In addition to holding 501(c)3 nonprofit certification, each of these organizations is locally headquartered and serves Sarasota directly. Most of these charities hold public fund-raising events, and nearly all of them depend on volunteers. Here you’ll find numerous ways you can contribute to their missions.

Read about even more local organizations on our Web site, www.sarasotamagazine.com.

Please bring omissions to our attention so that we may add them to our database. For information, comments or suggestions, contact Hannah Wallace at Sarasota Magazine, 330S. Pineapple Ave., Suite 205, Sarasota, 34236. Or e-mail hannahw@sarasotamagazine.com.

Agape Flights
Interdenominational Christian ministry and resource center for missionary families, providing weekly flights for mail and critical and emergency supplies and short-term volunteer teams.
Executive director: Charles Gardner
Address: 100 Airport Ave.
Venice, FL 34285
Telephone: (941) 488-0990
Web site: www.agapeflights.com
Mission statement: To share the good news of Jesus Christ and serve missionaries in the Western Hemisphere and beyond, all to the glory of God.
Volunteer opportunities: Sort mail, package medicine and donated supplies, aircraft and facility maintenance, computer entry, office work, Web page design.
Main fund-raising event: Taste of Venice
Date: Oct. 4, 2008
Location: Agape Hangar
Ticket price: Free; reservations required.
Event chair: Stephanie Gardner

All Children’s Hospital Guild of Sarasota and Manatee
President: Morgan Gerhart
Address: 4720 Acorn Circle
Sarasota, FL 34233
Telephone: (941) 927-8689
Web site: www.achgsarasotamanatee.org
Mission statement: To enhance the availability of services and quality of care for the children of Sarasota and Manatee counties through fund raising and community awareness for All Children's Specialty Care Centers of Sarasota and Manatee and All Children's Hospital of St. Petersburg.
Volunteer opportunities: Visit Web site or call for information.
Main fund-raising events: 1) Moonlight Over Rio. 2) Carrabba's Luncheon and Fashion Show.
Dates: 1) Feb. 28, 2009. 2) April 23, 2009.
Locations: 1) Powel Crosley estate. 2) Carrabba's, University Parkway.
Ticket prices: 1) $175. 2) $25.
Event chairs: 1) Morgan Gerhart, Kimberly Danzig, Neil Fleet. 2) Denise Berceau.

All Faiths Food Bank
Executive director: Daniel E. Dunn
Address: 717 Cattlemen Road
Sarasota, FL 34232
Telephone: (941) 379-6333
Web site: www.allfaithsfoodbank.org
Mission statement: To feed those in need, reduce food waste and educate the community about hunger and nutrition.
Volunteer opportunities: Sorters and events.
Main fund-raising events: 1) Empty Bowls—Thanksgiving Day-related program. 2) Taste of the Suncoast—Evening of sampling food and wine from Sarasota restaurants. 3) Giving Hunger the Blues—Daylong festival with area bands, games, food and beverages.
Dates: 1) Nov. 9, 2008. 2) Jan. 15, 2009. 3) April 19, 2009.
Locations: 1) Phillippi Estate Mansion. 2) Westfield Southgate. 3) Hillview Street.
Ticket prices: TBA
Event chairs: 1-2) TBA. 3) George Generoso.

All-Star Children's Foundation
Executive director: Trish Fitzgerald
Address: 5111 Ocean Blvd., Suite C
Sarasota, FL 34242
Telephone: (941) 312-9049
Web site: www.allstarchildrensfoundation.org
Mission statement: To break the cycle of child abuse, neglect and abandonment.
Main fund-raising events: 1) Celebrity Gala and Golf Tournament. 2) Serving up a Grand Slam—Celebrity tennis classic.
Dates: 1) Nov. 21-22, 2008. 2) TBA.
Locations: 1-2) Longboat Key Club.
Ticket prices: TBA
Event chairs: 1) D. Scott Libertore, Matt Drews. 2) Graci McGillicuddy.

ALSO Out Youth
A drop-in center, outreach support groups, HIV education, youth speak-out panel and diversity training.
Executive director: Candace Sorensen
Address: 1470 Boulevard of the Arts
Sarasota, FL 34236
Telephone: (941) 951-2576
Web site: www.alsoyouth.org
Mission statement: To promote the health and safety of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, intersex and questioning youth.
Volunteer opportunities: Support group facilitators, office work, special events, program presenters.
Main fund-raising events: 1) Annual brunch. 2) Spring gala.
Dates: 1) Oct. 26, 2008. 2) TBA.
Locations: 1) Longboat Key Club. 2) TBA.
Ticket prices: 1) $50. 2) $135.
Event chairs: 1-2) Magida Diouri.

Alzheimer’s Association—Florida Gulf Coast Chapter
Executive director: Gloria J.T. Smith
Address: 1230 S. Tuttle Ave.
Sarasota, FL 34239
Telephone: (941) 365-8883
Web site: www.alz.org/flgulfcoast/
Mission statement: To provide a support system for those affected by Alzheimer’s disease through patient and family services, education, advocacy and research.
Volunteer opportunities: Special events committees, support group facilitation, leadership council, office support and special projects.
Main fund-raising event: Memory Walk—Annual national walkathon.
Date: October 2009
Location: TBA
Ticket price: Participating walkers collect donations.
Event chair: Cindy Marino

American Cancer Society—Sarasota Unit
Area executive director: Cynthia Dunlap
Address: 2801 Fruitville Road, Suite 250
Sarasota, FL 34237
Telephone: (941) 365-2858; (800) ACS-2345
Web site: www.cancer.org
Mission statement: To eliminate cancer as a major health problem through prevention and diminish suffering through research, education, advocacy and service.
Volunteer opportunities: Event committee planners, volunteer drivers, speakers’ bureau.
Main fund-raising events: 1) Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk. 2) Cattle Barons' Ball.
Dates: 1) Oct. 11, 2008. 2) Feb. 28, 2009.
Locations: 1) Sarasota Polo Club. 2) The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota.
Ticket prices: 1) Free. 2) $200.
Event chairs: 1) Meghann Ryan. 2) Kathie and Mike Hayes.

American Cancer Society—Sarasota/DeSoto Counties Unit
Executive director: Wendy DiMeo
Address: 2801 Fruitville Road, Suite 250
Sarasota, FL 34237
Telephone: (941) 365-2858 ext. 23
Web site: www.cancer.org
Mission statement: To eliminate cancer as a major health problem through prevention and diminish suffering through research, education, advocacy and service.
Volunteer opportunities: Patient services, community resource room, physician outreach, volunteer driver, cancer education speaker, Relay for Life committee, Cattle Barons’ Ball committee, volunteer opportunities for Making Strides Against Cancer.
Main fund-raising events: 1) Cattle Barons’ Ball—Stetsons and Stilettos on Thomas Ranch. 2) Relay for Life—Teams walk, jog or run relay-style for 18 hours, plus a cancer survivor dinner and candle-lighting ceremony. [h1]
Dates: 1) Jan. 17, 2009. 2) Spring 2009.
Locations: 1) Thomas Ranch. 2) TBA.
Ticket prices: 1) $100. 2) Free.
Event chairs: 1) Michelle Ryan, Kelly Pickering. 2) TBA.