Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation Board Approves Grant Funding

August 9, 2021 – Sarasota

Recent funding from Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation strengthens workforce development programs, reinforces health equity efforts, and jumpstarts efforts to restore local waterways.

Creating Excellence in Nursing Now and Beyond
A $400,000 matching grant to Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation to create a nursing pipeline through the University of South Florida and provide mental wellness training for new and existing healthcare professionals.

Developing a Diverse Teaching and Administrative Workforce
A grant of $335,000 to Sarasota County School District to support the Mapping the Journey from Student Leader to School Leader program and expand Reading Recovery.

Opening Pathways to Employment
A $300,000 grant to Harvest House for its Purpose Works Workforce Initiative to help those ready to reenter the workforce.

Restoring Sarasota County’s Ponds and Lakes
A three-year grant of $250,000 to Solutions to Avoid Red Tide to create a Healthy Pond Collaborative armed with scientific and technical expertise, community relationships, professional capacity, and philanthropic resources to make meaningful change on this critical issue. 

Aiding Low-income and Uninsured Seniors
A three-year grant of $228,462 to Senior Friendship Centers for its Sustainable Solutions for Seniors program to create a revenue stream to support unpaid services for the neediest of clients.

Opening Collegiate Pathways for Sarasota Students
A three-year grant of $225,000 to Take Stock in Children of Sarasota County to support the hiring of a Scholarship Portfolio Manager to connect scholars with community resources and academic opportunities.

Advocating for Victims of Sexual Trafficking
A three-year grant of $178,521 to More Too Life to support efforts to prevent human trafficking, advocate for survivors, and provide community education.

Supporting Sarasota’s Workforce Talent
A $150,000 grant to The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Foundation to support CareerEdge, which offers and incentivizes on-the-job training, internships, and fast-track vocational training so displaced and underemployed workers gain skills and wages. 

Championing LGBTQ Health Equity Efforts 
A two-year grant of $150,000 to Equality Florida Institute for the Equality Now program, an equity effort to assist mainstream agencies and community institutions in becoming affirming for LGBTQ clients by embedding supportive best practices into their operations.

Building More Equity in Local Arts Experiences
A $75,000 grant to Urbanite Theatre to support its Diverse Threatremakers Initiative which aims to offer competitive wages to actors, designers, and playwrights of color and ensure underserved students can engage with the theatre.

Additional Commitments
An additional $349,350 was granted between partner organizations to support their operating and fundraising activities.