On Saturday, October 4, take a walk to support the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and their mission to improve the lives of individuals, families and caregivers on their journey to mental wellness. The family-friendly event is free and open to the public, but individuals and organizations are encouraged to register in advance and form teams to support the free mental health programs NAMI provides to the local community.

NAMI is an organization of families, friends and individuals whose lives have been affected by mental illness. Colleen Thayer serves as the Executive Director of the Sarasota and Manatee County affiliate, which is one of 24 Florida affiliates and more than 600 across the country. “We are not clinical or treatment providers,” Thayer explains. “We offer individuals living with any kind of mental health condition support programs and we do the same thing for families and caregivers.”

There are NAMIWalks all over the country supporting mental health for all. The October 4 NAMIWalk is NAMI of Sarasota and Manatee Counties’ main and only external fundraiser and awareness event for the year. This year’s walk is also special because it marks NAMI’s 40th anniversary serving Sarasota and Manatee Counties.

Since its founding in 2021, NAMIWalks Sarasota and Manatee has drawn hundreds of walkers each year to celebrate mental health for all. In addition to the walk itself, the event features music by DJ Bustin Justin, group jazzercise in the park by Jazzercise Lakewood Ranch, exhibits by local mental and medical healthcare providers and other community nonprofits, food trucks, an online auction and plenty of other fun activities.

“Every year, one in five adults experiences a mental health challenge, either for themselves or a loved one,” says Thayer. “When they do, NAMI Sarasota and Manatee Counties is there to help by providing free peer-led support groups, education and resources. Our walk is a way for the community to come together as one and break the silence and stigma that too often surround mental illness.”

To fuel mental health awareness, raise funds for NAMI's mission and let people know they are not alone, sign up for the NAMIWalk and join a caring community giving their time, their stories and their heartfelt dedication to the cause: Mental Health for All.

NAMI Sarasota and Manatee Counties, 1226 N. Tamiami Trail, Suite 202, Sarasota. To learn more, contact Jessica Polk, 941-320-9604, jessica@namisarasotamanatee.org.  

Pictured: Each year, nearly 500 participants take part in NAMI Walks to support mental health awareness in our local community. This year’s walk takes place on October 4th at Payne Park in Sarasota. Provided photo.

To register click here

Local wellness brand LeLa V, founded by entrepreneur and athlete Erika Reyes, today announced a partnership with the non-profit Mothers Helping Mothers (MHM) to host the inaugural Community in Motion 5K/1M on Sunday, October 5, 2025, at Nathan Benderson Park. The family-focused event aims to unite the community through movement and support local families in need. The event marks a significant milestone for MHM, a cornerstone of the Sarasota community, by providing a new and engaging way for the public to support their mission. Visit MHMSarasota.com to learn more. 

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Sarasota Opera is proud to announce a $30,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, provided by the Martha Leiter and Nancy Streetman Fund II and the Allen Wirtz Nobbe and Jo Bowen Nobbe Fund. The grant will support Sarasota Opera’s Education Programs and help fund a special benefit event, The Aficionado Dinner, honoring the organization’s leadership donors and celebrating the impact of their generosity. 

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The Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation (LWRCF) opened individual ticket sales today for the Soirée at the Ranch, the grand finale event of their 25th anniversary celebration, taking place on Thursday, November 13, 2025, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club. Individual tickets, which are limited, are $250 and can be purchased at LWRCF.org.  The soirée promises a memorable night dedicated to supporting the local community. The evening begins with a cocktail hour and a silent auction on the patio, followed by dinner in the ballroom. After dinner, guests can participate in an exciting live auction and a paddle raise. A highlight of the event will be the honoring of the 2025 Lakewood Ranch Humanitarian of the Year, an award recognizing an individual whose commitment and dedication exemplify service to the local community.  

Every day, hundreds of area students face the challenges of bullying, exclusion, and isolation. Embracing Our Differences believes the antidote is simple yet profound: kindness, respect, and the courage to embrace what makes us unique. Thanks to a $33,000 Strategic Partnership Grant from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, these lessons will reach even more children across the region this year. The grant provides support across three key areas: $20,000 for Unity Day (funded by the Allen Wirtz Nobbe and Jo Bowen Nobbe Fund); $8,000 for the Bucket Fillers Reading Day program (funded by the Libby Yungblut FOI Charitable Fund). $5,000 for books for Bucket Fillers Reading Day(funded by the Robert and Willa Bernhard Fund for Books and Literacy). For more information about Embracing Our Differences, call 941-404-5710, or visit embracingourdifferences.org. 

Think pink at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota. For the second year in a row, the resort has partnered with the Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation to support breast cancer screening services such as mammograms and other diagnostics at SMH for those who are uninsured and underinsured in Sarasota County. Pamper yourself at The Ritz-Carlton Spa with a Pink Ribbon Mani-Pedi. This luxurious 100-minute manicure and pedicure service includes a soothing antioxidant-rich soak, pink dragon fruit sugar scrub, hydrating foot and hand mask and a gentle foot and hand massage meant to boost luminosity and fortify the skin’s defenses. To finish, choose from an array of pink-hued polishes. A portion of proceeds from each Pink Ribbon Mani-Pedi will be donated to the Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation. This service is available from September 15-October 31, 2025. Book your treatment today by calling (941) 309-2090 or by visiting https://na.globalspa.marriott.com/srqrz/25616784/offering. 

 Easterseals Southwest Florida has received an extraordinary opportunity to double the impact of community giving. An anonymous donor has pledged up to $500,000 in matching funds for gifts made toward the Campaign for Compassion, which will establish the Malcolm Family Autism Center of Excellence. Nearly $300,000 in community support has already been secured, leaving $200,000 still needed before December 31, 2025, to unlock the donor’s full $500,000 pledge. The Campaign for Compassion is a transformational effort designed to expand and enhance Easterseals’ campus, ensuring that individuals and families living with disabilities continue to receive high-quality programs, therapies and services in a state-of-the-art environment. The initiative includes constructing a new building, renovating existing facilities and acquiring additional property to meet the growing demand for Easterseals’ life-changing services. To donate, learn more or to take a tour of the campus, please visit https://easterseals-swfl.org/support-us/campaign-for-compassion/. 

Following steep federal funding cuts to the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), attorney, businessman and philanthropist Hugh Culverhouse Jr.’s $350,000 matching challenge to Florida Humanities has spurred a record $707,938 in contributions to sustain cultural programming at museums, libraries and community organizations statewide.Combined with his support to humanities councils in other states, Culverhouse’s total giving to humanities programs now exceeds $1 million. Earlier this year, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) eliminated more than $1.7 million in annual federal funding to the NEH and its state partners, placing Florida Humanities’ 50-year mission of preserving and sharing the state’s history and heritage at risk. Culverhouse stepped in during the critical shortfall, continuing his long record of supporting community needs where public funding has been withdrawn. For more information, visit FloridaHumanities.org.