On Wednesday evening, April 16, Impact100 SRQ hosted its 7th Annual Big Reveal at the Sarasota Municipal Auditorium. The energy in the room was electric as the nonprofit proudly announced it will award $864,000 in grants for its 2025 Giving Year—funds that will directly benefit nonprofits serving Sarasota and Manatee Counties.

With 864 passionate members gathered in celebration, Impact100 SRQ President Pam Kandziora welcomed attendees and emphasized the heart of the organization: collective giving. “This is a celebration of our membership and of the nonprofits in the community,” she said. "These grants not only provide critical funding but also amplify the visibility of the incredible work being done."

The evening also welcomed a special guest: Wendy Steele, founder of the Impact100 movement. Originally launched in 2001 with a simple yet powerful idea—1,000 women giving $1,000 each—Impact100 has since grown into a global force with 78 chapters in four countries and more than $160 million in grant funding distributed. “This growth has exceeded my wildest expectations,” Steele said. “When a chapter comes into a community, it becomes an economic driver—funding the arts, environment, education, job creation—all because women care deeply about where they live and choose to link arms with other women who have a shared desire to lift people up.”

Among those proudly in attendance was Jane Watts, Founding President of Impact100 SRQ, who launched the local chapter in January 2017 with 228 women driven by a shared mission to make meaningful change. Since then, the chapter has experienced unprecedented growth, becoming the fastest-growing Impact100 chapter in the world, making the most impactful changes. Watts attributes the success to the very giving nature of the community. “People want to do more. They love where they live, they want to belong and they want to contribute on a deeper level,” she said. 

The 2025 Giving Year is officially underway, and Impact100 SRQ looks forward to funding bold, high-impact initiatives that will shape the future of Sarasota and Manatee Counties. Beginning April 17, 2025, nonprofits interested in applying for a grant can learn more and submit their Eligible to Apply Form by visiting Impact100SRQ.org. 

Pictured: Left to right: Jane Watts, founding president of Impact100 SRQ, Wendy Steele, founder of Impact100 and Pam Kandziora, president of Impact100 SRQ. Photo by Barbie Heit.

On June 14, The Harvest Sarasota will present the 3rd annual Diverse Fest. The Pride Month event will feature live performances, tabling by area nonprofits, food vendors, and family-friendly activities all day. Diverse Fest was born out of a desire to unite communities during a time when social and political division was becoming more prevalent. The event was created in order to bring people together in the spirit of diversity and inclusivity; the goal was to remind the wider community that it is our differences that make Sarasota beautiful. 

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In partnership with the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Sarasota Class of 2025, Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties (BGCSDC) invites local media to a ribbon cutting celebration for its four new Zen Dens. This serene and thoughtfully designed space was created to support the organization’s Behavioral Health Program while promoting mindfulness, relaxation, and mental wellness for thousands of Club members, ages 6-18. Adopted and developed by the Leadership Sarasota Class of 2025, this unique initiative reflects a strong commitment to youth mental health and community impact. Attendees will hear from key leaders, learn more about the Zen Den project, and help honor the local partners and sponsors who brought this vision to life.

Wednesday, April 23, 6 -7:30pm with the program scheduled to begin at 6:45pm, Lee Wetherington Boys & Girls Club, 3100 Fruitville Road, Sarasota. 

Sarasota County Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman is pleased to announce the results of the agency’s Block Party Food Drive. From April 1 through 12, citizens, local businesses, and Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) members, brought or shipped non-perishable food items to the agency’s headquarters. Working in conjunction with All Faith’s Food Bank and Sarasota County Schools these donations will be distributed to help fight food insecurity in our community this summer. In total, the agency collected 11,265 pounds of food and $547 in cash donations. Representatives from All Faiths attended the SCSO Block Party to assist with cash and food donations. On April 12, the final day of the food drive, nearly 800 citizens attended the first-ever SCSO Block Party where they could trade a donation for an event T-shirt. 

YMCA of Southwest Florida is proud to participate in Five Days of Action®, a nationwide initiative taking place April 21–25, 2025, aimed at raising awareness and empowering adults to take meaningful steps to prevent child sexual abuse. YMCA of Southwest Florida invites all individuals, families and organizations to stand with us during this week of action, as we work together to ensure children in our region can thrive in safe, supportive spaces to learn, grow, and play. 

