Photo courtesy of The Community Foundation of Sarasota County.

Last week, the Community Foundation of Sarasota County gathered to honor a long-held tradition: celebrating the individuals and families whose charitable legacies continue to shape lives here at home and beyond.

We were joined by those whose legacies we may one day carry forward, as well as community leaders whose careers and volunteer efforts strengthen our region every day. Our theme was joyful connection, because I believe that philanthropy begins there. The decision to give is often born in a moment of connection and compassion, when one person truly sees another and recognizes a shared humanity that rises above the divisions that can so easily pull us apart.

This year, we invited guests to share a photo of a joyful moment from the previous year. As they arrived, their own smiling faces filled the screen. What followed at each table was the kind of conversation that reminds you why community still matters. People shared stories behind the images—milestones, reunions, quiet victories. Laughter echoed. A few tears were shed. In those exchanges, connections deepened across the room. And naturally, the conversation turned to legacy: What do we want to be remembered for? What do we hope to build together?

I shared a few photos of my own—my family on vacation in Panama, a challenging hike with my husband in New Hampshire’s White Mountains and a moment moderating a panel at the 20th anniversary of the University of South Florida’s Women in Leadership & Philanthropy program. I shared these glimpses because they reflect the moments that shape who we are. Philanthropy is not transactional; it is deeply human. To truly know someone—their history, their values, their motivations—is the biggest honor of our work at the Community Foundation. We can only steward the future well when we honor the stories that brought us here.

Perhaps the most moving part of the program came from Terrance Jackson, the director of education and engagement at Asolo Repertory Theatre, who shared photos from throughout his life—from being born at Sarasota Memorial Hospital to graduating from Booker High School, performing around the country and now living back home again. He received a scholarship from the Community Foundation’s Allen Wirtz Nobbe and Jo Bowen Nobbe Scholarship Fund, which has awarded millions in scholarship dollars to more than 1,100 students in Sarasota County since Jo’s passing. Jo cared deeply about educational empowerment and opportunity. Seeing her photo alongside Terrance’s story was a vivid reminder that generosity, when nurtured carefully, can echo across generations.

When a legacy reverberates decades later—when one person’s belief becomes another person’s opportunity—there’s only one word for the feeling I get: joy.

Jessica Muroff is the President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County.

Photo courtesy of The Community Foundation of Sarasota County.