As part of Florida Power & Light Company’s (FPL) annual Power to Care Week—a week-long volunteer effort aimed at supporting the communities FPL serves across Florida—volunteers gathered in Sarasota County on Friday, Feb. 20. The event took place from 9am-12:30pm.

More than 15 volunteers dedicated time to the maintenance and beautification of The Ranch of Easterseals Southwest Florida. Their efforts support the organization's mission to offer therapy, learning and recreation on horseback, which helps people with disabilities find new strength, improve balance and unlock their potential.

Kent Jimison from Easterseals Southwest Florida’s Development Office shared gratitude. “It isn’t just what it means to Easterseals, but it’s what it means to the clients we serve and all the children that are suffering from such varying degrees of disabilities,” he said.

The Sarasota County event is one of over 20 volunteer projects across more than 10 counties that are part of FPL’s Power to Care Week, February 16-21. Now in its 18th year, the initiative brings hundreds of FPL volunteers together statewide as part of the company’s commitment to powering strong communities.

“We give back all throughout the year to different service projects, but it just warms my heart to have this many employees show up and come out and the difference they are making in helping this organization,” says FPL Senior Community Relations Specialist, Jennifer Huber. 

Pictured: #53 On Feb. 20, 2026, Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) volunteer Tyler Garner helps remove fencing and conduct s maintenance at The Ranch of Easterseals Southwest Florida . Volunteers removed posts, helped with landscaping and maintenance ef

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 Corporate Good Hero, Michael Suarez. Michael’s story represents the extraordinary power of coming full circle, transforming the life of a child into a lifelong commitment to service, leadership and community. As a young boy, he attended preschool at the historic Helen R. Payne Day Nursery, which merged with Children First in 2004 and those early years shaped his path. He was nurtured, encouraged and inspired to believe in his potential. Decades later, he now serves as Board Chair of the very agency that gave him his own “Head Start” in life—a true testament to the lasting impact of early education. Drawing upon his expertise from a distinguished 29-year career with Sarasota County Government, where he became the first African American Executive Director of Emergency Services, leading 580 employees and managing an $82 million budget, Michael’s leadership proved crucial during devastating storm seasons. Thanks to his guidance, Children First was able to respond quickly, maintain continuity of care and provide stability for families who were already facing tremendous financial and emotional hardship. Congratulations Michael!

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

In the child welfare realm, it is not uncommon for fathers or paternal family members to be absent during the case planning process, particularly in comparison to mothers or maternal figures. Local child welfare organization Safe Children Coalition (SCC) understands the importance of paternal involvement in ensuring the safety, permanency, and well-being of children and youth; in 2024, they launched the Fatherhood Initiative. Long-term goals for the program include increasing the number of fathers with mentors/parent partners or role models, increasing the monthly contacts by fathers with their children, and increasing the percentage of fathers reunified with their child/ren.  In support of the overall initiative goals, SCC recently held the Fatherhood Initiative Health Fair. The purpose of the event was to help fathers lead healthier lifestyles by providing access to local resources and services. Organizations that were in attendance focused on healthcare, early childhood education, physical fitness, mental health, HIV prevention, addiction/recovery services, supportive housing and more. For more about Safe Children Coalition and its programs, visit sccfl.org. 

Senior Friendship Centers (SFC), a nonprofit dedicated to building vibrant communities and promoting well-being for older adults throughout Southwest Florida, proudly announces the appointment of three exceptional leaders to its Board of Governors: Pam Beitlich, DNP, APRN, RN, Stephanie Havens Costello, Ph.D., and Kevin Gillen. For more information about Senior Friendship Centers, call (941) 955-2122 or visit www.friendshipcenters.org
 

Academy at Glengary, Inc. is set to expand the Nutrition Program at its Sarasota campus with a generous $5,000 grant from Gulf Coast Community Foundation. Funding will ensure that the Academy’s meals remain available to all attendees regardless of their financial situation. The Academy at Glengary serves adults 18+ who live with a serious mental illness and want to pursue mental health recovery and self-sufficiency. Known as members, these adults face many obstacles to achieving optimal nutrition, which can set the stage for diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity as well as decreased life expectancy. To address this reality, the Academy developed a daily breakfast and lunch program to serve natural, made-from-scratch meals to ensure that members have at least one healthy meal a day. The Academy will also offer “to-go” meals for evenings and weekends, especially helpful for those members who lack access to cooking facilities. 

