It was a dreamy night as fans and supporters gathered for "An Intimate Evening with Jennifer Holliday" at the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe (WBTT) on Monday, March 11.

Founder and Artistic Director, Nate Jacobs first took the stage to share stories of the theater’s history and the work involved in keeping its legacy alive through fundraising efforts. He then introduced longtime friend and colleague, Jennifer Holliday, who spoke openly with Jacobs about her humble beginnings singing with the choir at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Houston, Texas, her first Broadway performance in Your Arms Are Too Short To Box With God, her iconic role as Effie in Dreamgirls and the struggles that she’s endured over the past several years in an industry where it's often hard to maintain success.

Accompanied by WBTT's resident music director and pianist extraordinaire, Matthew McKinnon, Holliday delighted the audience with her opening musical number, I Feel Good, reflecting on her current state of well-being. After a few more songs, she sat down with Jacobs for a second time, giving the audience the opportunity to learn more about her legendary life and career. For young artists just trying to make it, Holliday shared some advice: “No matter how hard it gets, just stay ready–have your audition piece ready, because when preparation meets opportunity, that’s when the magic happens,” she said.

Holliday later wowed the audience with favorites from Dreamgirls, including I am Changing, her own special medley of the title number from Dreamgirls with Corner of the Sky from Pippin, followed by her show-stopping performance of One Night Only. She ended the evening with a standing ovation after a very powerful rendition of And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going.

The special evening included lite bites and beverages from Rosemary and Thyme and a meet and greet with Holliday, along with photo opportunities. With this fundraising event, WBTT achieved their main goal–to provide intimate access to an artist of Holliday's stature, not only to their supporters but also their artists, who were thrilled to have the opportunity to see a legend up close and learn so much about the industry from hearing her stories.  

Pictured: Jennifer Holliday shared stories of her career highs and lows with WBTT Founder/Artistic Director, Nate Jacobs. Photo by Sorcha Augustine.

In a strategic move to better reflect its mission and to facilitate broader community engagement, Transition Sarasota is rebranding as Community Harvest SRQ. Community Harvest SRQ is a non-profit organization committed to reducing food waste, addressing food insecurity, and fostering a resilient local food economy across Sarasota and Manatee counties. Through its signature food rescue initiatives, frequent educational events, and annual Eat Local Week, the organization continues to lead efforts to build a more resilient, sustainable, and equitable future. The new name, Community Harvest SRQ, expresses the organization’s efforts to provide equitable access to healthy food, support the local community, and work toward a more sustainable future. While its “doing business” name has changed, the organization will continue to do its valuable work in the community just as before. Community Harvest SRQ remains part of the worldwide Transition movement, a network of grassroots groups actively cultivating just, resilient, and regenerative communities at the local level. The organization’s legal name will remain as Transition Sarasota Inc. With enhanced brand clarity, Community Harvest SRQ aims to expand its reach and services. It will continue to support local food recovery through three initiatives: The Suncoast Gleaning Project, Suncoast Fruit Rescue, and the new Farmers Market Produce Recovery program. It will also present the annual Eat Local Week celebration and offer educational events yearly. To learn more about these programs and how to get involved, visit https://www.communityharvestsrq.org/get-involved. The rebranding project and the new farmers market program both were made possible in part through support from the Charles and Margery Barancik Foundation. 

Executive Director Joyce Norris with boxes of greens recovered from a local farm. Photo Courtesy of Community Harvest SRQ.

