Each year, SRQ Media invites the community to nominate individuals with hearts of giving who have made a significant impact with local nonprofit organizations—from volunteers and board members to individual staff members and donors. This year, attendees were thrilled to be together as we recognized these individuals at our annual Giving Coast and Good Hero Awards luncheon and panel discussion on December 10 at Michael’s on East in Sarasota. In the coming weeks, we are happy to feature each of the ten honorees in our Wednesday Philanthropic edition of SRQ Daily.

Today we are recognizing Dylan Walker, a recipient of our Good Hero Youth Award. After seeing the devastation caused by Hurricane Milton on Siesta Key last year, Dylan, an Out-of-Door Academy senior and football captain, felt compelled to do something to help his neighbors and community. He approached his coach and Out-of-Door leaders with a plan—to turn the school’s biggest rivalry game of the year, against Saint Stephen’s Episcopal School, into a fundraiser for hurricane recovery. With support from his team and his school, Dylan asked local businesses to contribute raffle items for the fundraiser, recruited friends to sell raffle tickets, convinced Out-of-Door Academy to donate a portion of the sales at the football stadium’s concession stand and connected with his rivals at Saint Stephen’s, who agreed to join in on the fundraising campaign. Out-of-Door student volunteers ended up selling $5,395 in raffle tickets and another $500 was generated through concession sales, creating a total impact of nearly $6,000 in one Friday night. The money was donated to the Community Foundation of Sarasota County’s Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund. Congratulations, Dylan! 

Pictured: Children First CEO Philip Tavill (left) with Dylan Walker. Photo by Daniel Wagner or Wagner Visuals.

Mark your calendars — Bus Pull for Inclusion has a new date: Saturday, March 14, 2026 (originally planned for January 31). Same outrageous, over-the-top event, we’re simply giving teams more time to register, recruit, and train so we can pack the park with competitors, families, and community hype. Here’s the challenge: 8-person teams will race to pull a 40,000-pound Breeze Transit bus 30 feet as fast as possible. The winning team takes home the ultimate prize — the "Pullitzer Prize" — and, of course, all the glory. Most importantly, every team and every sponsor helps Inclusion Revolution expand inclusive employment opportunities for people with IDD through our Integrated Jobs Program. 

To learn more, visit

Gulf Coast Community Foundation (Gulf Coast) has partnered with Centerstone and the Venice Police Department (Venice PD) to launch Behavioral Response and Community Engagement (BRACE), a new mental health crisis response initiative designed to provide timely, person-centered support for individuals experiencing behavioral health crises.  The BRACE program embeds trained mental health professionals into the local emergency response system to respond to nonviolent, mental health-related 911 calls. The program aims to reduce repeated crisis calls and unnecessary emergency room visits while helping residents access appropriate care. BRACE will respond primarily to mental health-related calls, while the COT will continue to focus on substance misuse and homelessness-related responses. BRACE augments the existing COT by adding a pre-crisis intervention strategy that expands the community’s overall crisis response capacity.  Residents can reach the BRACE team by calling 941-882-7566 or 941-882-7583.  

The Wood Reserve Design Center, a new resource for design professionals, operates with a strong focus on sustainability and responsible craftsmanship. The business is owned by Bradenton native Ryan Bergeron. As a local leader in handcrafted solid and reclaimed wood furniture, The Wood Reserve demonstrates a strong commitment to environmental stewardship, thoughtful design and enduring quality.

Serving as a collaborative space for interior designers, realtors, builders and homeowners, The Design Center offers a hands-on experience. Professionals can explore responsibly sourced wood species, eco-conscious finishes and custom furniture options. By working closely with The Wood Reserve team, clients can realize their design visions in durable pieces crafted with care for both people and the planet.

Founded in 2016, The Wood Reserve partners with skilled Amish and American craftspeople to create made-to-order furniture using solid hardwoods and reclaimed lumber. Sustainability is integral to their process; many of The Wood Reserve’s builders source lumber from responsibly managed forests, where harvested trees are replanted and regrown to maintain healthy ecosystems. In addition, the company actively supports American Forest Conservation by partnering with the National Forest Foundation, operating with a core mission to unite people in the effort to restore and enhance our National Forests and Grasslands, inspiring meaningful connections to America's public lands.

"A lot of our builders source their lumber from sustainable forests, where the wood that’s harvested is replanted and regrown," explains Bergeron. "We also donate to the National Forest Foundation to plant one tree for every product sold, helping offset the materials used to create our furniture."

The Design Center is available for visits by appointment. For further details, visithttp://www.thewoodreserve.com or explore Trade Program details at:https://www.thewoodreserve.com/pages/wood-reserve-referral-program. 

The Women’s Resource Center (WRC) announces a $425,000 grant from Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation to advance Transforming Operations and Outcomes through Sustainable Systems, a major initiative to deepen client impact, modernize internal systems, and strengthen the region’s nonprofit infrastructure. The grant includes an initial $375,000 investment and an additional $50,000 to be awarded through a matching opportunity.  This support reflects Barancik Foundation’s commitment to community-centered, data-informed solutions that help residents achieve long-term stability. 

