« Back To SRQ Daily Archive

SRQ DAILY Sep 3, 2016

"Ask any fundraising professional and they'll tell you that unrestricted funds are hard to come by, but vital for nonprofits to operate. "

- Roxie Jerde, Community Foundation of Sarasota County
 

[Education]  Students Tackle Community Issues
Jennifer Vigne, jvigne@edfoundationsrq.org

As glorious as our community is, I think we would all agree we don’t live in Utopia. Similar to any other community across America, we face critical issues each and every day, most of which are difficult to mitigate, much less eradicate. A multitude of local experts are dedicated to addressing these issues, whether its homelessness, lack of affordable housing, environmental issues or diversifying the local economy, just to name a few. While we acknowledge there is no quick fix or easy solution, we continue to strive in earnest for solutions that will strengthen our community and quality of life.

On October 14-16, Sarasota County students will join in to solve our thorniest community issues in a very unique way.

Sixty students will convene for the Education Foundation of Sarasota County’s inaugural #SRQHacks Hackathon. At this three-day conference, this special group of 13- to 18-year-olds will work together in project-based teams to address our community’s most critical issues. Each team will consist of qualified area professionals who will serve as volunteer mentors— designers, developers and innovators—to create mobile applications or web-based platforms that will provide solutions to address these issues. We are still recruiting mentors! Please contact us if you’re interested.

One of the many exciting aspects of #SRQHacks Hackathon is a partnership with the Herald-Tribune Media Group and SCOPE as they moderate a community Town Hall meeting on September 22. With students, issue-specific experts, community leaders and parents alike, we will use that forum to identify the most urgent community issues that will be addressed during October’s Hackathon.

We are excited to amplify the voices of our students—our community’s future leaders—and involve them by leveraging their creativity, critical thinking and collaboration to design new solutions for our community’s benefit. 21st century learning is happening right here, right now, with real issues. The issues we solve together by unlocking our students’ potential will get a once step closer to a brighter tomorrow.

Jennifer Vigne is executive director of the Education Foundation of Sarasota County. 

[Community]  Ready For Giving
Roxie Jerde, roxie@cfsarasota.org

In just over two weeks, our community will once again rally to support one of the biggest days of giving in the entire Southeastern United States. Over the last few months, more than 550 local nonprofit organizations have been ramping up their fundraising efforts for the 2016 24-Hour Giving Challenge, happening on September 20 and 21, noon to noon.

Since 2012, donors from throughout our region and beyond have shown their love and generosity for local nonprofit organizations by providing more than $15 million in unrestricted funding to support their missions. Last year’s event set a new standard for generosity in our community, when more than $7 million was raised in just 24 hours to benefit 449 nonprofits in our region.

I am often asked what the story is behind the Giving Challenge, and there are a number of answers.

The Importance of Nonprofit Transparency

Primarily, the Giving Challenge is all about raising awareness about the importance of informed giving and transparency, as well as promoting the great organizations that are doing impactful work right in our own back yard. In 2011, the Community Foundation of Sarasota County sought to raise every person’s power of choice in philanthropy. Through a collaboration of local foundation partners, The Giving Partner (www.TheGivingPartner.org) was created as a free, local source for in-depth information on local nonprofits’ programs and impact, leadership, needs and financial history available to everyone in the community, 365 days of the year. A commitment to transparency by having an up-to-date profile in The Giving Partner is the only qualification for participating in the Giving Challenge.

Unrestricted Funding is Hard to Come By

One of the best aspects of the Giving Challenge is that all the donations are invested back into our community. It offers an avenue for local nonprofits to raise unrestricted funds. Ask any fundraising professional and they’ll tell you that unrestricted funds are hard to come by, but vital for nonprofits to operate. Often, grants from government entities and foundations are tied into specific programs and large donors also tend to fund specific projects or outcomes over operational costs. The Giving Challenge allows organizations to unashamedly appeal for these unrestricted funds to cover their operations, and perhaps open up possibilities for them to expand an existing program or test a project they’ve had in the planning books.

Everyone Can Be a Philanthropist

We believe everyone has the potential to impact another person, a cause, a community, and Giving Days have become a big driving force in democratizing philanthropy.  With a minimum donation amount of $25, anyone can be the one to make a difference during the Giving Challenge. Even more exciting, The Patterson Foundation is offering a 2:1 match for new donors and a 1:1 match for returning donors, each up to $100 per organization, so you know your gift is going even further. The incentive also helps nonprofits develop relationships with a demographic of donors they may not have necessarily gotten in front of without the Challenge.