Community Harvest SRQ

On Monday morning, March 18, Mote Marine Laboratory released a subadult, believed-female loggerhead sea turtle nicknamed "Clarice." She has been outfitted with a Passive Integrated Transponder and flipper tags, which provide identification data for Clarice if future needs arise. She was released at Lido Beach and was carried into the water due to a previous injury to one of her flippers. Although she initially swam in the wrong direction, Clarice, with the help of Mote's Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital Staff, found the sea.Clarice's tale began on a Halloween night, October 31, 2023, when she was found adrift three miles off the coast from the Venice Fishing Pier in Sarasota County. Weighed down by an abundance of epibiota, typically parasitic organisms that live on other living organisms, and showing signs of anemia, a condition where the blood lacks healthy red blood cells, and low blood glucose, Clarice was swiftly brought to Mote's Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital for care. Upon her arrival, it became evident that Clarice was suffering from what was suspected to be debilitated turtle syndrome, a condition where turtles become lethargic and anemic. She was placed in a rehab pool with shallow water, gradually adjusting to her surroundings. Despite her weakened state, Clarice showed a spark of resilience by eagerly foraging on capelin and squid. In the following days and weeks, Clarice's condition improved steadily. With each passing day, she became more active, and her tank depth was adjusted accordingly. Mote’s Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital staff carefully monitored her diet and increased as she regained her strength. Regular treatments, including antibiotics, iron injections, and deworming, helped in her recovery process. Clarice's progress has been remarkable. After 140 days of dedicated care and rehabilitation, Clarice has been deemed fit for release. Clarice's story serves as a testament to the resilience of these magnificent creatures and the tireless efforts of those committed to their conservation. 

Pictured: Clarice the sea turtle is helped back to the ocean. Photo Courtesy of Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium.

Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium

In early March, the Music Compound Album Ensemble, comprising 14 students, ages 13 to 70, and five staff members, presented two performances of the complete "Rumours" album by Fleetwood Mac. Proceeds from the concert benefited Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center, or SPARCC, a charity selected to reflect the troubled circumstances that famously surrounded the band during the recording of the album. Music Compound studio manager Alyssa Martin delivered a check for $542 to SPARCC in mid-March.The Album Ensemble is one of many programs Music Compound provides for adults and youth who wish to connect with like-minded individuals in a positive and fun learning environment. Music Compound has locations in Bradenton and Sarasota. For more information, visit musiccompound.com. 

Ning Tinsley, communications manager for SPARCC, left, with Music Compound studio manager Alyssa Martin during the check presentation. Provided photo from Music Compound.

Music Compound

In mid-March, Safe Children Coalition celebrated its 2nd annual Giving Breakfast, presented by Sunset Automotive Group, during which Joan and Bob Geyer, Graci McGillicuddy, and Melissa Larkin Skinner were recognized as the 2024 Champions for Children. The event took place at Michael’s On East. The program included a welcome by SCC President and CEO Brena Slater and Vice Chair of the Board, Lee Lipton. After enjoying a served breakfast, the guests heard from each honoree about their work in our community to improve the lives of at-risk children and strengthen area families. A heartfelt part of the event was Lisa Mitchell’s story: the mother of four daughters was without a job and using drugs and alcohol several decades ago when she was approached by Jone Williams, who was trying to get the HIPPY, Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters, program off the ground. Not only did Mitchell participate in the program, she encouraged other families in her neighborhood to do the same. Event emcee Joe Girvan of Alpert Enterprises moved the program along and led the paddle raise, which brought in nearly $140,000. The program ended with an update on SCC’s Youth Shelter campaign. The campaign has raised nearly 65 percent of what SCC expects the facility to cost. The nearly 9,000-square-foot building will provide safe emergency, temporary housing for youth ages 10-17. It is the only Youth Shelter designated for Sarasota and Desoto counties and serves Manatee County youth as well. It is being designed to reduce the list of youth waiting for safe shelter and will alleviate the waiting list of teens in need of shelter services. For more about SCC, visit sccfl.org. 

Pictured from left to right: Honoree Melissa Larkin Skinner, SCC President and CEO Brena Slater, honorees Joan Geyer and Graci McGillicuddy, and SCC Vice President Jacqueline House. Photo by Rod Millington.

