Pictured: (l-r) Mirza Velic, Chief Experience Officer of Sarasota Ford (accepting the award on Buchanan's behalf) with Executive Publisher of SRQ Magazine, Wes Roberts. Photo by Wyatt Kostygan.

Each year, SRQ Media invites the community to nominate individuals with hearts of giving who have made a significant impact with local nonprofit organizations — from volunteers and board members to individual staff members and donors. This year, attendees were thrilled to be together as we recognized these individuals at our annual Giving Coast and Good Hero Awards luncheon and panel discussion on Tuesday, January 28 at Michael’s on East in Sarasota. In the coming weeks, we are happy to feature each of the ten honorees in our Wednesday Philanthropic edition of SRQ Daily.

Today we are recognizing a Corporate Good Hero, Sarasota Ford’s Matt Buchanan. Sarasota Ford has been a major sponsor of the Thunder By The Bay Music & Motorcycle Festival, benefitting Suncoast Charities for Children, for 20 years organizing toy drives and hurricane/flood relief drives. They also organized the "One Community One Team" initiative to recognize selfless efforts of local citizens, teachers, police officers, firefighters, first responders, members of the military and Veterans by rewarding them with all-expense paid experiences. They are truly a corporate good hero making a positive impact on so many here in our local community.

Pictured: (l-r) Mirza Velic, Chief Experience Officer of Sarasota Ford (accepting the award on Buchanan's behalf) with Executive Publisher of SRQ Magazine, Wes Roberts. Photo by Wyatt Kostygan.