SRQ DAILY Apr 29, 2026
Wednesday Philanthropy Edition
"The Community Champions workshop will have ripple effects in promoting a holistic understanding and compassion for mental health within our community and have far-reaching impacts for all."
Dragonfly Mental Health, a Bradenton-based nonprofit focused on mental health in higher education, recently received two $5,000 grants: one from Gulf Coast Community Foundation and the other from the Zella I. and Junius F. Allen Fund of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. The funding will support a new, sustainable mental health education program at Ringling College of Art and Design–the first of its kind at an arts college, tailored to creative students. The grants also fund Dragonfly’s Community Champion: Train-the-Trainer program, a peer-led model that equips faculty, staff and students to deliver and expand mental health education within their institutions.
At Ringling, the first cohort will include a diverse group of faculty, staff and students certified as Community Champions. They will lead programming on topics such as mental health literacy, burnout prevention, impostor phenomenon and active listening, all key issues in academic and creative settings.
"The Community Champions workshop will have ripple effects in promoting a holistic understanding and compassion for mental health within our community and have far-reaching impacts for all," explains Associate Dean of Students/Director of Health Services Ringling College of Art and Design, Dr. Erin Robinson Carroll, Psy.D., L.P.
"Students are struggling in silence with untold stressors and too much pressure to keep pushing through when they should be seeking help. Dragonfly's Community Champion Train-the-Trainer workshop empowers students, faculty and staff in universities to say "no" to the silence and raise their voices in support of their own and their peers' wellbeing," adds Dragonfly Mental Health’s CEO and co-founder, Wendy Marie Ingram, PhD.
Support from both foundations represents an early investment in a model with broader ambitions, positioning Sarasota as a potential leader in innovative, prevention-focused mental health solutions.
On May 22, Dragonfly Mental Health is hosting a Lunch and Learn. Click on the link below to learn more. 
Pictured: The first Dragonfly Mental Health Community Champion Training Cohort at UC Berkeley celebrates after three days of intensive programs, coming soon to Ringling College of Art and Design. Provided photo.
On April 15, 175 guests at Michael's On East, sparkling in purple, became chefs for a night, donning black aprons over their finest attire. Under the expert guidance of co-proprietor Phil Mancini and Chef Jamil Pineda, attendees crafted four-course meals, honoring the late Josh Chapnick’s passion for cooking, which he developed during his time at Seasons52. The culinary evening seamlessly transitioned into a spirited fundraising effort, as guests raised their paddles to support epilepsy assistance. Now in its eighth year, the event, largely backed by SK Life Science, celebrates Josh’s legacy through JoshProvides.org. The effort has raised over $115,000, plus $100,000 in matching funds, bringing help and hope to those affected by epilepsy.
The William G. and Marie Selby Foundation has approved grants totaling more than $1,016,000 to 17 local nonprofits. Selected grants for Spring 2026 support nonprofits serving Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee, and Sarasota counties through technology, vehicles, building enhancements and equipment. To learn more about the grant program, visit SelbyFdn.org.
Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation is pleased to announce the hiring of Sarah Crittenden as the Director of Communications and Philanthropic Engagement. In this newly created role, Crittenden will lead the Healthcare Foundation’s communications, marketing, donor engagement, and special event efforts, helping strengthen community connections and inspire philanthropic support for Sarasota Memorial Health Care System. For more information about Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation, visit smhf.org.
Food bank and hunger relief organization All Faiths Food Bank recently received 10 contributions, totaling over $140,000, to support several of its programs. These grants will support general operations, Margie's Market by All Faiths Food Bank, and the school pantry and BackPack programs.
