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 Jacob Stone, a very dedicated volunteer who spends two to three days weekly with Manatee County Habitat for Humanity's construction site helping to build homes for families in need. While he specializes in laying floors in a home's interior, his nominator says that he’s just as ready to jump in with roofing or whatever else is needed. Beyond the job site, Jacob plays a big role in helping with administrative projects, including Manatee Habitat's 30th Anniversary Celebration event. He tirelessly pursues sponsorships on the organization's behalf, helping secure the critical funding needed to build the homes. Congratulations Jacob!  

Pictured: Jacob Stone (left) with Executive Publisher, Wes Roberts. Photo by Daniel Wagner, Wagner Visuals.

Tomorrow, Michael’s on East co-owners Phil Mancini and Michael Klauber will host the 16th annual Cooking for Wishes event at Circus Arts Conservatory. At this four-course interactive dinner, guests prepare their own meal alongside Mancini and Executive Chef Jamil Pineda. The now sold-out evening features wine selections by Klauber, a live auction and a moving family testimonial about the life-changing impact of a wish.

This year’s theme, "Studio 54: A Night of Funk and Flavor," is designed to recreate the electric energy of the iconic New York nightclub in Sarasota. Attendees can expect a high-energy, interactive culinary experience as The Disco 54 Band provides classic disco hits to keep the party grooving.

One hundred percent of net proceeds from the event will benefit Make-A-Wish Southern Florida and help grant wishes for local children with critical illnesses. "The fundraising done at Cooking for Wishes is vital to fulfilling the mission to find every medically-eligible child on the Suncoast and grant them a life-changing wish,” shares Cooking for Wishes co-chair, Terri Klauber. “Because of all our efforts, kids and their families will now benefit from what research shows is not just a nice experience, but a necessary one.” Renee Phinney and Lauren McComb Dixon serve as co-chairs with Terri Klauber.

Thursday, February 19, 2026, 6:00pm, Circus Arts Conservatory, 2075 Bahia Vista Street, Sarasota. 

In celebration of its centennial anniversary, the Rotary Club of Sarasota has selected a community legacy project that will have a lasting impact on downtown Sarasota and address critical local needs. Following a comprehensive selection process, the Club voted to fund a new Rotary Club of Sarasota Food Pantry at the Boys & Girls Club of Sarasota & DeSoto Counties Roy McBean facility as its official Centennial Project. 

Each year, All Faiths Food Bank implements the Campaign Against Summer Hunger, an effort to feed children from food-insecure homes throughout the summer when they lose access to free and reduced-cost meals at school. Since its launch 13 years ago, the Campaign has raised over $20 million to feed thousands of area children in Sarasota and DeSoto counties as well as raise awareness of the critical issue of child hunger. The chair for this year's Campaign is Dr. LaShawn Frost. To launch the Campaign, All Faiths presents the Walk to End Summer Hunger, with hundreds of compassionate community members in attendance. This year, the Walk is being held at Riverview High School on March 28; tickets are now on sale. Visit allfaithsfoodbank.org. 

The Community Foundation of Sarasota County recently awarded a total of $163,300 in Capacity Building grants to 21 nonprofits. The aim of this round of funding is to help organizations improve fundraising strategies, streamline operations, manage data and invest in technological infrastructure. The Community Foundation’s long-term goal is to support nonprofits as they build greater self-sufficiency so that they can continue to serve their clients, and the community, year after year. The organizations supported work in a wide variety of fields, from providing day shelter services for the homeless to environmental conservation and restoration. One component of the recent grants is to help nonprofits maximize their participation in this year’s Giving Challenge, which takes place from noon to noon, April 15-16. The Giving Challenge is a 24-hour online giving event for nonprofits that are located in or work in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte and DeSoto counties. One of the key goals of the challenge is to connect nonprofits with new donors and encourage them to develop their own effective marketing and fundraising strategies. Nearly 750 nonprofits, a record number, are registered to participate in this year’s challenge. 

The Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County (ELC) is honored to receive a charitable gift of $10,000 from the Suncoast Credit Union Foundation. The funds will be used to purchase new children's books and early learning materials for local families and classrooms, as well as to support various ELC programs. Over the next year, the ELC will distribute developmentally appropriate books through its community outreach efforts, including the Educational Fleet and Sleep Baby Safely program. The gift will also help provide hands-on materials that support early learning routines, language development, and self-regulation in early childhood settings. 

To learn more, visit

Our Sarasota Center is bursting with joy, and we want you to be a part of it! Six months into our new home, we’re excited to open our doors once again for an Open House; this time simply to gather, connect, and share what’s growing here. From Gaymers' Guild and Queerly Written Book Club to Friday night karaoke and Saturday hang-outs, our youth have truly made this space their own. We encourage you to join us on Saturday, March 7, from 3–5 p.m. to experience the space in its current form, enjoy light refreshments, and, of course, be in community! Whether you can only spare a few minutes or would like to stay the whole event, we would love to see you. 

Children First proudly announces that two leaders were recognized at the Region IV Head Start Association Awards Gala on February 11. Region IV represents eight Southeastern states. Brigette Davis, Associate Director of Head Start, was named Region IV Administrator of the Year, and Kacie Hull, educator and parent, received the Region IV Head Start Staff Scholarship after advancing through Florida’s competitive awards process. Davis brings more than 30 years of Head Start experience, leading workforce development and program quality initiatives at Children First. Hull, a longtime educator and parent of three, was honored for her nurturing classrooms, strong family partnerships, and pursuit of a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education. At the state level, Davis and Hull also received top honors from the Florida Head Start Association, and parent J’Myia Wright earned the Head Start Parent Scholarship. 

Florida Studio Theatre (FST) is pleased to announce it has received a $10,000 grant from the Golisano Foundation to expand its VIP Performing Arts Program, increasing access for students with special needs during the upcoming spring session and summer camp. 

To learn more, visit

Embracing Our Differences (EOD) presents its international outdoor art exhibition in St. Petersburg’s Poynter Park as part of its 2026 exhibition season, while the Sarasota exhibition continues in Bayfront Park. A free opening celebration is Saturday, March 7, 1-4 p.m., in Poynter Park. The events features entertainment by Shelby Sol, and Jerk n Tings, My Hungry Vegan and Boba by the Bay food trucks. Local cultural and community partners will also be onsite, including American Stage, Community Tampa Bay, Creative Clay, Dali Museum, Gulf Coast Jewish Family & Community Services, Mi Gente Mi Pueblo, Race WithoutIsm, The Florida Holocaust Museum, The Hub, The Woodson, USF - Black Student Association, and the City of St. Pete. 

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders are among the leading preventable causes of intellectual and developmental disabilities, yet they remain one of the most under-recognized and misunderstood neurodevelopmental conditions in the country. Because symptoms are often subtle and misinterpreted as behavioral issues, many individuals with FASD go undiagnosed and unsupported for years. The recent passage of the FASD RESPECT Act—specifically Section 104 of the federal SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act of 2025—marks a historic shift in how the United States addresses these challenges. The federal law creates a mandate for coordinated national and state-level systems for prevention, identification, intervention, and lifelong support for individuals and families impacted by FASD.  

The Manasota Branch of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) raised approximately $100,000 for the 2026 Manasota Scholarship Program during its inaugural Black History Month Scholarship Luncheon, held on February 6 at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. The event brought together scholars, community leaders and supporters to celebrate Black history, academic excellence and the enduring legacy of Dr. Carter G. Woodson, founder of ASALH and the scholar credited with establishing Black History Month. Proceeds from the luncheon will support the Manasota ASALH Scholarship Program, with scholarship awards to be announced in May.  

For thousands of area students, BackPacks of healthy foods and snacks are a much-needed nutritional lifeline to carry them through weekends and holidays from school. In Sarasota County, approximately 43 percent of students qualify for free and reduced-cost meals; in DeSoto County, that number is 100 percent. Through the BackPack program, thousands of school children throughout Sarasota and DeSoto counties stay fed outside of the school week. A recent challenge match - originally set at $100,000 but then increased to $155,000 - by caring donors Pat and Mary Mulva resulted in a fundraising total of $310,000 designated toward the BackPack program. This campaign funded 62,000 BackPacks filled with nutritious food for area students.