Changing the World One Family at a Time

By Kaileia Suvannamaccha | March 2025

“Parenting is the hardest job that anyone could ever have with absolutely no training, and it is the most important,” says Ben Jones, Board Chair of Forty Carrots Family Center.

“When our 12-year-old was younger, we were really in search of the right preschool,” he recalls. “When we got connected with Forty Carrots, we said, ‘This is different. This is how it should be.’ We felt like we had a partner in our parenting.”

This sense of partnership led Ben to deepen his involvement, eventually joining the board. “Every parent wants to do right by their kids, but it’s not always easy, and not everyone has access to the guidance and support they need.”

More Than a Preschool

Dawn Doughty, now Secretary of the Board, began her journey with Forty Carrots in 2017 as wine chair of the very successful Wine, Women & Shoes fundraiser.

“As I began to get involved and learned more about Forty Carrots—not just as a preschool but with parenting education and mental health—it really resonated with me personally,” she shares. 

Having been a single mom in the 80s and 90s, Dawn sees the immense value of Forty Carrots’ services. “Forty Carrots offers a non-judgmental space where parents can get the help they need to build strong bonds with their children. It’s about providing families with the resources and guidance that will set them up for success.”

Dawn’s connection to the mission has only grown stronger since joining the board in 2020. “Forty Carrots meets families where they are,” she says, adding that she’s dedicated to raising awareness and funding for its essential services.

The Health of the Family Becomes the Wealth of the Community

Ben believes that supporting families is key to building a stronger community: “When families thrive, children grow up in healthier, more supportive environments.” This philosophy is central to Forty Carrots’ mission, and it’s driving its efforts to expand its reach in Sarasota.

A significant milestone came with the success of its $10 million campaign, which funded the construction of a new, state-of-the-art facility. According to Dawn, the space was designed with families in mind. “It includes private areas for mental health counseling, comfortable therapy rooms, and flexible spaces for parenting education groups.”

Ben highlights how the new facility enhances Forty Carrots’ capacity to serve. “With the ability to hire more therapists and expand services, this gives us the ability, looking out over the next five years, to double from where we are right now.”

A Culture of Community and Collaboration

Committed to serving all families, regardless of their ability to pay, Forty Carrots relies on local philanthropy to sustain and expand its programs. 

Dawn praises the board’s commitment to Forty Carrots, noting the success of their board match program, which raised $150,000 this year—up from $85,000 in its first year. “Having board members who stand behind the agency, not just with their time and talents but also with their treasures, shows their passion for this organization,” she says.

Ben explains, “When you think of mental health services, you might think clinical, but that’s not the culture at Forty Carrots. It’s about community, partnership, and family. That’s why you get passionate leaders—people who want to give back and be involved.”

Dawn agrees. “They are experts at what they do—passionate, compassionate, and some of the most wonderful people I have ever had the opportunity to be associated with. We know that when we work together, we can achieve so much more.”

Ben reflects on his own family’s journey, saying, “Our experiences are very similar to others. It’s a similar story. Our kids have long since graduated from Forty Carrots, but it has a special place in their heart.”

As Ben puts it, “There’s this old adage, ‘Raising kids takes a village’, and it really does.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION about Forty Carrots Family Center, please visit fortycarrots.com