The Arthur T. Esslinger Memorial Fund at the Community Foundation of Sarasota has donated $2,284 in an immediate impact grant to allow the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota to buy Otoscopes/Ophthalmoscope Diagnostic Kits that will allow nursing students to master skills of patient physical assessments for Ear, Nose, Throat and eye ailments.
The new kits will be available to students, faculty and lab personnel at the SCF Lakewood Ranch Nursing Simulation Center.
BSN nursing students will actively practice ENT and eye assessments using these kits in real-life teaching scenarios. The kits also will help BSN nursing students gain skills in using clinical reasoning.
The college has 14 kits for more than 90 students who need access to them this semester. The grant will help SCF purchase an additional four kits.
The Gulf Coast Community Foundation has awarded $67,200 in emergency grants to nine local nonprofit organizations in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Irma. The funding came from the Gulf Coast Disaster Fund, which the foundation activated just before the storm to accept donations from the public in anticipation of potential damage, and the Community Health Endowment Fund, a permanently endowed fund at Gulf Coast designated for health care needs.
The following organizations received the emergency grants: All Faiths Food Bank, $10,000, Gulf Coast Disaster Fund, for food and water distribution and logistics support; Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice, $10,000, Gulf Coast Disaster Fund, to distribute food, water and household cleaning kits; Education Foundation of Sarasota County, $5,000, Gulf Coast Disaster Fund, to restore classrooms and replenish supplies in schools used as emergency shelters; Harvest House, $10,000, Community Health Endowment Fund, for cleanup of supportive and affordable housing properties, hurricane supplies for clients, and lost rent; Jewish Family and Children’s Service of the Suncoast, $4,700, Gulf Coast Disaster Fund, for food and rehousing; Laurel Civic Association, $10,000, Gulf Coast Disaster Fund, for food assistance and temporary lodging for affected residents in Laurel; Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, $2,500, Gulf Coast Disaster Fund, for storm recovery materials and supplies; Pines of Sarasota Foundation, $10,000, Community Health Endowment Fund, to help restore air-conditioning to buildings at the Pines; Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation, $5,000, Community Health Endowment Fund, for patient needs and special-needs shelter.
The Gulf Coast Community Foundation continues to accept gifts to its Disaster Fund and assess emerging needs at regional nonprofit organizations resulting from Hurricane Irma.
Pinkerton Wealth Management of Venice was the lead title sponsor of the First Annual Family Promise Dream Walk, Nov. 11 in downtown Venice.
The Bradenton Kiwanis Club recently awarded the George F. Hixson Fellowship to Angela Edwards and Tompie Vita in recognition of their contributions to the Kiwanis Children’s Fund. Both women are strong advocates of children and community service.
Edwards has assisted her husband, William, over the last four-plus years with Key Club and its events, chaperoned Key Club Conventions, both district and international, and participated in Coastal Cleanups and Kiwanis “Christmas in August” projects.
In the community, she is an advocate for the prevention of domestic violence and supports Hope Family Services, the Women’s Resource Center and Sunshine Kids.
Vita has actively participated in the Bradenton Kiwanis Club’s Youth Leadership programs, as well as programs on the state and international levels. She also has supported Entre Nous, Young Life, St. Joseph School and Cardinal Mooney High School.
The George F. Hixson Fellowship is named after Kiwanis International’s first president. Hixson Fellowships are awarded to donors who give $1,000 or more to the Kiwanis Children’s Fund.
Wagner Realty sponsored a successful golf outing at the Bradenton Country Club to raise money for the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.
The event drew 68 golfers and nearly 100 gifts and prizes, including two weekend island staycations and a 55-inch LED flat screen Smart TV, all donated for the silent auction and raffle.
Participants of note were Bob Harrigan, of ABC7 WWSB, Sheriff Rick Wells, Maj. Bill Jordon and Capt. Todd Shear, playing for the Sheriff’s Office. The Bradenton Police Department lent its support with a foursome made up of Assistant Chief Josh Cramer, Officer Mike Tolson, Sgt. Shannon Seymour and Detective Jeff Beckley. Bradenton Police Chief Melanie Bevan came for lunch.
Taking first place in the golf tournament was the Early Learning Coalition team: Pat Cassella, Miguel Rosa, Matt Faul and Larry Waterman.
The Our Sarasota Fund and the McCauley-Brown Fund of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County awarded Embracing Our Differences a $2,750 grant in recognition of the organization’s work promoting diversity and LGBTQ+ issues.
The Our Sarasota Fund is a charitable group focused on assisting local nonprofit organizations that offer programs that improve the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. The funds will be directed to projects that expand LGBTQ+ inclusivity and educator workshops, according to Michael Shelton, EOD’s executive director.
Since 2004, EOD’s outdoor art exhibit celebrating the theme of “enriching lives through diversity," has showcased the art and words of thousands of artists and writers from around the world, including hundreds of area-based students and educators.
In July, Goodwill Manasota and the Bradenton Marauders partnered on a “Star Wars Night” during a game at LECOM Park. The event raised nearly $1,300 through a Star Wars-themed jersey auction.
The money will support Goodwill Manasota’s Veterans Services Program. Numerous members of the public dressed up as their favorite Star Wars characters and received a special thank you if they showed a receipt indicating their costume came from Goodwill. A Goodwill gift certificate was awarded to the winner of the Star Wars costume contest.
Thanks to a special federal grant and partnership with All Faiths Food Bank, JFCS recently honored seven Health Family program participants who graduated from its six-week Cooking Matters program.
This free program gave participants the opportunity to learn how to prepare healthy meals on a budget for the entire family and use a variety of kitchen appliances and tools. They also received tips-of-the-trade, take-home recipes, a completed meal they prepared during the class and ingredients to make the meal at home again.
JFCS plans to offer Cooking Matters again in January to anyone participating in its Healthy Families/Healthy Children program.
Gulf Coast Community Foundation recently awarded Embracing Our Differences a $40,000 grant to help fund its 2018 outdoor exhibition, which will run April 4 to May 31 in Sarasota’s Island Park. The grant will also be used for EOD’s annual educational outreach programs and initiatives.
The grant will provide vital resources for EOD’s Make-A-Day-of-It! program, which funds bus transportation for thousands of students and teachers to visit the outdoor exhibits and other arts and cultural venues.
A portion of the grant will also be directed to Embracing Our Differences’ annual teacher workshops and retreats.