Baby Basics of Sarasota County's annual fashion show, fundraiser and luncheon was a tremendous success, grossing nearly $60,000. Held on Monday, November 17, at the Sarasota Yacht Club, the event drew 268 attendees who gathered to support the all-volunteer 501c3 organization. Fashions for the show were generously contributed by Scout & Molly's Boutique, with Baby Basics supporters serving as the models.

The funds raised are crucial for the organization, as 100% of the proceeds will go toward purchasing essential items—diapers, wipes and books—for the 150 low-income, working families it serves across Sarasota County who do not receive government assistance. In addition to the essentials, the organization also emphasizes early literacy by presenting a book to each baby at every monthly distribution.

"Thanks to your generosity, we never had to buy a single diaper," shared an appreciative recipient of assistance. "Beyond that, we are truly grateful for the kindness and warmth you have always shown us. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts."

Secretary and Venice Site Manager, Liz Bond, also shared her gratitude. "Thank you to all who generously donated raffle items, silent auction items and monetary gifts. The proceeds will help us purchase diapers, wipes and books for low-income working families in Sarasota County. Our families express their heartfelt gratitude each month when they pick up their diapers and essential supplies and your support truly makes a difference in their lives." 

Pictured: Baby Basics of Sarasota County's annual fashion show raised funds and awareness for the organization. Provided photo.

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Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center (SPARCC) is pleased to announce that it has received a $15,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, supported by the Laszlo Jozsef Imre and Magdalene Czukor Nemeth Fund, Edward K. Roberts Fund, George J. & Alice Pugh Donor Advised Fund, Sally Blackman Johnson Charitable Foundation, and George and Marian Hyde Charitable Fund, to provide funding for SPARCC’s Emergency Shelter, a critical refuge for survivors of domestic and sexual violence and their children. For more information about SPARCC’s free programs and services and how you can get involved, visit www.sparcc.net.

The Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation (LWRCF) is pleased to announce it awarded $32,405 total to six grant recipients in the third quarter of 2025, bringing the total awarded year-to-date to $92,750. These nonprofit organizations received funding: Beyond the Spectrum, Florida Center for Early Childhood, Foster the Family, The Mark Wandall Foundation, Neuro Challenge Foundation for Parkinson's, and Stillpoint Mission. The grant money will assist with foster care packages for children, a camp for bereaved children, the expansion of a Parkinson’s support program in Lakewood Ranch, and other local programs. Grant applications may be submitted at any time; they are reviewed by LWRCF’s grants committee on a quarterly basis. The foundation’s board of directors is extremely grateful to have the ability, through donations, to fund requests of local organizations. Visit LWRCF.org to view eligibility requirements and the process for applications. For more information about LWRCF, visit LWRCF.org, email info@LWRCF.org, or call 941-208-6799. 

The Mayors’ Feed the Hungry Program, a longstanding community initiative dedicated to fighting food insecurity across Sarasota and Manatee Counties, announced today that it is distributing more than $100,000 in food gift cards to local food pantries just in time for Thanksgiving. This year’s distribution aims to support thousands of families facing financial hardship, ensuring they can enjoy a meaningful holiday meal. The gift cards will be delivered to partnering food pantries throughout Sarasota and Manatee counties, empowering them to directly assist individuals and families in need. The Mayors’ Feed the Hungry Program now plans to give away another $100,000 in food gift cards for the holidays this December.  Public support is needed to achieve this goal.  Donations can be made online at MayorsFeedtheHungry.org, or checks can be mailed to: Mayors’ Feed the Hungry Program, PO Box 1992, Sarasota. 

Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation’s Board of Directors recently approved more than $4 million in grant awards to nonprofit organizations in the region. The grants support several new initiatives designed to stabilize community members who are struggling and connect them to services that can help them thrive. They come at a time when rising living costs and other challenges are increasing pressure on local support systems. The grants span housing affordability, food security, behavioral health, and nonprofit capacity. With its latest grant awards, Barancik Foundation’s total grantmaking for 2025 has surpassed $30 million, reinforcing long-term commitments to opportunity and resilience across the region. 

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Last month, 24 dynamic community leaders from across the region graduated from the Fall 2025 Gulf Coast Board Institute (GCBI). The group represents the 19th class to participate in Gulf Coast Community Foundation’s (Gulf Coast’s) long-standing board development initiative. Additionally, applications for the Winter 2026 cohort are now open. The Institute provides interactive, high-level board governance training to new and veteran nonprofit board members to expand their understanding of governance best practices. The training is part of Gulf Coast’s Invest in Incredible (i3) initiative, which serves as a resource for regional nonprofits to strengthen the board governance and operational effectiveness of area nonprofits. Applications for Gulf Coast’s Winter 2026 GCBI will close on Sunday, December 14. The online application and overview for the program are available at www.gulfcoastcf.org/GCBI 

The Patterson Foundation is providing a $250,000 contribution to the Center for Disaster Philanthropy’s (CDP) Atlantic Hurricane Season Recovery Fund to strengthen support for medium- and long-term recovery efforts in communities impacted by Hurricane Melissa and other severe storms. CDP is the only full-time resource dedicated to helping donors maximize their impact through expert resources, community-driven grantmaking and philanthropic consulting services. The CDP Atlantic Hurricane Season Recovery Fund provides resources to community-based organizations to address medium- and long-term recovery needs, such as rebuilding homes and livelihoods and connecting survivors to disaster case management and legal services to improve their chances of recovering fully after a hurricane. Hurricane Melissa made a historic landfall on Oct. 28 as one of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes on record and the strongest to ever hit Jamaica. Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, the Bahamas and Bermuda were also impacted by the storm, with at least 90 deaths so far being attributed to it, and widespread farmland devastation straining agriculture throughout the islands.