By investing dollars back into our community through local nonprofits, those who contribute during the 2016 Giving Challenge add another vote of confidence for the impact that our local organizations are achieving, as well as reinforce our region’s reputation as the philanthropic capital of the Southeast.  We hope you take a moment or two out of those 24-hours to be the one to make a difference. You can learn more at www.GivingPartnerChallenge.org.

The 2016 Giving Challenge is presented by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County with giving strengthened by The Patterson Foundation, as well as support from Manatee Community Foundation, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, William G. and Marie Selby Foundation, and the Herald-Tribune Media Group. 

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



[SCOOP]  Music Compound Grand Opening

The Music Compound will celebrate the grand opening of their new location in Sarasota. The move and expansion ribbon cutting will begin at 4:30 pm on September 9 leading into the Grand Opening Party from 5:00 pm to 8:00pm. Admission is free and will be filled with performances, food, drinks and a variety of live entertainment.  

Music Compound

[SCOOP]  Costa Rica Rainforest Body Rolling Retreat

Roll away for a week of profound healing, healthy organic food and unique adventure as master trainer, Dianne Glass, guides you daily through a detailed Yamuna® Body Rolling program October 9-15 in the Costa Rica rainforest. Melt stress, relieve pain and enjoy a nourishing and healing body holiday.  You deserve it. 

Yamuna Body Rolling

[SCOOP]  Symfony Lens

The Center For Sight is the first ophthalmology practice in Southwest Florida to implant the TECNIS Symfony Intraocular lens (IOL).  This inventive lens has restored patients with glasses free vision, and is now approved for US patients with cataracts who desire sharp vision without the hassle of glasses. The Symfony Lens minimizes side affects related to cataract surgery, and is even available to patients with presbyopia or astigmatism.  

Center For Sight

[KUDOS]  Good Climb

Goodwill Manasota Ambassador Nick Altier will climb Mont Blanc to raise funds in support of Goodwill’s programs and services. Altier leaves for France on July 14 and will take on all 4,810 meters of Mont Blanc. He hopes to raise one dollar for every meter he climbs, and urges people to make a pledge.   

Goodwill Manasota

[SCOOP]  SMH Level II Trauma Center

After successfully completing an application process with the Florida Department of Health, Sarasota Memorial Health Care System is to become a verified Level II Trauma Center. This will be the first and only trauma program in Sarasota County, and brings together a team of highly specialized trauma surgeons on 24/7 standby as well as new and equipped facilities. The Center is set to open at the end of 2016.   

Sarasota Memorial

[SCOOP]  SCD "Jazzy" Dance

Sarasota Contemporary Dance 11th season, features Jazz dancers and choreographers. The shows will take place October through May in a series of four performances, and promises to bring the Sarasota area with diverse and unique dance not to be seen anywhere else.  

Sarasota Contemporary Dance

[SCOOP]  Circuelle BePinked Challenge

Join the Circuelle Foundation in their free BePinked 21 day challenge. Starting September 1, the challenge aims for you to develop new habits by providing vital breast tips, fitness challenges nutritional goals and recipes.   

Circuelle Foundation

SRQ Media Group

SRQ DAILY is produced by SRQ | The Magazine. Note: The views and opinions expressed in the Saturday Perspectives Edition and in the Letters department of SRQ DAILY are those of the author(s) and do not imply endorsement by SRQ Media. Senior Editor Jacob Ogles edits the Saturday Perspective Edition, Letters and Guest Contributor columns.In the CocoTele department, SRQ DAILY is providing excerpts from news releases as a public service. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by SRQ DAILY. The views expressed by individuals are their own and their appearance in this section does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. For rates on SRQ DAILY banner advertising and sponsored content opportunities, please contact Ashley Ryan Cannon at 941-365-7702 x211 or via email

Copyright © 2024 by SRQ Media Group, 331 South Pineapple Avenue, Sarasota, FL 34236.
Powered by Sarasota Web Design | Unsubscribe

Read More

Where Oil Meets Water

Where Oil Meets Water

Phil Lederer | Mar 1, 2024

Freedom to Wander

Freedom to Wander

Laura Paquette | Mar 1, 2024

Drive and Dine

Drive and Dine

Laura Paquette | Mar 1, 2024

A Mesmerizing Journey

A Mesmerizing Journey

Barbie Heit | Mar 1, 2024