SRQ DAILY Aug 18, 2025
Monday Business Edition
"Wellness practitioners tend to struggle with giving a lot to other people and forgetting that they also need to give to themselves."
Last month, the Education Foundation of Sarasota County named five new members to its 14-member board of directors, including new Board Chair Kara Saunders. Joining Saunders, who has been on the board since 2019, are newcomers Claudia Cardillo, Tom Cunningham, Vin Foderingham, Teacher Representative Tim Ferguson and Student Representative Mason Thien.
“I’ve been serving on the board for six years,” says Saunders. “I was introduced to the organization through a friend who’d heard me talk about my passion for education and how I feel that it’s life changing for our students. I had coffee with our president, Jennifer Vigne and two other board members, and I was sold at that moment on the organization’s mission to create an opportunity for every student to feel successful.”
Saunders, who is a mother of three and a working professional outside of the Education Foundation—she was previously the Director of Communications for the Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation and is currently a Health and Wellness coach in the Sarasota Memorial Healthcare System—will help lead the non-profit that is dedicated to serving nearly 44,000 students and over 5,000 instructional staff and personnel in 59 public schools across Sarasota County. The Education Foundation includes an internal affairs committee, an external affairs committee, governance and an executive committee. As Board Chair, Saunders’ role is to make sure all of the different sectors of the non-profit work together cohesively, from managing fiscal responsibility in the internal affairs committee to extending the organization’s reach throughout the community with the external affairs committee and more.
“There is no other mission more important than preparing students and children for life. As adults we have this opportunity to put resources in front of them that can help them understand who they are, what their interests are, what their purpose is and how they can become a positive, contributing member of society,” says Saunders. “The Education Foundation cares about the whole student—there’s this concept in education of caring for the whole child, but a lot of the work we do is with young adults who may be at risk of not graduating high school.”
Moving into the 2025-26 school year, Saunders wants to increase awareness in the community of the Education Foundation’s impact. “Oftentimes our impact can be more felt than seen, so we want to ensure that we have a renewed focus on our programming,” says Saunders.
Education Foundation of Sarasota County, 1960 Landings Blvd #120, Sarasota, 34231 
Provided photo.
As the busy fall season begins, take some time for self-care at The Wellness Space, a locally-owned business offering all things wellness. Co-founders Kyle Schauenberg and Maria Luedeke, who officially opened their doors to the community in May, are now launching exciting new programming—from sound baths and breathwork practices to yoga and support groups. “We're thrilled to finally be open, welcoming people in and creating many different offerings and ways to support the community,” says Schauenberg.
This wide range of opportunities is designed to meet the wellness needs of all those who are interested, from daily meditators to those who have never stepped foot on a yoga mat. One new offering, the Corporate Wellness Program, will offer weekly, 30-minute Wellness Wednesday online classes to employees at workspaces that choose to join the program. Aimed to help manage stress through breathing, meditation and chair yoga that can all be done from a desk, Schauenberg and Luedeke hope to bring the benefits of wellness practices into the corporate world.
Another new program, called Uplift, will give wellness practitioners the opportunity to focus on their self-care. “Uplift is our effort at curating a space for wellness practitioners to come and feel supported, uplifted and to share resources. Wellness practitioners tend to struggle with giving a lot to other people and forgetting that they also need to give to themselves,” says Luedeke.
Several of the Wellness Space’s fall offerings are focused on bringing connection to the community. The Free Birds Support Group is geared toward parents whose children are moving away from home for the first time, offering a unique space for them to reflect on how it feels to watch children grow up. A monthly book club brings together those with a love for reading, and a variety of regular yoga, meditation and journaling classes create spaces to pause, reset and reflect.
"We've created a really serene space. When people come in, they often mention how grounded they feel right away,” says Schauenberg. “That makes us feel like we've succeeded in creating the space that we wanted it to be, and we're just so excited to welcome more people in this fall.”
The Wellness Space, thewellness-space.com, 1561 Lakefront Dr, Unit 208, Sarasota.
Pictured: Opened in May of this year, The Wellness Space creates a serene, comfortable space to improve your mental and physical well-being. Photo provided by Maria Luedeke.
At HCA Florida Englewood Hospital, exceptional patient care begins with empathy, dedication and a deep understanding of the frontline experience. Nurses and other caregivers are at the heart of healing, guiding patients through their most vulnerable moments with compassion and skill. Leaders at HCA Florida Englewood Hospital, including Kimberly Becker, clinical career coach and program director for HCA Healthcare West Florida Division, recently participated in “Walking in Your World”- an initiative that involves canceling meetings, donning scrubs and sneakers, and shadowing frontline team members to better understand their daily experiences and challenges. Becker spent the day with Lily Bakulski, a registered nurse and recent graduate, as she cared for patients on the hospital’s medical-surgical unit.
