As noon approached on April 29, thousands of faces were glued to their screens, mesmerized by the constant, swirling update of the ticker (and countdown clock) on the Community Foundation of Sarasota County’s website for the 2020 Giving Challenge. I, too, was transfixed on this momentous display of our community’s generosity. Even with mere seconds left in the 24-hour online giving event, waves of gifts were propelling the grand total well beyond the six previous challenges.

With the amazing $10.9 million in gifts provided by the community, our team worked quickly to calculate the truly unique matching gifts provided by The Patterson Foundation. It took a few minutes to reveal The Patterson Foundation match of $7.5 million, but then the screen switched, and an explosion of digital balloons and confetti signaled the virtual end of the 2020 Giving Challenge. In that moment, an invisible thread of awe and heartfelt emotion connected all of us watching those final results via screens.  More than $18.4 million was raised by 59,000 donors to strengthen 686 local nonprofit organizations! Collectively, our hearts were full of the affirmation that the hope we’ve all held on to for so many weeks: our community’s future is in good hands.

Overcoming the uncertainty of our times, the 2020 Giving Challenge returned from noon to noon, April 28 and 29, to inspire a remarkable outpouring of support from donors across our region, standing as a resounding testament to our community’s inherent will to selflessly give to others – individuals, organizations, causes, our community – in need. How fortunate we were that the Giving Challenge is a virtual event so while staying at home, passionate donors and nonprofit partners were able to graciously rise to meet the moment with an unprecedented response of their own and set a new standard for generosity in our community.

The momentum behind this record-breaking support lives in our “Be The One” belief at the Community Foundation of Sarasota County that each of us has the potential to impact a person, a cause, a community. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, this philosophy expanded to include “We Are One,” culminating in a collaborative video project with nearly 150 participating nonprofits in a display of unity, resiliency, and love for community.

Strengthening these efforts during the 2020 Giving Challenge was our longtime partner, The Patterson Foundation, who generously provided a 1:1 match for all unique donations, up to $100 per donor, per organization, which amounted to $7.5 million in additional funds for local nonprofits. With each Giving Challenge, The Patterson Foundation amplifies our community’s philanthropic spirit and encourages participation in charitable giving at all levels, for all generations.  

To say this is important would be an understatement. Now more than ever, these unrestricted gifts will provide a vital lifeline and much needed flexibility for our nonprofit partners as we move forward together to ensure our community not only survives but thrives for times to come. Looking towards the long road ahead, these crucial gifts will also provide nonprofits the means to stay connected and responsive to emerging needs, especially as they evolve during our path to recovery.  And ultimately the people served by our nonprofits are the true beneficiaries.  Whether it is more food for the hungry, opportunities for our arts entities to nourish our soul with creativity, or environmental groups to reconnect us with nature, all our nonprofit partners form a beautiful mosaic that makes our community so beloved. 

While our community has proven time and again that a lot can happen in just 24 hours, it also has shown us the importance of the countless relationships and partnerships that make us feel like we are part of something bigger than ourselves. Through a flurry of virtual events, Zoom calls, and donor shout outs on social media, donors and nonprofits were able to connect on a newfound – and often personal – level, sharing experiences and stories while opening their hearts to new possibilities.

I think this serves as a timely reminder for us all that the spirit of the 2020 Giving Challenge endures long after the ticker hits noon and totals are tallied. As long as we keep our hearts and minds open to all the opportunities we have, we will come together. Each of us can be the one to spread a ripple-effect of kindness throughout our region, no matter the gift, no matter where we may find ourselves.

Roxie Jerde is president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. 

If hilarious memes popping up all over social media by quarantined parents attempting to homeschool their children during the COVID-19 school shutdown are an indication, laughter indeed is good medicine.

“Been homeschooling a 6-year-old and 8-year-old for one hour and 11 minutes. Teachers deserve to make a billion dollars a year. Or a week.”

“At the end of the first day of my attempts at homeschooling, my conclusion: Teachers are superheroes. The end.” 

“Observations after 2.5 hours of homeschooling: 1. Teachers need to be paid more than professional athletes and all of Hollywood combined. 2. Homeschooling will NOT be in our future plan. 3. It’s not too early for a drink.”

