Easterseals Partners with Flanzer Trust on Giving Campaign

July 30, 2021 – Sarasota

Designed to enhance its 75-year-old mission through philanthropy, Easterseals Happiness House has embarked on the 75 Days of Giving campaign in partnership with the Louis and Gloria Flanzer Trust, which will match any donation of up to $500 per household per month. The effort includes tributes by volunteer ambassadors who will share stories of the nonprofit’s mission, lobbying to raise awareness and funds to benefit the children, youth and adults with disabilities served every day at Easterseals.

The campaign will conclude on Sep. 30, just days before the agency’s 75^th Anniversary Gala when the endeavor will be shared and celebrated.

“It’s especially exciting to have a partner like the trustees at the Louis and Gloria Flanzer Philanthropic Trust,” President and CEO Tom Waters said. “Their leadership has a two-fold effect, showcasing the Easterseals’ mission as well as providing a unique fundraising opportunity that will launch our next 75 years.

“We could not be more grateful and, at the same time, thrilled about all that lies ahead.”

The mission of the Flanzer Philanthropic Trust is to enhance the life of the people of the Suncoast, advancing social services, medical and other important initiatives. The Trust entered into partnership with Easterseals in recognition of their long-term support of people with disabilities across Southwest Florida. 

“Dr. Dean Hautamaki and I are pleased to continue the legacy of Gloria and Louis Flanzer and their commitment to persons of need in Sarasota and the surrounding area,” Flanzer Trustee Eric Kaplan said. “Our matching program is intended to stimulate broad based continuing support, year in and year out to the critical safety net agencies like Easterseals that improve the lives of not only it’s clients, but the community at large.  

“Agencies like Easterseals benefits the larger community by ensuring residents that they and their neighbors have important support systems in place if, and when, they need them.”

Beyond traditional physical and occupational therapies – still essential tools in the Easterseals arsenal – the agency also now has expanded speech and behavioral therapies, essential aids for people diagnosed with autism and related developmental disabilities. Equine-assisted therapies are also growing at the Nokomis-based InStride Equine Center, recently acquired by Easterseals.

Education platforms are also growing at the agency, which now offers Pre-K through 12^th grade school setting for students with disabilities up to age 22, housed at Boys & Girls Club centers in Manatee and Sarasota. Adult services also remain a strong day-training component, including employment services that now includes virtual reality designed to prepare people with disabilities for jobs with both tactical as well as social-emotional modules.

Donations to Easterseals can be matched at FlanzerTrust.org, selecting the agency from the drop-down menu in the Donate window. The campaign results will be shared at the 75^th Anniversary Gala on Oct. 2, hosted at the Circus Arts Conservatory Sailor Circus Arena.

Easterseals Happiness House provides exceptional therapies and services for individuals with disabilities and their families by empowering them to live their lives to the fullest. Celebrating its 75^th year of operation, the agency began serving the Southwest Florida region in 1946.