New College of Florida’s Marine Mammal Science program is at the forefront of a pioneering neuroscience discovery. In a study published in PLOS One—Lateralized Cerebellar Connectivity Differentiates Auditory Pathways in Echolocating and Non-Echolocating Whales—Marine Mammal Science student Sophie Flem, alongside Associate Professor Peter Cook, collaborated with researchers from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, UC Berkeley, and Oxford University to map brain pathways for hearing in different whale species.
Children First, Inc. has once again been named a top employer in the Sarasota-Manatee Top Workplaces competition, marking its seventh consecutive year of recognition for workplace excellence. The Top Workplaces program, sponsored regionally by Energage and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, honors organizations that excel in creating exceptional workplace cultures. Awards are based exclusively on employee feedback gathered through confidential surveys measuring key drivers such as leadership, purpose and values, professional development, and overall employee well-being. In addition to its local success, Children First has achieved significant national recognition, including being named a Top Workplaces USA winner by Energage and USA TODAY, and earning multiple Culture Excellence Awards for leadership and purpose-driven work. These honors reflect the agency’s dedication to cultivating a workplace where staff feel valued, supported, and connected to the organization’s mission.
There's much ado about something in this whip-smart, laugh-out-loud new romantic comedy from Lauren Gunderson. Lady Disdain is a fast-paced, razor-sharp riff on the deliciously dramatic world of Fantasy Romance novels (yes, those ones-you know them, you love them). Beatrice and Benedict, rival audiobook narrators with voices made for swooning and tempers made for sparring, are locked in a battle of wits, words, and wildly inconvenient attraction. Asolo Rep proudly presents this world premiere from one of America's most celebrated and funny playwrights.
Asolo Repertory Theatre, 5555 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
ArtCenter Sarasota continues its Centennial Season with Medium Mutiny, a juried exhibition selected by Ed Swan Jr. that celebrates boundary-pushing works challenging tradition through bold experimentation in form, material, and concept. Solo exhibitions include Living by the Water by Cat Tesla, whose serene, abstract paintings reflect a journey of healing and transformation inspired by Florida's landscapes. A new body of work by Anja Palombo, blending her deep love of nature and art history into expressive visual narratives. In Architect as Artist, co-curated by Morris Hylton III, Sarasota-based architects including Carl Abbott, Jerry Sparkman, and Javi Suárez present multidisciplinary works that blur the line between design and fine art. This group exhibition honors Sarasota's architectural legacy and highlights the creative synergy between structure, space, and artistic vision.
ArtCenter Sarasota, 707 N Tamiami Trl, Sarasota
A huge influence of Elvis Presley, Ray Charles, Johnny Cash and Jimi Hendrix, Sister Rosetta Tharpe was a legend in her time, adding fierce guitar and swing to traditional gospel music, becoming the Mother of Rock n Roll. Marie and Rosetta chronicles her first rehearsal with a young protégée, Marie Knight, as they prepare to embark on a tour that would establish them as one of the great duos in music history.
Asolo Repertory Theatre , 5555 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
In celebration of our Centennial, ArtCenter Sarasota proudly presents the North County Spring Art Show, featuring artwork from over 1,500 K-12 students in Sarasota's public and charter schools. Organized by Angela Hartvigsen and Debra Markley, this cherished annual tradition showcases the creativity of young artists, many exhibiting in a gallery for the first time. The exhibition includes special award ceremonies for both elementary and high school students, with over $20,000 in scholarships and prizes. It's a joyful reminder that the future of art is already in motion.
ArtCenter Sarasota, 707 N Tamiami Trl, Sarasota
This beloved classic has delighted audiences across the globe for over six decades. Tevye, the village milkman, is trying to provide his wife and their five daughters with a life filled with prosperity, faith, and tradition. But a revolution is on the horizon and everything they have come to cherish hangs in the balance. One of the most beloved musicals of all times makes its long-awaited debut on the Asolo Rep stage.
Asolo Repertory Theatre , 5555 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
Set in ancient Athens, A Midsummer Night's Dream weaves a mesmerizing tapestry of intertwining worlds - courtly, rustic, and magical. As Duke Theseus and Hippolyta prepare for their royal wedding, four young lovers flee into an enchanted forest, where a troupe of amateur actors is also rehearsing a play for the occasion. Unbeknownst to them all, the forest is alive with fairies who meddle, manipulate, and stir chaos of their own. Love turns dark, identities blur, and the lines between reality and illusion dissolve in this heady, dreamlike comedy exploring desire, transformation, and the delirium of bliss.
