Junior League of Sarasota Awards $45,000 in Community Grants

November 2, 2020 – Sarasota

The Junior League of Sarasota (JLS) awarded eight grants to local non-profit organizations totaling $45,000 in October 2020.

A total of 87 applicants were considered during the grant selection process. Committee members scored the applicants based on the four core areas of the JLS mission: children, women, families, and young adults aging out of foster care.

The following recipients were selected:

· Everyday Blessings $9,000 – This grant will fund much needed home improvements such as new flooring and window treatments in single-occupant apartments for youth who have aged out of foster care.

· Florida Studio Theatre $5,000 – This grant will fund the Write A Play program specifically at Wilkinson Elementary School.. The Write A Play program’s objective is to ignite a child’s creative spirit and motivate them to recognize the joy from using their imaginations. Write A Play inspires students to write plays through exercises that promote critical and creative thinking, while reinforcing literacy and strengthening language and communication skills.

· Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida $2,000 – This grant will fund the Mischief Managed program – a one-day, hands-on, interactive experience themed around the Harry Potter book series for Girl Scouts in grades K through 12. Following the program, participants can take their kit home with them and explore more than 70 step-by-step coding challenges. Participants will also enjoy learning about basic chemistry by creating invisible color-changing ink and unleash their creativity with several arts and crafts projects. Girls in all grade levels may participate, with additional assistance and instruction for younger girls as needed.

· Girls Inc. $6,541 – This grant will fund the Family Strengthening Program Model which offers mental health services and support for girls and their families at no cost. Specifically, these dollars would purchase iPads and updated Girls Circle curriculum.

· North Port Coalition for Homeless/Needy Children $10,000 – This grant will fund the purchase of various sized tote bags which will be filled with hygiene products for public schools and preschools throughout North Port. The schools will distribute these products to the homeless and needy children on an ongoing and monthly basis. North Port Coalition hopes to exceed their 2019 distribution of 7,410 hygiene tote bags.

· Safe Children Coalition (SCC) $4,000 – The SCC has an Independent Living Program for youth over the age of 18 who have aged out of foster care. The Independent Living Program provides a place for foster youth to stay while receiving counseling, and job training. The Independent Living Program also provides assistance for foster youth who are unable to work due to disabilities. This grant will fund the purchase of six laptops and 15 $100 gift cards for the youth to provide access to postsecondary education and the ability to search for jobs. The gift cards would allow youth to dress for success and purchase work- appropriate clothes for job interviews.

· Take Stock in Children of Sarasota (TSIC) Program $1,000 – This grant would fund ACT/SAT prep books for 40 high school juniors in the TSIC program, identified as at risk, low-income students.

· Tidewell Hospice $7,448 – This grant would fund Blue Butterfly Corners in the Sarasota and Venice Hospice Houses. The Blue Butterfly Corners are areas in each hospice house specifically for children and teens. This area will include child and teen-sized furniture, soothing artwork, activities, books, and resources for families to learn how they can speak to their children about grief.

For more information on the Junior League go to jlsarasota.org