According to the World Health Organization, approximately 70% of people globally will experience a potentially traumatic event during their lifetime. Trauma-informed care is an approach to human services that understands, recognizes, and responds to the effects of trauma. Made possible by a $1 million gift from an anonymous donor, Gulf Coast Community Foundation’s innovative Project HEAL: Helping Everyone Align with Love recently completed three transformative years of trauma-informed care training, helping four local nonprofits deepen their impact — starting with their own teams.

In 2024, the Project HEAL participants entered Phase Two, Trauma Informed Care: From Learning to Living. Family Promise of South Sarasota County, Suncoast Partnership to End Homelessness, Community Assisted and Supported Living (CASL), and Harvest House have remained committed to becoming trauma-informed organizations for their own staff and everyone they serve. It has been inspiring to watch these impactful organizations address major operational challenges with curiosity and grit.

Project HEAL guided participants through a detailed examination of their organizational processes and policies resulting in meaningful changes. The leadership team at CASL described it as a “paradigm shift” for their organization. They no longer focus on their clients’ needs as a task to be completed but rather as a way to help a person move forward. They also implemented a Client Advisory Committee with representatives from all three of CASL’s regions in recognition that hearing and valuing their clients’ voices results in improved outcomes for all involved.

The State of Nonprofits 2024 survey conducted by the Center for Effective Philanthropy reveals that 95% of nonprofit leaders surveyed cited staff burnout as a top concern and almost 60% of nonprofit leaders who responded were struggling with staff burnout or attrition due to higher-paid offers. Family Promise of South Sarasota County listened to their team, analyzed their operations, and decided to transition to a four-day work week. At the end of week one, the staff described the new schedule as “awesome.” They have more opportunities for client appointments during the 10-hour days and more time for personal appointments and self-care during their three-day weekends. Family Promise has experienced increased productivity, increased participant satisfaction ratings, and no staff turnover since December 2023.

In the fall of 2022, before beginning their trauma-informed care journey, all employees participated in the anonymous Trauma Informed Culture Assessment. When the assessment was repeated in late 2024, we saw growth across all six categories of trauma-informed culture: safety, trustworthiness, choice, empowerment, collaboration, and sustainability. Notably, collaboration emerged as the most improved area, a testament to the power of shared learning and mutual support.

In a sector often stretched by increasing needs and limited resources, this kind of intentional collaboration, rooted in trauma-informed principles, has become essential. Especially as nonprofit organizations continue to navigate challenges like reduced public funding and workforce burnout, strong relationships and a culture of care are critical for long-term sustainability.

Thanks to the vision and generosity of the anonymous donor and the steadfast Gulf Coast Team, Project HEAL has not only equipped these organizations with new tools and strategies but has also fostered a network of leaders committed to operating with kindness, resilience, and authenticity. The true measure of Project HEAL’s impact isn’t just in policy changes or new procedures, it’s in the creation of workplace cultures where people feel seen, valued, and empowered to thrive.

As these four organizations trailblaze to new heights, their work serves as a powerful reminder: when we invest in the people doing the healing, we strengthen the entire community. And that’s how transformation begins — from the inside out.

Phillip P. Lanham is President | CEO of Gulf Coast Community Foundation. 

Pictured: Dr. John Walsh, donors, Erin Minor, and Phillip Lanham. Courtesy photo.

Last month, we wrote a column thanking the county commission for focusing on stormwater, but we asked for a special meeting solely on stormwater maintenance. We were surprised at the strong community reaction to that column; many from all walks of life reached out to The Argus Foundation to voice their support for the column and their concern for hurricane season.

In addition to the community response, County Commission Chair Joe Neunder reached out to us as did Commissioners Knight and Mast. We were grateful for the acknowledgment and their proactivity in discussing this issue with us.

Five days from the day the column was published, Commission Chair Neunder sent an important email to the County Administrator with a firm understanding of the community angst on the issue of operation and maintenance of the County drainage system.

Chair Neunder announced his intention to request a workshop on the issue and had six very specific and important requests for the agenda for the meeting. He ended the email by stating, “If this Board agrees to provide you with clear direction/mission (And yes, always with a motion) my hope is that we can better be prepared for this upcoming Hurricane Season in the Community that we all LOVE and are blessed to be able to call HOME.”

That was a great email and it was one written with an appropriate sense of urgency for the issue.