Coastal Orthopedics, a full-service provider of comprehensive orthopedic surgery, sports medicine, spine care, diagnostic imaging and physical therapy service, and the Bradenton Runners Club, recently presented $17,125 to be shared between two local nonprofits: Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee and Turning Points Manatee. The funds were raised through donations collected at the club’s 28th annual Turkey Trot. Held on Thanksgiving morning, the three-mile fun run and walk was open to both adults and children. For the event, the Bradenton Runners Club asked race participants to recognize the efforts of two local charities, Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee and Turning Points Manatee, by making monetary donations when they registered for the race or in-person on race day. For more information, please visit CoastalOrthopedics.com or call 941-792-1404. 

The Good Sam Health Services, Inc. is a 501-c (3) nonprofit non-sectarian volunteer organization.  Our services include a free walk-in medical clinic serviced by volunteer doctors and nurses, a dispensing pharmacy for prescription medication, and an advocacy service whereby patients are assisted in completing eligibility forms and then enrolled into free pharmaceutical manufacturers’ patient assistance programs.  All services are provided at no cost to the patients. Since our pharmacy is open during our clinic hours, patients who are treated at our clinic can receive their prescribed medication during the same visit and begin their therapy immediately.  Our clinic treats both acute and chronic medical conditions.   All services are provided by approximately 60 volunteers and two part-time employees. Our clinic is open one evening each week and the dispensing pharmacy operates two days each week.  Patient advocates are available four days every week. 

To learn more, visit

Impact100SRQ is a women-led, all-volunteer organization committed to collective giving and thoughtful philanthropy in our local community. At least 100 women each give a $1,000 tax deductible donation, and together they collectively award grants in increments of at least $100,000 to nonprofits serving Sarasota and Manatee Counties in five focus areas: Arts, Culture & History; Education; Environment, Recreation & Animal Welfare; Family; and Health & Wellness. Every member has a voice and a vote in the grantmaking process, helping determine which nonprofit initiatives receive funding and support. Our Mission: To Empower Women to Collectively Fund Transformational Grants to Nonprofits in Sarasota & Manatee Counties. When women come together with purpose, generosity is amplified and impact is multiplied. Please join us for the 2026 Giving Year—membership is open through March 26, 2026. 

Impact100 SRQ is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

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Did you know it takes nearly $20,000 a year just to supply household essentials for the 11 homes operated by Second Heart Homes? From toilet paper and laundry detergent to air filters, bleach, dish soap, and cleaning supplies, these basic items are a lifeline for residents rebuilding their lives after homelessness. To help meet this ongoing need, Second Heart Homes has received a $15,000 grant from Publix Super Markets Charities. The funding directly supports the essential housing supplies provided year-round to the organization’s 68 residents. 

As the Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation (SAHP) enters a new phase of growth, the organization is sharpening its strategic direction and strengthening its internal structure. A $7,500 Capacity Building Grant from the Edward K. Roberts Emerging Needs Fund of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County will support an expanded planning effort designed to enhance long-term sustainability and guide SAHP’s next chapter. 

The Manatee Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller now has life-saving equipment at the Historic Courthouse, Historical Records Library, and its four historical museums thanks to the Defibrillate Manatee Foundation. Defibrillate Manatee Foundation donated nine automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to the Clerk & Comptroller’s Office. The first four AEDs were received in September and thanks to a generous gift from The Mosaic Company to the Defibrillate Manatee Foundation fund, the foundation provided an additional five to the Clerk & Comptroller’s Office in November. The units are located on each floor of the Historic Courthouse, at the Historical Records Library, Manatee Village Historical Park, Manatee County Agricultural Museum, Palmetto Historical Park, and Florida Maritime Museum.  

The Patterson Foundation is welcoming philanthropic strategist Michelle Walker as its newest Fellow. Through The Patterson Foundation Fellowship, Walker will apply her professional experience and education from the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy during a two-plus-year engagement in Sarasota, Florida. Introduced in 2018, The Patterson Foundation Fellowship is a full-time opportunity for graduates of the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy’s advanced degree programs to accelerate their impact and careers. Along with her knowledge and skills gained from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy’s Master of Arts in Philanthropic Studies degree program, Walker brings extensive experience in helping mission-driven organizations navigate challenges, align stakeholders and build capacity for impact to her role at The Patterson Foundation. She has advised nonprofit leaders on developing strategies and leveraging their intangible and intellectual capital assets to strengthen decision-making and achieve mission-aligned goals for more than a decade.  

Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation hosted its 9th annual Hospital Gala at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota on January 10, 2026, with over 650 guests in attendance. Breaking the previous Gala record, the event raised net proceeds of over $1.9 million, supporting greatest needs at SMH. The event featured SMH’s innovation, research and technology, and was hosted by the Healthcare Foundation’s Board of Trustees. 

On April 16, Goodwill Manasota will present its 2026 Community Ambassador Awards luncheon. The annual event recognizes advocates and supporters in the areas of community leadership, collaboration, and veterans services as well as one special team member for their dedication to Goodwill’s mission. This year's honorees are: Mark Vengroff, Community Leader of the Year; Carlos Moreira, Veteran Advocate of the Year; and Florida Department of Corrections/Stephanie DiTroia. Team member Brian Coleman will be recognized with the Robert W. Rosinsky Achiever of the Year Award.  Individual tickets are $150; sponsorships of $500-$7,500 are still available. Visit experiencegoodwill.org/community-ambassador-of-the-year-awards.