Nearly 40 years ago Shirley Ritchey, founder of the Education Foundation of Sarasota County, made a visionary decision to launch a nonprofit to support public education. The Landings, the School District of Sarasota County main headquarters, was a natural place to plant its roots. Being on site provided easy access to district leadership and allowed a newly formed organization to respond quickly and provide support for educators. It was the right place at the right time—and it served us well for 37 years.

As our work expanded, so did our footprint. Five years ago, we opened a satellite office in the Rosemary District, the LaunchPad4U. That space affirmed something we had been learning all along: community matters. When we create welcoming places beyond traditional offices—spaces designed for connection, collaboration, and creativity—we are better able to serve students, teachers, and families.

This summer, we took our next thoughtful step forward by finding a new office that is reflective of the independent and supportive partnership we’ve had since the early years. We will continue to be in schools every day through our Student Success Coaches and Resiliency Coaches, working shoulder-to-shoulder with students, teachers, and administrators.

What this new location offers is room to grow and room to gather: a podcast studio to amplify educator and student voices, and multiple conference rooms for Educator Workshops, PLANit Sarasota meetings, Future-Ready Scholars convenings, and community-based gatherings for students and families. It allows us to continue serving as a research-and-development partner to the district—testing ideas, refining solutions, and scaling what works, as the educational landscape continues to change.

At the heart of this move is a long-held belief: access matters. Our services and support should be visible, welcoming, and accessible to all. Since mid-November, our team has been energized by working together in this shared space, strengthening collaboration and alignment across our programs.

In January, we will mark this milestone with a ribbon cutting, joined by our donors, sponsors, district partners, and community members. It will be a moment to celebrate not just a new address, but a shared commitment—to students, to educators, and to a future where opportunity is within reach for every learner.

This is a new chapter, built on a strong foundation—and we are just getting started. As the poster hanging behind my desk reminds me, and with a nod to Dr. Seuss: Oh! the places we’ll go.

Jennifer Vigne is the President and CEO of the Education Foundation of Sarasota County.