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Colleagues from HCA Florida Fawcett Hospital are going beyond the walls of the hospital to make an impact in the community they serve. From organizing and filling backpacks for elementary children to ensure they have food and hygiene products on the weekends, to donating blood in a blood drive, staff are volunteering their time, talents and hearts to support causes that matter most to the communities they serve. For more information on HCA Florida Fawcett Hospital’s partnerships and volunteer efforts, visit HCAFloridaHealthcare.com. 

The Haven is pleased to announce the beginning of construction on their 9th single-family group home. Jake’s Place will be a 6000 square foot home featuring 8 single room suites with private bathrooms. The home will also feature a theatre and sensory room. The home will provide 24/7 staff support for adults with developmental disabilities. Situated in a prime location, residents are within walking distance to the UTC Mall, Nathan Benderson Rowing Facility, Mote Marine, and countless restaurants and entertainment choices. A ground-breaking ceremony will be held on April 25th at 10am at The Haven Campus – 4405 Desoto Rd. Sarasota. 

Sarah Wertheimer, President & CEO of Embracing Our Differences, announced that the organization has received a $20,000 Jackie Robinson Grant from the Rays Baseball Foundation and Rowdies Soccer Fund. The grant is part of the Tampa Bay Rays’ annual tribute to Jackie Robinson and his historic role in integrating Major League Baseball. It supports nonprofits that exemplify Robinson’s nine core values: courage, determination, teamwork, persistence, integrity, citizenship, justice, commitment, and excellence. For more information about Embracing Our Differences, call 941-404-5710, or visit www.embracingourdifferences.org. 

At just 19 years old, Ringling College of Art and Design student Leo Motherway is using his talent to help others preserve the stories that matter most. Through the Lazarus Engaged Learning Assistantship, this second-year Illustration major discovered legacy books—deeply personal keepsakes that capture the lives of hospice patients through words and art. Inspired by the loss of his grandmother and father, he's now a passionate volunteer with Empath Tidewell Hospice, illustrating legacy books and organizing creative campus events to engage fellow students. His latest endeavor, Colorful Conversations, is a 20-page illustrated book designed to spark memory and connection for dementia patients through conversation prompts. For Leo, this work is more than volunteering—it’s a way to honor the past, uplift the present, and ensure no story goes untold. 

Family Promise of South Sarasota County recently received a $20,000 grant from Clayton, ensuring that families in South Sarasota County receive the support they need to stay safely housed. The grant is a portion of the $1.5 million dollars Clayton is dispersing to the Family Promise national network. The funds are a result of the recently announced partnership extension between Family Promise and Clayton. A Future Begins at Home, the initiative born from this collaboration, is dedicated to supporting families experiencing homelessness by helping them stay in their homes and swiftly regain stability. Since its inception in 2019, A Future Begins at Home has catalyzed millions in additional funding, resulting in more than 30,000 families served. 

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 Saturday, May 10, 2025, at 8:30am at The River Club. The tournament is in memory of this  proud Vietnam  The Michael P. Fencil Memorial Golf Tournament is Michael P. Fencil Memorial GolfTournament isNavy Veteran and Air National Guard. The tournament will support two Suncoast nonprofits:  the Denis V. Cooper Foundation – Wishes for Heroes and Satchel’s Last Resort. Michael P. Fencil passed away in 2020. Originally from Liverpool, NY. he was a proud Navy Vet, serving in  Vietnam and then 10 years with the Syracuse Air National Guard. The River Club is located at 6600 River Club Boulevard, Bradenton. 

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At Michaels On East on April 16, cocktails sparkled as 200 guests donned aprons over purple attire, becoming chefs for a night. Under expert guidance, they crafted four-course meals, honoring the late Josh Chapnick’s passion for cooking and his time at Seasons52. The evening flowed into a spirited auction, followed by raised paddles in support of epilepsy assistance. Now in its 7th year, the event—backed by SK Life Science and others—celebrates Josh’s legacy through JoshProvides.org. Though his life ended at 28, his spirit lives on, bringing hope to those affected by epilepsy. 

Pictured: The Pineda Family, with Bixby, the service dog. Photo by Cynthia Fabian.