A $250,000 matching effort is underway to expand emergency assistance for Sarasota County residents as more families struggle to cover basic expenses. Sarasota attorney, businessman and philanthropist Hugh F. Culverhouse Jr. has established a dollar-for-dollar match to support Church of the Redeemer’s Culverhouse Benevolence Fund, which provides direct aid to individuals and families in the broader community facing financial hardship. The effort could result in $500,000 or more for essentials such as housing, utilities and food. The fund was launched with a $200,000 gift from Culverhouse during last year’s federal government shutdown, when disruptions to SNAP and other programs left many families without support. The new effort comes as demand for assistance continues to rise, driven by higher costs for housing, insurance, food and child care, along with income disruptions, the removal of government funding and broader economic uncertainty.
Last week, Goodwill Mansota held its annual Community Ambassador of the Year awards luncheon. The honorees were: Mark Vengroff, Community Leader of the Year; Carlos Moreira, Veteran Advocate of the Year; and the Florida Department of Corrections, Community Partner of the Year. Additionally, 14-year team member Brian Coleman was recognized with the Robert W. Rosinsky Achiever of the Year Award.
An unforgettable evening of elegance, inspiration, and purpose awaits at AGAPE 2026, hosted at the stunning La Gran Mansión. This premier event will bring together community leaders, philanthropists, and supporters for a night dedicated to love, faith, and meaningful local impact. Presented by The Altar Fellowship, AGAPE 2026 will feature a thoughtfully curated experience including a gourmet chef-prepared dinner with fine wine, live music, performances by talented young artists, and an atmosphere filled with celebration, connection, and purpose. A highlight of the evening will be the presentation of the inaugural The Altar Youth Impact Award to Nate Jacobs and the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe. This prestigious recognition honors their extraordinary commitment to uplifting and empowering youth through the arts and community engagement. Tickets and table sponsorships are now available. Community members, businesses, and supporters are invited to secure their place at this inspiring evening and be part of a movement that celebrates love, faith, and lasting impact. www.the-altar-fellowship.mykajabi.com/events-at-the-altar.
May 31, 6-10pm, La Gran Mansión
The board of directors of local LGBTQ+ advocacy nonprofit Project Pride SRQ has named Justyn Hunter-Ceruti as the organization's interim executive director. He will take the reins as of May 4 - at that time he will step back from his current position of board president - and has been engaged for this role through the end of the year. Board member Jessica Maxon-Berrier will become the new board president. The organization will continue to build community through coalition-building, business networking, strategic partnerships, arts and culture collaboration, and inclusive programming that creates meaningful opportunities for connection, visibility, and belonging across the Sarasota-Manatee region.
The Hermitage is a leading national arts incubator and the only major arts organization in Florida exclusively committed to supporting the creation and development of new work across all artistic disciplines. Located on Manasota Key in Sarasota County, the Hermitage provides accomplished and diverse artists with multi-week residencies to create original works of theater, music, visual art, literature, dance, and more. Hermitage Fellows have included eighteen Pulitzer Prize winners, multiple Tony, Oscar, Emmy, Grammy nominees and winners, Poets Laureate, MacArthur and Guggenheim Fellows, and hundreds of extraordinary artists from around the world. Hermitage artists, writers, and performers offer a unique glimpse into the creative process, sharing their original works-in-process with our Gulf Coast community. These free, hour-long programs take the shape of musical performances, play readings, concerts, visual art demonstrations, panel discussions, master classes, open studios, and more. Audiences can experience a unique level of engagement with these extraordinary talents at our year-round sunset programs on the Hermitage Beach and other partner venues throughout the region. To register for an upcoming Hermitage program or to make a tax-deductible, year-end gift in support of the Hermitage, visit HermitageArtistRetreat.org.