Many of us can relate to the lighthearted quips. It helps to ease stress when we see others in the same situation and can laugh together at ourselves.

Underlying the humor is a sincere and welcome heightened appreciation for educators. Homeschooling can be a challenge in the calmest of times, and when parents and children are cooped up, missing their usual social and recreational outlets and daily structure, and in a home environment with entertaining distractions, it can be an impossible feat.

Some might think homeschooling would be an easier pivot for a teacher who’s also a parent. In reality, it adds complexity and competition for the teacher-parent’s time and attention.

Teachers often seem to have super powers, but they really are mortals—albeit heroic mortals--with their own stresses and challenges. 

Imagine yourself, a teacher of special needs students, scurrying to get ready for the first week of remote instruction, which happens to fall on the same week your baby is due to be born. But you are determined that students will see your smiling face on camera and get the reassurance they need. 

Put yourself in the shoes of a principal whose workday has stretched to 24/7 and you now carry two cell phones so you can respond to an enormous volume of emails and calls from parents, students, and teachers while managing the care of your elderly parent. And you extend yourself to comfort and encourage all who depend on your leadership.

Education leaders and behavioral specialists advise us to keep ourselves and our children calm, project positivity, be patient, and try not to stress about strict adherence to curriculum during this pandemic.

That advice was at the heart of our discussion when the Education Foundation of Sarasota County team quickly convened to identify the ways we could swiftly adapt our delivery methods and continue our important work for students, teachers and schools.

While the district prepared its remote instruction plan, we developed and launched virtual support services and resources including college-career advising and mentoring. Continuing these services is especially valuable for high school juniors and seniors whose worlds have been turned upside down just as they entered a new, exciting phase leading to their futures.

We gave special thought to utilizing social media and digital platforms to provide a valuable social-emotional resource and information hub for teachers, students and their families.

The social-emotional learning lessons offered on our website at EdFoundationSRQ.org/social-emotional-learning-lessons are an important component of our resources.  Topics include managing stress before it manages you, managing relationships in tight quarters, managing emotions, bouncing back from challenges, and self-management.

Lessons are presented in professionally produced videos and downloadable handouts, are useful for all ages, and can be accessed by anyone at no charge. The five lessons had a total of 2,380 pageviews four weeks after launching.

The outcome we all want when the crisis is past is for everyone to emerge whole—physically, mentally, emotionally. We will be glad to leave behind the word “coronavirus” but we hope to carry forward new respect, appreciation, and gratitude for everyone who contributes to our children’s education.

That includes professional classroom teachers, principals, instructional aides, support staff, and all of the newly minted homeschool teachers--also known as Mom, Dad, Pop, Nana—who crack jokes at their own expense while doggedly persevering to help their loved ones keep learning.

Jennifer Vigne is president of the Education Foundation of Sarasota County. 

The Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County will host another round of COVID-19 testing for North Sarasota residents from 8 am to noon Tuesday, May 5, at Robert L. Taylor Community Complex, 1845 34th St.

The testing event is one of three sessions scheduled for locations throughout the county next week and is by-appointment only for individuals currently experiencing symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell) or who work in a health care setting.

While these are primarily drive-thru sites, DOH Sarasota can accommodate walk-ups and people on bicycles.

To be evaluated and scheduled for an appointment or for more information, call 941-861-2883 Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm. Callers will be screened using current CDC testing criteria. Appointments are limited, however, more testing opportunities may be scheduled in the future. 

State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF) celebrated the achievements of the Spring Class of 2020 May 1 during a virtual ceremony broadcast on Sarasota Community Radio WSLR, 96.5 FM. The event was also livestreamed on the College’s Facebook page.

“This is the most unique commencement ceremony in the history of our institution and perhaps one of our most important,” SCF President Dr. Carol F. Probstfeld told graduates, acknowledging the COVID-19 crisis wiped out any hope of holding a traditional graduation. But canceling the rite altogether was not an option, she said. “That would have failed to recognize the perseverance and resilience of this graduating class.”

