On Saturday, September 20, Nathan Benderson Park will play host to the 25th annual Life;Story event, a family-friendly 5K/10K run and walk to benefit Centerstone, a nonprofit health system specializing in mental health and substance use disorder treatments for people of all ages. The run begins at 7:00 AM and will also feature a Community Health & Wellness Expo.

Life;Story encourages connection, reflection and resilience, especially as the suicide rate in the United States continues to climb. In Florida alone, suicide ranks as one of the top 10 causes of death, with alarming increases among young people and older adults.

This annual event is a powerful opportunity to walk, run, remember and raise awareness while helping fund vital mental health and suicide prevention services in the region. Life;Story emphasizes that “your story isn’t over yet,” and reminds participants that there is always more to come. In addition to the run, attendees can enjoy the Community Health & Wellness Expo, which features local organizations offering free mental health resources, wellness screenings, family-friendly activities, food trucks and more.

“For 25 years Life;Story has brought our community together to honor those we’ve lost to suicide, support those who are struggling, and remind us all that hope and healing are possible. Suicide touches far too many lives in Florida and beyond, but events like this show that we are not alone in the fight,” says Centerstone’s Regional CEO, Dr. Lisa Williams. “Every step we take together helps raise awareness, break down stigma and ensure that lifesaving mental health care remains accessible to those who need it most.”

All proceeds from the Sarasota Life;Story event will benefit Centerstone’s local mental health services in Southwest Florida, helping ensure that care remains accessible to anyone in need.

Register online at centerstone.org/lifestory and choose between 5K, 10K or Kid’s Dash distances. Commemorative t-shirts, finisher’s medal and race bib are provided for all participants. Interested in being a vendor at the Community Health & Wellness Expo? Contact Jane.Roseboro@centerstone.org. 

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After last year's disappointing cancellation due to Hurricane Milton, organizers at Project Pride SRQ - including new Executive Director Tom Edwards - are thrilled to announce the return of the Gulfcoast Pride Festival (formerly known as Sarasota Pride but rebranded to encompass Manatee Pride as well). This year's event, which takes place on October 25 in the Rosemary District of downtown Sarasota, will feature L.A.-based musician Zee Machine plus other live bands; a street fair featuring over 100 vendors; a kids’ zone with age-appropriate activities; pet zone and pet pageant; an art zone; a drag show headlined by Pork Chop (from “RuPaul’s Drag Race”); and so much more. The event takes place from noon-5 p.m. 

For the second year in a row, The Florida Center for Early Childhood has been recognized as one of the 2025 Sarasota-Manatee Top Workplaces by the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and Energage, a national research and consulting firm specializing in organizational health and employee engagement. The honor was announced at an awards celebration on August 13, at The Ora in Sarasota. 

On Saturday, October 25, Nathan Benderson Park will become a sea of pink as our community rallies to end breast cancer. Whether you’re a survivor, thriver, supporter, or friend, this is your moment to be a part of something bigger – the 2025 Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk! Making Strides isn’t just any walk—it’s the nation’s largest breast cancer movement! Every step fuels lifesaving research, patient support like rides and lodging, and the American Cancer Society’s 24/7 helpline. Together, Sarasota and Manatee have already raised hundreds of thousands locally to fight breast cancer—and this year, we’ll go even further. Lace up, bring your brightest pink, and join us! Hope starts here, and every stride brings us closer to a world without breast cancer. 

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The Manatee Literacy Council is thrilled to announce the return of its popular – and delicious – fundraiser, Flavors of Literacy. The event features a variety of foods from around the world and beer pairings, showcasing different cultures and culinary traditions while raising money for adult literacy programs in Manatee County. There will also be live music and dancing/dance lessons. Flavors of Literacy takes place on Saturday, November 8, 2025, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Manatee River Garden Club (3120 1st Ave W, Bradenton, FL 34205). So far, some of the “flavors” that will be featured include French, German, Thai, and Hispanic/Caribbean; numerous additional restaurants will be added in the weeks to come. 

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Family Promise of South Sarasota County (FPSSC) is thrilled to announce its inaugural gala, Sweet Dreams: A Night of Giving Gala October 11, 2025 at Planation Golf & Country Club. This milestone event will celebrate ten years of empowering families facing housing insecurity and mobilizing community compassion to create lasting change.The evening will feature an elegant dinner, a paddle raise, heartwarming stories, and a celebration with the community and partners who have walked alongside FPSSC since its founding. The event begins at 6:00 PM, with live music by Occasions. Cocktail attire is requested. Tickets are on sale now at www.familypromisessc.org/gala.

Dreams: A Night of Giving Gala, October 11 , Plantation Golf & Country Club.