. 

We are humans journeying with other humans through life, and we find it a privilege to be there for one another during pivotal moments. We believe people’s past mistakes or past traumas do not define who they are, but that they are creative, resourceful, and whole.

What’s new on campus?

With the introduction of a new Life-Enrichment Campus on the corner of 17th and Beneva in Sarasota, Harvest House is on the brink of a transformation. This building development will be the first infrastructure expansion that is exclusively focused on the wrap-around support services that are so crucial to client success.

How can we learn more and participate?

Please visit us online at:

HarvestHouseCenters.org

Facebook.com/harvesthousesrq

Instagram.com/harvesthousesrq

YouTube: Bit.ly/HarvestHouseYT

(941) 953-3154 • harvesthousecenters.org

Suncoast Blood Centers

As Southwest Florida’s premiere blood bank, the SunCoast Blood Centers serves patients and leading hospitals and medical centers in Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte & DeSoto Counties. 

Live Here, Give Here, Save Here

When you donate blood or platelets at SunCoast Blood Centers, your donations stay in our area. They help us impact thousands of lives locally, including cancer patients, trauma patients, surgical patients, and newborn patients. We are the exclusive blood products provider to Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Manatee Memorial Hospital, Doctors Hospital of Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, SMH-Venice, SMH-Jellison Cancer Institute, and others. 

Among the many individuals your donations have helped is Jaelen, a Cardinal Mooney High School baseball player, whose family had recently moved to Florida so that he could play baseball year-round.  Unfortunately, Jaelen didn’t get the chance to start the season with his team.  Driving to a friend’s house one evening, he was hit by a drunk driver.  The initial outlook was bleak, but after 17 surgeries and 29 blood transfusions, Jaelen survived. His family is grateful to every donor whose selfless contribution helped save their son. 

Innovative Programs for Donors

The SunCoast Blood Centers were the first in the nation to make blood and platelet donations even easier with a new, exclusive “Donate@Home” service—where we bring the donation center right to you!  These smaller mobile units allow a personal and individualized donation experience right from the convenience of your driveway.  We are also the only blood bank that offers complimentary COVID-19 antibody testing, which screens for the presence of antibodies whether from natural exposure or from a vaccine. This test normally costs $80 and we offer it without charge to our blood donors.

To learn more about donating blood from home and free COVID-19 antibody testing, visit us at suncoastblood.org.

1-866-97-BLOOD • suncoastblood.org

Girls Inc. of Sarasota County

Since 1973, Girls Inc. of Sarasota County has delivered programs that empower girls to grow to their full potential and make an impact on the world.

How do you serve the community?

Our mission is to inspire all girls to be STRONG, SMART, and BOLD.  We achieve that through delivering research-based, interactive, and relevant programming focused on healthy living, academic support, enrichment, and life skills instruction.  We provide afterschool programming and summer camp for girls ages 5 – 18 in Sarasota County.  Additionally, we partner with Sarasota County Schools to provide group programming and case management services in the school setting. 

What is new and notable?

Throughout the challenges of the last 18 months, we have continued to grow in many ways.  For example, we launched a program for girls entering 8th grade called Eureka! It combines STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) with physical activity and personal development. 

Due to the lasting impacts of COVID-19, we were able to increase the amount of scholarship support to families so all girls are able to participate in our programs regardless of their ability to pay.  Generous local foundations and supporters have made it possible for us to navigate these challenging financial times and continue our life-changing work.  Our programs are improving the lives of girls in our community, and we know that our impact has been especially dramatic for our families in need. Recently we received an Impact 100 grant of $101,000 to renovate our entire gymnasium. You’re invited to learn more at GirlsIncSRQ.org.

(941) 366-6646 • girlsincsrq.org

Humane Society of Sarasota County

What sets you apart?

HSSC is much more than “just a shelter.” Beyond essentials—food, water, housing—our programs provide exceptional care to animals before placing them in loving “furever” homes. We never set time limits: our animals have a home with us as long as they need it.

We even support pet owners through pet food assistance, affordable veterinary care, and behavior resources. Our education programs teach children compassion and create a ripple effect for generations.

What’s new?

We completed our campus renovation and expansion this summer. Our 38,000ft2 facility is twice as large as our old shelter, and we anticipate completing 2,100 adoptions by the end of 2021. In February 2022, our 70th birthday, we will unveil more programs to serve pet owners in our community.

We are the only animal welfare organization in Florida (and one of just seven in the nation) to have received the prestigious 4-star rating from Charity Navigator several years in a row. We are not affiliated with any other humane organization, local or national. Join us at hssc.org.

(941) 955-4131 • hssc.org

Children’s Guardian Fund

Children’s Guardian Fund helps children in foster and state care maintain a sense of stability amid unpredictable and traumatic circumstances. 

How do we help?

When children are removed from their home for their protection and moved on short notice, they have little more than the clothes on their backs. With limited resources available through the state, many simple needs go unmet. We immediately provide beds and bedding, clothing, and other essentials. We also nurture a sense of normalcy by offering professional academic tutoring, sports or music fees, graduation and prom fees, bicycles, birthday gifts, summer camps,  driver’s ed, and more. Join us at childrensguardianfund.org.

(941) 504-9515 • childrensguardianfund.org

Loveland Center

Celebrating its 60th anniversary, Loveland Center provides essential life skills programs to children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, helping them live their lives to the fullest.

What sets your organization apart?

Loveland Center is raising the bar as the region’s preeminent disability service provider aimed at providing top quality services. We promote national advocacy efforts to rewrite the narrative and shift the stigma surrounding individuals with disabilities to build a more inclusive and equitable community. Learn more by visiting LovelandCenter.org and following our popular TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram accounts @LovelandCenter. Join us by emailing philanthropy@lovelandcenter.org or calling (941) 221-1323.

(941) 221-1323 • lovelandcenter.org

Samaritan Counseling

For 22 years, Samaritan Counseling has offered affordable mental health services for anxiety, depression, grief, family issues, stress, anger management, addiction, and substance abuse. 

Who do you serve? 

We serve all ages, from children to seniors, regardless of their ability to pay full fee. This year we will serve 2,400 clients through 15,000 counseling sessions at ten outpatient offices in Sarasota and Manatee Counties and remotely by phone or Zoom. We serve uninsured and under-insured clients on a sliding scale through our Client Assistance Program. Donations, grants, and funding from the community support our services. Visit samaritangulfcoast.com to learn more.

(941) 926-2959 • samaritangulfcoast.com

Suncoast Charities for Children

Suncoast Charities for Children produces several fundraising events throughout the year to generate funding in support of five local non-profit agencies: The Haven – Children First – Venice Challenger Baseball – Loveland Center – The Florida Center for Early Childhood. These agencies provide programs and services to over 8,000 children, teens, and adults with special needs and their families. Annual grants are made by Suncoast Charities for Children to the Suncoast Foundation for capital improvements and repairs. Specific program and service grants, based on an annual needs assessment, are also made directly to these agencies. 

(941) 487-7904 • suncoastcharitiesforchildren.org