Neuro Challenge Foundation for Parkinson’s hosted an unforgettable evening of inspiration, community, and generosity at its annual Cause 4 Hope “You’ll Never Walk Alone” celebration on Saturday, April 25 at The Ora. The event raised more than $500,000 to support critical, no-cost programs and services for people living with Parkinson’s and their families.Nearly 3,500 families rely on Neuro Challenge each year for education, therapeutic programs, support groups, and one-to-one care advising. Funds raised from Cause 4 Hope ensure these essential services remain accessible to all who need them—at no cost. For more information visit www.NeuroChallenge.org. 722 Apex Road, Suite A, Sarasota, FL 34240 • 941-926-6413, www.neurochallenge.org
A Sarasota woman has been recognized on the global stage for her work at the intersection of science, technology, and space exploration. Kayla Taylor, a PhD student at the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach campus, has been named a recipient of the 2026 Zonta International Women in STEM Award, a prestigious honor awarded to a select group of women worldwide. The award includes a $10,000 grant to support her continued research.
Gulf Coast Community Foundation (Gulf Coast) and its donors have launched two public challenge matches totaling $1 million to support projects across Sarasota County. One dollar-for-dollar match will help expand child abuse prevention and treatment services for North Port families through the Child Protection Center’s Monda Family Campus of Healing, The other match will create 25 attainable apartments for working families through Harvest House’s Lakeview Village development. Every dollar contributed by the public will be matched by generous Gulf Coast donors. Both projects come at a critical moment: South Sarasota County's rapid growth is straining child services, and the need for workforce housing across the region continues to outpace supply. Individuals interested in contributing to the challenge matches are encouraged to contact the Philanthropy Team by e-mailing PhilanthropyTeam@GulfCoastCF.org.
Donte’s Den Foundation has appointed Claudia A. Harden as its new Director of Marketing & Development, bringing 24 years of nonprofit leadership experience in communications, fundraising, partnerships, community engagement, and animal welfare. In this role, Harden will lead efforts to increase philanthropic support, expand strategic partnerships, increase public awareness, and strengthen Donte’s Den Foundation’s connection to the community. Most recently, Harden served in senior leadership at Sarasota-based Cat Depot. Prior to that, she held leadership roles with Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society, where she built a solid foundation in nonprofit communications and public outreach.
Award-winning Hermitage Fellows offer a unique glimpse into their creative process, sharing original works in process with our Gulf Coast audiences. These free hour-long programs take the shape of musical performances, playreadings, concerts, visual art demonstrations, panel discussions, master classes, exhibitions, open studios,and more. The presentations are often works in process, giving Hermitage audiences a look into the creative process before these works go on to leading theaters, concert halls, and museums around the world.
Hermitage Artist Retreat, 6660 Manasota Key Rd, Englewood, FL 34223
Art immersion class for children ages 6-18. Small classes with fine arts materials. Visit linarinconart.com for more information and to register.
Creative Liberties Artist Studios, Gallery & Creative Academy, 927 N Lime Ave., Sarasota, FL 34237
The summer 2026 exhibition at Selby Gardens will celebrate the creative collaboration between two legendary figures and longtime friends, photographer Lynn Goldsmith and singer-songwriter Patti Smith, who is Selby Gardens’ artist in residence. The exhibition will feature Goldsmith’s photographs of Smith, past and present, in the Museum of Botany & the Arts. The images will offer an intimate portrait of an iconic artist over the course of her remarkable career.
Selby Gardens, 1534 Mound St, Sarasota, FL 34236
Juana Romani (1867–1924) was one of the most fascinating and successful painters in late-nineteenth-century Paris. Born in Italy, Juana—whose given name was Giovanna Carlesimo—moved to Paris with her mother and stepfather at the age of ten. She took up painting, studying under the well-known painters Jean-Jacques Henner (1829–1905) and Ferdinand Roybet (1840–1920). Romani quickly earned both critical praise and significant fame for her deftly painted, richly colorful depictions of strong, sensual women adorned in lavish textiles.
Ringling Museum, 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota, FL 34243
Mayer explores the impact of technology on the human body through this interactive sculpture series. Slumpies invites viewers to sit and slump on these sculptures, much like furniture, and find a place of comfort while using their technological devices.
Sarasota Art Museum, 1001 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota, FL 34236
Step into the spotlight with One Hit Wonders, a toe-tapping celebration of those unforgettable songs that lit up the charts and became part of our lives. From the epic storytelling of “American Pie” to the carefree whistle of “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” this show celebrates the artists who gave us a single great hit.