http://sccfl.org/

Just as they did in 2022, Sarasota-based philanthropists Joe and Mary Kay Henson have pledged to donate $100 to every nonprofit that will take part in the Giving Challenge 2024, the Community Foundation of Sarasota County’s 24-hour online giving event happening from noon to noon April 9-10. Donating $100 to all 728 participating nonprofit organizations will leverage the generous 1:1 match on all donations from $25-$100 that The Patterson Foundation is again contributing. This means that the Hensons’ donation of $72,800 will become $145,600. The couple hopes to inspire giving by others who have the means to take full advantage of The Patterson Foundation’s match, which is unlimited. In 2022, the Hensons donated $100 to all 667 participating nonprofits, turning a $66,700 donation into $133,400. That year’s Giving Challenge raised $16.2 million in 24 hours, showcasing the generosity of our community and its enthusiastic support of the nonprofit sector. More than $6 million of those dollars were provided by The Patterson Foundation’s match. Dollars raised during the Giving Challenge are unrestricted, so the organizations themselves can put them to best use. In 2022, organizations each raised an average of $14,356, which, for many, offered new possibilities for pursuing their missions, expanding their reach, and enhancing their potential. Those interested in contributing on April 9-10, 2024, can visit www.givingchallenge.org to take part and search for causes to support. 

Pictured: Joe and Mary Kay Henson. Photo Courtesy of the Community Foundation of Sarasota

Community Foundation of Sarasota

On Thursday, March 7th Forty Carrots Family Center celebrated a major milestone in their Generations of Change Expansion Campaign.  A private ribbon cutting event for campaign donors was held at their new Parenting Education and Mental Health Center located at 1350 Cattlemen Road in Sarasota. The organization is expanding their Parenting Education and Mental Health services due to the overwhelming community need.  Forty Carrots’ unique approach to outreach partnerships allows them to serve all families, regardless of ability to pay. Currently, 94% of clients receive services at no charge or on a sliding scale based only on financial need.  The Generations of Change expansion, including the new Cattlemen Road facility, will allow for a 100% increase in Mental Health and 30% in Parenting Education services over the next several years. “We are grateful beyond words for the investment and trust of our campaign donors.  Forty Carrots’ commitment to providing our community’s children and families with high quality and accessible prevention, intervention, and treatment services, is only possible because of the generosity of our donors.  They are committed to investing in the future, breaking generational cycles of abuse and neglect, and giving the next generation of children the good beginnings that they deserve,” said Michelle Kapreilian, Forty Carrots CEO. The new Generations of Change building provides 6900 sq. ft. offering a Child and Family Therapy Center with 6 therapy rooms, intake office, waiting area and Parenting Education Center equipped with flexible capacity with removable wall and observation capabilities, virtual program rooms, administrative offices, and program staff workspaces. The addition of the Cattlemen campus allows for the expansion of early education services and administrative offices in the existing buildings on S. Tuttle Avenue. A public community open house will be held September 19th to celebrate the new building and expansion of services. To learn more about the Generations of Change Campaign or how to donate, visit www.fortycarrots.org.

Pictured: Forty Carrots Family Center CEO, Michelle Kapreilian, cuts ribbon with Visionary Circle Donors pictured from left to right: Teri A. Hansen, Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation; Jeff Steinwachs, Steinwachs Family Foundation; Eric Kaplan, Louis

Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast is delighted to announce their 20th Anniversary March spotlight, Creating Corridors for Wildlife and Recreation. As they celebrate twenty years of conservation and community, each month the not-for-profit land trust is spotlighting a different aspect of their work and the corresponding community impact. This 20th Anniversary spotlight series is generously sponsored by Elizabeth Moore. Corridors of protected land give wildlife the space they need. These corridors increase survival for numerous at-risk species, including the Florida panther and Florida black bear, by reconnecting isolated populations and increasing access to food and shelter. Corridors are also essential in supporting human well-being, sustaining healthy ecosystems, and fostering sustainable development for present and future generations. The Southwest Florida Wildlife Corridor is Conservation Foundation’s regional corridor initiative stretching from Tampa Bay down to the Everglades. To date, Conservation Foundation has protected almost 20,000 acres, of which almost 18,000 are within this corridor. Tremendous amounts of funding are available from local, state, and federal government programs to conserve priority lands falling within corridor focus areas. By partnering with willing landowners to find the best ways to conserve their land, Conservation Foundation creatively and collaboratively protects the natural areas and working lands essential to the future of Southwest Florida. To learn more about the Southwest Florida Wildlife Corridor and how, together with their conservation community, Conservation Foundation is creating corridors for wildlife and recreation, visit conservationfoundation.com/marchspotlight. 

