Gulf Coast Community Foundation Provides a $10,000 Grant to Teen Court of Sarasota

With the generous support of the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Teen Court of Sarasota, Inc. will provide transformative and preventive services for youth in North Port, Florida. This $10,000 grant, made possible through the Anna V. Pfister, Nellie Mae Koss and Helen K. Hadden Memorial endowment, will support our services for youth in North Port.

Teen Court has served Sarasota County youth with second chance programs to help them stay in school and ultimately go on to lead successful lives for over 30 years. As we saw the need for additional support and gaps in the South County area, Teen Court made court sessions easily accessible
for families living in South County. The Gulf Coast Community Foundation was with us from the beginning with our expansion of Sarasota County Teen Court services and programs in North Port. This $10,000 grant will provide preventative and behavioral services and programs that
help our young people through a difficult time.

Heather Todd, Executive Director of Teen Court says, “The North Port residents have Teen Court service opportunities in their backyard thanks to Gulf Coast Community Foundation’s generosity. At a time where support is critical, and resources are scarce the families that Teen Court serves will not have the financial burden when they are looking for help. Kudos to the
Gulf Coast Community Foundation for valuing the importance of positive redirection through services, not consequences for today’s youth”.

We are truly grateful for The Gulf Coast Community Foundation’s further investment in us and the opportunity to serve our young people in the North Port. We are grateful for the accessibility families have of our new location in North Port since 2018 and with the help of Gulf Coast Community Foundation we will continue to reach all those who need our services and build relationships with families in a positive way.

About Gulf Coast Community Foundation: Together with our donors, Gulf Coast Community Foundation transforms our region through bold and proactive philanthropy. Gulf Coast is a public charity that was created in 1995 through the sale of the Venice Hospital. Since then, we have become the philanthropic home of nearly 1,000 families, individuals, organizations, and businesses that have established charitable funds here, and we have invested over $390 million in grants in the areas of health and human services, civic and economic development, education, arts and culture, and the environment. Learn more at GulfCoastCF.org.

Teen Court of Sarasota, Inc. is an alternative to Juvenile Court, allowing a young person a second chance of having a bright future. Youth who come through Teen Court participate in a court program run by their peers, under the supervision of a volunteer adult judge. Student volunteers who participate in our Teen Court program receive a law-related education along with community service hours for their time. In complement to the Teen Court program, the organization also offers counseling services, drug prevention, anti-bullying, and anger management classes to those youth who demonstrate extra need.