Florida Studio Theatre, 1241 N Palm Ave, Sarasota, FL 34236
Calder’s work is a great source of interest to the team at Selby Gardens. His fascination with energy and motion, coupled with his exploration of suspension and equilibrium, provides creative inspiration for the dynamic display of epiphytes, or air plants. Selby Gardens is a leading center for the study of air plants and is home to the best scientifically documented collections of living epiphytic orchids and bromeliads in the world. The Calder exhibition at Selby Gardens will highlight the artist’s use of abstract forms rooted in nature and emphasize his interest in science and engineering. The exhibition will also explore Calder’s enchantment with the circus, stemming from his studies of performers and animals at the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus in 1925.
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, 1534 Mound St, Sarasota, FL 34236
Think while you drink! Gather your friends, co-workers or family and join us for a fun-filled evening. Prizes and specials each night. Monday – Wednesday at 7:30pm. Gecko’s on Clark – Monday ; Gecko’s on SR64 & Stickney Point – Tuesday ; Gecko’s on Hillview – Wednesday.
Tripletail Seafood & Spirits delicious Sunday Brunch is from 11am-3pm. Guests are invited to indulge in a delightful brunch experience on the beautiful covered patio or casual dining room with nautical touches. The brunch menu features a variety of mouth-watering dishes created by Chef Cesareo Cardenas, including his decadent Crème Brûlée French Toast, savory Steak & Eggs, succulent Lobster Benedict, the flavorful Tripletail Brunch Burger and Crab & Shrimp Omelet. Guests will receive a complimentary Bloody Mary or Mimosa with the purchase of any entrée. Prices range from $13 to $26. Reservations can be made through Open Table or by calling 941-529-0555.
Tripletail Seafood & Spirits, 4870 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
2nd Fridays Creative Happy Hour brings the party to the gallery and transforms ArtCenter Sarasota into a vibrant hub of creativity, conversation, and connection. These lively monthly gatherings feature rotating themes, interactive art activities, live music, dance, film, and collaborations with local artists and arts organizations. It's a fresh take on the classic art salon, welcoming all ages to mix, mingle, make, and experience art in motion.
ArtCenter Sarasota, 707 N Tamiami Trl, Sarasota
Anna Maria Oyster Bar UTC is proud to participate in Taste of UTC this April, offering specially priced three-course lunch and dinner menus that showcase guest favorites and signature coastal flavors. Join us for a limited-time experience featuring a curated selection of dishes that reflect the fresh seafood, bold flavors, and Five Star Fun hospitality that have made Anna Maria Oyster Bar a local favorite. Lunch is available for $18 per person and includes choices such as Spicy Seafood Gumbo or New England Clam Chowder, AMOB Tacos, Crab Mac and Cheese with house-made chipotle cheese sauce and lump crab, and the always popular Fish and Chips. Guests finish their meal with a slice of Anna Maria Oyster Bar’s famous housemade Key Lime Pie. Dinner is offered for $34 per person and features elevated selections, including the Seafood Fra Diavolo with shrimp, scallops, and mussels, Danish Baby Back Ribs, and Cajun Cobia topped with lump crab and Parmesan bacon crumble. Each dinner also concludes with our housemade Key Lime Pie.
Anna Maria Oyster Bar UTC, 5405 University Parkway, Unit 110
In this charming adaptation, Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends—Piglet, Eeyore, and Rabbit—navigate misadventures fueled by honey, friendship, and laughs. A heartwarming tale filled with wit.
Venice Theatre, 140 Tampa Ave W, Venice, FL 34285
Featuring works by such acclaimed modern and contemporary artists as Louise Bourgeois, Chuck Close, Yoko Ono, David Hockney, Ai Weiwei, and more, this never-before-seen exhibition offers a rare glimpse into private collections held throughout Southwest Florida.
Sarasota Art Museum, 1001 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota, FL 34236
Maria A. Guzmán Capron explores the complexities of identity through vibrant figurative textiles. Drawing inspiration from her own multicultural heritage, the artist creates layered portraits of exuberant, multi-faceted characters.
Sarasota Art Museum, 1001 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota, FL 34236
Thursdays and Saturdays, 7:30pm. Step right up to solve the murder of Dahlia the Queen of the High Wire on this interactive murder mystery who-dunnit.
Wednesdays, 10am. Go back in time to the 1920’s in Sarasota to hear from three leading ladies (Bertha Palmer, Marie Selby and Mable Ringling) as portrayed by Kathryn Chesley, who shaped Sarasota into a cultural icon.
Sundays, 1pm. Join psychic and tarot reader, Deni Dreazen on a metaphysical exploration trolley tour of Sarasota. Visit Pixie Dust gift shop, experience a sound bath at the Crocker Memorial Church with sound healer, Kaylene McCaw, and then walk the labyrinth.
Wednesdays, 10:30am. Explore Art Deco, Mid-Century Modern (the Sarasota School of Architecture) and Mediterranean Revival Architecture buildings, homes and structures of Sarasota on this 90-minute mainland tour.
Mondays, 1pm. Join Jerome Chesley as you explore more than 60 pieces of public art located in downtown and St. Armands.
Ernestine Ashworth spends her 17th birthday agonizing over her insignificance in the universe. Soon enough, it’s her 18th birthday. Even sooner, her 41st. Her 70th. Her 101st. Five generations, an infinity of dreams, and one cake baked over a century.
Florida Studio Theatre, 1241 N Palm Ave, Sarasota, FL 34236
A multimedia exhibition featuring painting, drawing, video, sound, and immersive installations. Developed in collaboration with the SPAACES curatorial team, and artist LaMichael Leonard Jr., the exhibition builds on Leonard’s Movement Research Residency and his performance piece BLUR. The featured works explore the dynamic relationship between body, space, and identity.
SPAACES, 2051 Princeton St, Sarasota, FL 34237
Café on St. Armands is introducing Prime Rib Sundays, a new weekly dining feature available every Sunday beginning at 11 AM. Guests are invited to enjoy a classic prime rib dinner, thoughtfully prepared and served as part of Café’s elevated all-day dining experience. The featured Prime Rib entrée includes chianti herb and Dijon-crusted prime rib, garlic confit mashed potatoes, roasted Brussels sprouts, rich au jus, and creamy horseradish. The dish is available for $46.
Cafe on St. Armands, 431 St. Armands Circle, Sarasota, FL
This new speaker series, Art, Actually, explores how art intersects with identity, community, and change through conversations with artists, curators, and cultural leaders.
ArtCenter Sarasota, 707 N Tamiami Trl, Sarasota
Enjoy music, theater, literature, dance, and more as part of the Hermitage Sunsets at Selby Gardens series. Each hour-long program features selections of work as well as candid and engaging conversations with the world-class artists who come to the Hermitage to create art in an inspirational environment.
Selby Gardens
Saturdays, 1pm. This tour led by circus historian Bob Collins explores the fascinating legacy of the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus.
Make your Saturday mornings even more fun! Check out the Backyard Science program for elementary-aged learners at The Bishop’s incredible indoor Mosaic Backyard Universe. This wildly popular learning program offers a wide range of activities, observations, and crafts that are sure to spark curiosity and ignite learning.
Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, 201 10th Street West Bradenton FL 34205
Thursdays, 10am. Discover with our expert guide, Kendra Cross, why Sarasota is the only place in the world that the Amish and Mennonite communities come to vacation en masse. In Pinecraft, enjoy the tour stops at Alma Sue’s Quilt Shop, The Carlisle Inn and Der Dutchman Amish Kitchen Cooking Restaurant for shopping and a pie shooter sample of their delicious pie!
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