For too many area children, hunger isn’t something that happens elsewhere and to other people – it is a stark reality that is happening right here. Recent years have been particularly difficult for families already struggling to make ends meet; while All Faiths Food Bank has continued to work to meet the need, it has proven challenging to find and reach every community member who is food insecure. But there is one place where it is possible to find the majority of our community’s children throughout most of the year: schools. In Sarasota County, nearly half of students qualify for free or reduced-cost meals and, in DeSoto County, 100% of students qualify. All Faiths Food Bank (AFFB) is tirelessly working to end child hunger; one way the organization does this is to provide nutritional assistance through school pantries held at Sarasota and DeSoto County schools. Last year, there were 14 schools with pantries to provide nutritional assistance - including nine that remained open over the summer; in the current school year, to better fill the need for area families and students, the number of sites jumped to 20. The School Pantry program, part of the food bank’s Children & Families initiative, helps set up food pantries that are conveniently located on-site at schools for the families of students in need. School administrators, food bank staff, and volunteers work together to manage ordering, delivery, and distribution of the food – including fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, and other available nutritious foods. These offerings complement school breakfast and lunch programs, providing access to food for children and their families after the school day has ended. Last year, AFFB provided food for 8,603 individuals through school pantries, up from 7,000 the previous year. Sadly, even with the huge need due to Florida’s high cost of living and growing inflation, Florida opted out of the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children (Summer EBT) program, which would have provided $250 million in federal funding to help families in need buy food this summer. Thus, organizations like AFFB – along with its community partners – and generous philanthropists will continue to shoulder the burden to help our neighbors in need. In addition to school pantries, AFFB also offers the BackPack Program at over 70 schools and child-focused programs – this effort provides “backpacks” full of nutritious food to help students through the weekend or when school is on break. Last year, more than 320,000 backpacks were distributed. Additionally, May 1st kicks off the 11th anniversary of the Campaign Against Summer Hunger, which reaches more than 40,000 students and siblings each year during the summer, when children lose access to meals at school. For more about local efforts to fight child hunger, visit allfaithsfoodbank.org. 

The Joey Gratton Tennis Championship will be held on March 23 and 24, at the Sarasota Sports Club. The Disco Tennis Ball will take place on Friday, April 12 at Michael’s on East. The Pickleball Tournament will be held on April 20, at the Pompano Trailhead Courts. The gala celebration, Disco Tennis Ball - a Grand Slam Event, will feature an exciting live and silent auction. The Co-Chairs for the event are Barbara Lancer, Amy Lyons, and Yudi Carpenter. Proceeds from The Disco Tennis Ball will support the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties Foundation. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor of The Disco Tennis Ball, playing in the Joey Gratton Tennis Championship, or playing in The Pickleball Tournament, please contact Barbara Lancer at (941) 780-2266 or Amy Lyons at (941) 302-4968 or visit  Sarasota Doubles Tennis Tournament - Joey Gratton Championship. 

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On March 8, 2024, Samaritan Counseling Services was awarded $79,000 by the Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. This grant will support mental health counseling for individuals and families recovering from the long-term effects of Hurricane Ian.  “We are grateful to receive this funding to extend our collaborative efforts to our local community recovering from Hurricane Ian. There is still plenty of work to do,” said Rick Howell, Executive Director of Samaritan Counseling.  A portion of these funds will provide much needed counseling for processing trauma and reducing reactive behaviors to build resiliency and strength. Funds will also support collaboration with partnering agencies to provide therapeutic programs such as equine therapy, art therapy, and yoga.  Now totaling 30 counselors in 12 locations throughout Sarasota and Manatee counties, Samaritan Counseling is fresh off a record year in 2023 of providing over 19,000 counseling sessions. This generous investment will continue to instill hope and transform lives in our community.