FSU/Asolo Conservatory, 5555 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
The legendary Beaux Arts Ball is back! This Centennial revival will be a spectacular evening of creativity, performance, and celebration in an event worthy of 100 years.
ArtCenter Sarasota, 707 N Tamiami Trl, Sarasota
ArtCenter Sarasota continues its Centennial Season with a powerful lineup of exhibitions that celebrate storytelling, performance, and community. Art of the Spectacle, juried by Maria Schaedler-Luera, invites bold and theatrical works inspired by fashion, circus, and stagecraft. In the solo exhibition At Home Anywhere, Bahamian artist Kendra Frorup explores themes of belonging, transformation, and cultural memory through sculptural forms rich in narrative and material symbolism. Herion Park's deeply personal installation pays tribute to her mother's unconditional love, using textiles, organic materials, and cast forms to reflect universal emotions of connection and healing. In Across Generations: Rooted in Community, co-curated by Paul Toliver, Newtown and Overtown artists come together in a group exhibition that honors the enduring impact of Sarasota's historically Black neighborhoods on the city's creative identity. Together, these exhibitions offer a vibrant, emotional, and visually striking reflection on heritage, expression, and the power of art to unite.
ArtCenter Sarasota, 707 N Tamiami Trl, Sarasota
From the writer of television's Dr. Who, Sherlock, and Dracula comes a hilarious new play about an unwanted house guest. After twenty years of marriage, Peter and Debbie are enjoying a cruise and a break from their annoying teenagers, when they meet an eagerly friendly, but perhaps dangerous, fellow passenger named Elsa. Before you know it, she's taken up residence in their suburban home. Asolo Rep stages the US premiere of this hugely entertaining and satirical look at the terrifying lengths we go just to be nice.
Asolo Repertory Theatre , 5555 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
This smart, dark revenge comedy by Lauren Gunderson takes a Shakespearean stage direction and runs with it. Hilarious, poignant, and wickedly empowering, the play follows a woman taking control of her story, with duct tape, a frozen steak, and a wild plan.
FSU/Asolo Conservatory, 5555 N Tamiami Trl, Sarasota
Rooted in Latino folklore and mythology, Wolf at the Door is a haunting fairy tale about power, survival, and resistance. Isadora finds the courage to defy her abusive husband, Septimo, when he imprisons the very pregnant Yolot against her will. Through poetic storytelling and rich symbolism, the play dives into the darkness that can reside in domestic spaces, and the fierce strength needed to escape it.
FSU/Asolo Conservatory, 5555 N Tamiami Trl, Sarasota
A lively afternoon of song and dance with 100 percent of the proceeds going to help rebuild Venice Theatre. Singers from The Sarasota Players and Venice Theatre, along with the Showtime Dancers and Silver Foxes Dancers, will delight and entertain. Get your tickets early as this show will sell out!
Venice Community Center, 326 Nokomis Ave. Venice
Art Center Sarasota's Annual Juried Members Show fills all four galleries in celebration of our Centennial Season. This inclusive, unthemed exhibition showcases the diverse talents of our member artists across a wide range of styles and mediums, from bold abstractions to detailed realism. With guaranteed inclusion for all who submit, the show reflects our commitment to accessibility, creativity, and the vibrant spirit that has defined our community for 100 years.
ArtCenter Sarasota, 707 N Tamiami Trl, Sarasota
A Hollywood film star and her entourage descend upon a quaint English village to film an epic period drama. But when the glamorous opening reception ends in a chilling murder, everyone becomes a suspect. Leaving Agatha Christie's beloved sleuth, Miss Marple, to untangle a web of ambition, deceit, and stage fright. One of the Queen of Mystery's most celebrated novels finally makes it to the stage in this new adaptation by Rachel Wagstaff.
Asolo Repertory Theatre , 5555 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
One of the most awarded off-Broadway premieres of 2024, Eboni Booth's absorbing, funny, and ultimately profound new play is about a middle-aged man scraping by in small town America. Kenneth spends his days working in a quiet bookstore and his evenings sipping Mai Tais at the local tiki bar, but when he loses his job, he's forced to confront a world he's long avoided. A deceptively ordinary story about the extraordinary possibility inside each of us.
Asolo Repertory Theatre , 5555 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
This festival is crafted like a gourmet meal, blending the finest ingredients to create an unforgettable experience. Indulge in a wide selection of dishes including fresh seafood, meats, and vegetarian options, all cooked onsite. Pair your meal with a variety of side dishes, beverages, and delectable desserts. Relax and enjoy the live musical performances featuring some of Florida’s and the region’s top talents.
Sarasota Fairgrounds, 3000 Ringling Blvd, Sarasota, FL 34237
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