Of the 819 students eligible to participate, 539 earned Associate in Arts degrees, 169 earned Associate in Science degrees and 96 received bachelor’s degrees. Several times during the broadcast, listeners were able to call in with their congratulations and give support to graduates on the air. Comments also were shared to the College’s Facebook page, www.Facebook.com/StateCollegeofFlorida. 

See the graduation Facebook page.

Throughout history and this period of COVID-19 experience, people are asking deep and meaning-filled questions about life and living. How do we pause, reflect and make meaning from our individual and collective experience and apply our lessons learned to ways of being? How do we become as wise, compassionate, grateful, strong, happy, and loving as we can be and reach our potential as individuals and as a community and make a difference for the greater good? Recent science is revealing how these ways of being, of living a brain healthy lifestyle, are creating remarkable positive changes in the physiology of our own central nervous system and increasing outcomes in our own brain health and daily performance across the lifespan. 

Click to find out more about the Mindfulness for Preschoolers Summit.

As part of the club’s ongoing efforts to serve and strengthen the community during the current pandemic, the Orioles announced that they will partner with OneBlood, Inc. to host a blood drive at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, on Thursday, May 7, from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. The blood drive will take place in the East Lot of the stadium, located on the corner of 12th St. and Tuttle Ave. All fans who donate blood will receive an Orioles Backpack Cooler, OneBlood T-shirt, and a wellness checkup. In addition to following all FDA guidelines, OneBlood has implemented additional social distancing safety protocols to protect donors and staff. All donors are asked to make an appointment to help with following social distancing guidelines. Walk-in appointments will not be accepted. 

Click here to make an appointment to donate blood.

The City of Sarasota has extended its declaration of a local citywide public health emergency through May 8 following a weekly review, as required by the City Charter, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The order also relaxes certain provisions of the City’s zoning code to encourage and facilitate outdoor dining possibilities due to indoor occupancy restrictions.

The emergency order issued Friday by City Manager Tom Barwin, in consultation with Mayor Jen Ahearn-Koch and City Attorney Robert Fournier, follows Gov. Ron DeSantis’ recent statewide order limiting the indoor occupancy of restaurants to no more than 25 percent of their building occupancy. Allowing outdoor seating with appropriate social distancing may help restaurants and their patrons to slowly begin the recovery phase of the pandemic.

The City has already waived building permit fees for construction adaptations necessary to make them more compatible with new social distancing practices.

“Our staff has been proactive in looking into options for how we can help businesses reopen in a safe, simple and fast manner and begin the economic recovery,” Barwin said. “We’re taking action to streamline requirements now so that our small businesses can start preparing and will be ready to open next week while following social distancing guidelines.”

As part of Friday’s emergency order, the public is again very strongly urged to wear protective masks when leaving home to conduct essential activities, and to acquire protective masks if they have not already. 

Additional resources for small businesses.

Manatee Memorial Hospital is preparing to perform certain elective surgeries after Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced he is kicking off phase one of the state’s reopening plan, allowing resumption of surgeries beginning Monday, May 4, 2020. Kevin DiLallo, CEO at Manatee Memorial Hospital says while the hospital is ready to meet the surgical needs of our patients, he recognizes that some individuals may have concerns about coming to the hospital while some COVID-19 cases are still being reported in the state. “I want to assure the public that we are doing everything we can to ensure the health and safety of patients and staff during this challenging time,” DiLallo says.

“To give patients greater piece of mind, the hospital implemented additional safety protocols that include: screening temperature checks and health questions being asked at entry points before anyone is allowed to enter the hospital; deep cleaning and disinfection; suspended visitation; as well as practicing appropriate social distancing,” says DiLallo. “Our enhanced cleaning and sanitizing protocols also include the use of UV light sterilization, as a further method of disinfection.”

The surgery team at Manatee Memorial Hospital is working with physician offices to accommodate the scheduling of surgeries and procedures that were postponed due to COVID-19, or that may have recently become a health priority. Patients are encouraged to contact their surgeon or physician for more information. “Our top priority is to ensure that we are providing a safe, quality experience for patients where they can feel protected during their hospitalization,” says DiLallo. 

Click for more info.