Scott Libertore was born in Miami, moved with his family to Chicago for a couple of years, then to back to Florida in Englewood, until he finally ended up in Sarasota in the ‘90s where he’s been ever since. Here in town, he has been an active member of numerous charity boards since 2010. When he sees a need, he jumps into action by donating and raising funds to help. “Making a difference is important to me. Besides spending a lot of time working on various businesses, I’ve always felt the need to do more from a charitable perspective,” he says. “It is also important to set an example for your children, family and friends on addressing the needs of your community and beyond.”

Libertore began his giving journey by coordinating and chairing golf tournaments and tennis matches for various children’s charities, raising over $1.5 million over a three-year period. “One of the golfing events we did was at the Longboat Key Club, where we had a golf tournament combined with an amazing dinner and auction where we raised three quarters of a million dollars,” he shares. “The support from the community was incredible. It’s amazing when you put the work in to help children, how much the community rallies around the efforts!”

Locally, Libertore is well-known for his passion for helping disadvantaged children overcome obstacles so that they can realize a better future. “After a few years of giving to various organizations and charities, I wanted to do even more, and I wanted it to continue long after I was gone, family legacy stuff, so I created the Libertore Fund for Children in March 2015. This step allowed us to achieve our goal of creating a larger and more lasting impact on those in need. I am motivated to help children because they can’t help themselves and if the children know the community supports them even though others haven’t, it gives them hope for a brighter future,” he explains. Through his fund, he also added scholarships for children to help pay to pursue their talents and dreams through sports and the arts.

In addition to his work with Libertore Fund for Children, Libertore has been involved with the YMCA and All Star Children’s Foundation and he has personally donated to these organizations. In addition, he has helped raise $1,000,000 dollars through successful events. “Finding time to help others is something you just make happen when it’s important enough,” he says. 

Libertore’s passion for helping others, he shares, was passed down from his philanthropic father. “My father was my business inspiration and I have learned so much about doing the right thing for clients and customers, which easily translates to doing the right things for children in need.” Clearly, he has also passed this spirit onto his own children. “I remember sponsoring an event in combination with the Heart Gallery where there were pictures of children that were in need of adoption and you could pick up the phone and hear each of their stories,” he shares. “Fast forward many years, my oldest daughter actually adopted a 12-year-old into her family of three children and accepted her as their own. There’s no better reward than that.”

For those interested in becoming more involved in the philanthropic community, Libertore shares these words of wisdom. “There are so many good organizations to be part of locally. First and foremost is identifying what’s most important to you and finding the best charity that aligns with your passions.”

Never expecting recognition or accolades for his philanthropic efforts, Libertore says that it took him by surprise to learn he was a Good Hero Philanthropic Award recipient last year. “With that being said, it’s ok to take a minute and realize you have made an impact on children’s lives and that truly feels amazing.”  Scott Libertore was honored as a Good Hero by SRQ Magazine in December 2023.