At the very next Commission meeting, five days later, the commission could barely wait to discuss the issue. Normally, the Chair presents his issues last, but commissioners mentioned it in their own comments, ready to discuss it. When it came time for the discussion, the commission unanimously supported a special workshop and also decided that this workshop should be expedited for a May meeting. Commissioner Mast asked for more specific budget information. This level of urgency reflected the sense of worry in the community. The elected officials really listened and acted.

After the meeting, Commissioner Knight gave the issue further thought and continued his outreach to The Argus Foundation and people and groups of all kinds from across the county. I heard from many of them who he spoke with. Under his commission report for the next set of commission meetings is a memo about the workshop with more requests for information, all of which are important.

We urge the County Commission to adopt these items for discussion at the workshop and urge the community, especially those who reached out to us after the last column, to voice their gratitude and support to the commission for taking control of this workshop and really taking a hard and transparent look at the level of service for stormwater maintenance.

On behalf of The Argus Foundation, thank you to the County Commission for listening and acting quickly.

Christine Robinson is the Executive Director of The Argus Foundation. 

Photo Courtesy: Sarasota County.

At SCF, we don’t just talk about opportunity—we create it. Our Business program equips students with the skills and knowledge to thrive in today’s competitive economy, preparing them for careers in public agencies, private corporations, and nonprofit organizations. Whether students pursue an Associate degree, Associate in Science, certificate, or Bachelor of Applied Science in Management and Leadership, they are introduced to a dynamic curriculum covering finance, ethics, entrepreneurship, marketing, accounting, management, and human resources.

Business majors at SCF also benefit from experiential learning opportunities, internships, and work-study programs that connect classroom learning with professional experience. One of our standout opportunities is through the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) club, where students from our Venice and Bradenton chapters compete at the state level in events that showcase their entrepreneurial, administrative, and leadership skills.

This spring, SCF students brought home 15 awards from the FBLA Collegiate State Leadership Conference. Fourteen students earned the honor of advancing to the National Leadership Conference this summer. Our Venice chapter also received the prestigious Pansy B. Read Gold Seal Chapter Award of Merit, recognizing its outstanding contributions and alignment with FBLA-Phi Beta Lambda goals.

Kristen M., a member of both FBLA and student government, reflected on the experience as “life changing.” Having never spent a night away from home before, Kristen shared that she learned she could “follow her dreams, that hard work does pay off, and that leadership isn’t about perfection—it’s about learning from failures and adapting.”

Our commitment to combining academics with real-world service is also seen in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, where SCF business students help low-income individuals prepare their tax returns at no cost, gaining hands-on experience in accounting and client relations.

The motto of SCF’s Business program is “We Mean Business”, and we live up to it by fostering connection, community, and collaboration. Students can explore specialized tracks in Entrepreneurship, Accounting, Hospitality & Tourism, and Sports Management, while building a strong foundation in Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, Financial Accounting, Marketing, Management & Organization, and Advertising.

These subject areas align directly with current and projected trends in the U.S. workforce. For example, employment in accounting and auditing is projected to grow 4% from 2023 to 2033, with over 1.4 million job openings expected nationwide, driven by rising demand for financial oversight and corporate transparency.

In the realm of sports management, the U.S. sports market is projected to exceed $90 billion in 2025, fueled by the growth of digital media, licensing, merchandising, and sports analytics. These trends create exciting career paths in marketing, sponsorship, operations, and fan engagement.

One of our students, Eduardo de Camargo Cazelli Balassiano, is already putting these lessons into action. An international student from Brazil, Eduardo runs his own stationery distribution business while attending SCF full-time. “I work with advertising, like Facebook and Instagram, to promote my business,” he said. “I'm trying to understand everything—accounting, marketing—because I want to bring my enterprise to the U.S. Every market can use marketing to improve.”

He represents the entrepreneurial spirit and global mindset we strive to nurture in every student.

The success and growth of SCF’s Business program is made possible by passionate and experienced faculty, including Kristen Zaborski, Justin McDonald, Suzanne Anderson, DBA, Cammy Wayne, Ed.D., Tylisha Johnson, DBA, Gary Baker, Richard Daramola, Ph.D., and Linda McKeag, Ph.D. Their dedication ensures that students graduate not only with knowledge—but with the confidence and competence to lead.

Whether you’re launching your own business or looking to move forward in your career, SCF’s business degrees, certificates, and continuing education options provide a clear path to success. At SCF, we meet you where you are. We’re Everyone’s College.

For more information, visit SCF.edu.

Tommy Gregory, J.D., is the President of State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota.