Good News Friday: Good Deeds - December 13, 2013
FCCI Insurance Group was awarded the 2013 Corporate Volunteer of the Year award from All Faiths Food Bank. This year, 112 FCCI employees volunteered for regular three-hour shifts each month to help sort food, and many of them signed up to help at special events like Bowls of Hope, the National Letter Carrier’s Food Drive and Florida Blues Fest. The employees also earned an “orange peel award” for their actions during “Hunger Action Month” in September. Over the years, FCCI Insurance Group has made many considerable contributions to All Faiths Food Bank that include sponsorship donations, advocacy and volunteering.
The Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance (LWRBA) recently held its annual Holiday Social at the Courtyard by Marriott/University Park. Business Alliance members were asked to bring non-perishable food items, a $20 cash donation or grocery gift card in support of Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee. More than 180 members attended. In total, 936 pounds of canned and dried food goods and $1,265 in cash and Publix Gift cards were donated.
IBERIABANK recently hosted a luncheon at the Glasser/Schoenbaum Human Services Center www.gs-humanservices.org. The event, titled “Lunch Is on Us: You Give to Others, and We Want to Give to You,” provided catered lunch for employees of the 17 charitable organizations headquartered at the center.
PGT Industries donated $5,000 to Sarasota County’s Children First as its year-end contribution to an organization it supported with fund raising and other services throughout 2013. Earlier this year, 35 PGT employees spent a day completing much-needed maintenance and landscaping projects at two Children First facilities in Sarasota. More recently, PGT was a sponsor of the “Flip Flops and Fashion” luncheon, as well as the first annual “Rockin’ Lobster” dinner and silent auction.
Last week, John Neal Homes awarded Heather McGuire, a senior at Manatee High School, a $500 check to benefit the charity of her choice as this year’s first Young Philanthropy Award winner. This is the fifth Young Philanthropy Award, which is given out quarterly by the Lakewood Ranch-based new homebuilder. Winners are chosen based on their essays about their favorite nonprofit organizations. McGuire’s essay earned the $500 contribution for the Bill Galvano One Stop Center.
London Bay Homes recently hosted the inaugural Circus Sarasota Golf Tournament at the Founders Club. Nearly 100 golfers and residents raised funds for Circus Sarasota, which preserves the heritage of the circus arts through performance, innovative education and training programs.