The Manasota Branch of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) announces it has received its largest grant to date — a second major award from Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation totaling $450,000. This significant investment will help the organization build and strengthen its operations to meet growing community demand for its programming. The grant includes a $150,000 community match, encouraging broader local support and deepening community investment in Manasota ASALH’s mission.  

As part of the 2025 PINCfest - and in response to the removal of downtown Sarasota's Pride Crosswalk last year - local LGBTQ+ advocacy nonprofit Project Pride SRQ has installed a Pride mural that can't be erased. The mural, designed and painted by artist Joey Salamon (who painted the Sarasota Pride Crosswalk in 2021), is on the back wall of Project Pride's office in the Rosemary District, facing Central Avenue. “When our Pride crosswalk was painted over, it was more than paint that was erased; it was an attempt to silence visibility, pride and belonging,” said Project Pride SRQ Executive Director Tom Edwards. “The removal of LGBTQ+ public art is not about public safety – it’s about making any trace of DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) toxic, erasing visibility for targeted communities, repudiating the perception of belonging if you are an ‘other.’ But we will not stand for the erasure of the identity and self-esteem of our community’s youth.” For more about Project Pride SRQ, visit ppsrq.org. 

The Patterson Foundation has appointed Jacki Dezelski as its newest Governing Board member. Dezelski is the current president and CEO of the Manatee Chamber of Commerce, having served the Chamber for the past 30 years. Throughout her tenure, Dezelski has led initiatives in workforce development, communications, healthcare, leadership development, public policy and young professionals. A longtime Manatee County resident, she has served the community through a variety of organizational boards and has received various awards throughout her career in recognition of her performance, leadership and contributions to the community. For more information on The Patterson Foundation and its Governing Board, please visit thepattersonfoundation.org. 

The Circus Arts Conservatory (CAC) and Key Chorale announce the return of Cirque des Voix®: Circus of the Voices, an extraordinary collaboration that fuses the presentation of world-class circus artistry with the power of a mega-choir and the brilliance of The Venice Symphony. This year’s all-new production, Superheroes vs. Supervillains, will take audiences on an unforgettable voyage expanding the horizons of live entertainment. For more information, visit CircusArts.org or call 941-355-9335. 

Something special is happening at ALSO Youth, and we don’t want you to miss it. On March 7, we’re opening our doors and inviting you to experience the heart of our Sarasota Center! This space has transformed into more than just a building; it’s become a hub of laughter, creativity, belonging, and joyful self-expression. This open house isn’t a presentation or a program. It’s a moment to walk through the space, meet the people who bring it to life, enjoy light bites, reconnect with familiar faces, and feel the energy that’s growing here every week. Drop in for a quick hello or stay awhile! Either way, you’ll be part of what makes this community thrive. We’re saving a spot for you!  

Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties (BGCSDC) is proud to welcome new members to its Board of Directors and Foundation Board. New Board members include David Barcomb, Veronica Brady, Dr. Megan Green, Dave Norton, Pete Powers and Kelvin Womack. Blake Gratton, Brock Gratton, Judy Kozlowski, Willy Murgolo and Kendall Peacock have joined the BGCSDC Foundation Board. For more information about Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties or to learn how you can get involved, please visit bgcsdc.org. 

Embracing Our Differences (EOD) welcomed 600 enthusiastic supporters to its sold-out annual luncheon at the Ora on February 20, raising more than 430,000 to support the organization’s year-round education and outreach programs. The event featured moving remarks from students and community leaders highlighting the growing impact of the nonprofit’s initiatives.