Sunshine From Darkness Announces Inspiring Hope Dinner Program

December 6, 2023 – Sarasota

Sunshine From Darkness, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the funding of local mental health services and programs and mental health research, has announced its 2024 Inspiring Hope Dinner. The organization’s annual fundraising event will take place on Friday, January 12, 2024 at 6:30 p.m. at the Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota (1111 Ritz Carlton Drive).

This year’s keynote speaker will be American comedian, actor, producer and writer Tom Arnold, who will speak about his journey with anxiety and longtime battles with addiction. Arnold has been sober for over five years but he’s faced addiction, sobriety, and relapse at different points in his Hollywood career as well as significant health challenges. Today, he is in recovery and sharing his journey publicly in order to give hope to others who face the same demons.

The evening will feature “Faces Behind the Stories,” shining a spotlight on the personal, sometimes difficult journeys of four members of our community: Roger Capote, senior vice president, marketing & community relations and CCO, CAN Community Health; Kelvin Foster, chaplain, North River Fire District and American Red Cross Disaster spiritual care regional advisor for Central and SW Florida; Sydney Koffman, chemical engineer; and Linda Larsen, motivational speaker.

The event will also feature the awarding of the 2024 Lee and Bob Peterson Legacy Award to Bunny Skirboll, founder of Compeer, Inc., a lively paddle raise, live music with Quintessence – featuring some very special guest vocalists, including Chris Eisenberg, who will perform selections from his Frank Sinatra tribute show, “Frank & Me,” Raleigh Mosely II and Ariel Blue – and dancing. 

Co-chairs are Amie Austin, Ph.D., Sarah Karp Renkliyuz and Taylor Karp Teymuri. Exclusive Dinner Sponsor is Elisabeth Waters; Luminary Sponsors are David Peterson and Jeffrey Peterson; Benefactor Sponsor is the Arthur Karp Family Foundation; and Patron Sponsors are Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation/Health Care System, Sydney & Madison Koffman, Sunset Automotive Group and Canandaigua National Bank & Trust. 

More than 380 were in attendance for the Inspiring Hope Dinner in January of 2023; the event grossed more than $200,000, with proceeds allocated toward the mission of Sunshine From Darkness, the local mental health services of Harvest House and Teen Court of Sarasota, and cutting-edge research funded by the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation.  

Founded as a subsidiary of the Lee and Bob Peterson Foundation, Sunshine From Darkness hosts events throughout the year that bring mental health and addiction awareness and education to the forefront of the community, providing professionals and philanthropists with the opportunity to engage with the broader mental health community. Its mission is to enhance and promote mental health wellness in our community.

Tickets are $350; proceeds will benefit Sunshine From Darkness’s “blue door services,” which will focus on emotional literacy for youth, and youth mental health research. For more about Sunshine From Darkness or to purchase tickets to the Inspiring Hope Dinner, visit sunshinefromdarkness.org.