Good News Friday: Good Deeds - Sept. 25, 2015
From 10 a.m.-2 p.m. tomorrow, Sept. 26, the Sarasota Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Agency will give the public an opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs. Residents can bring pills for disposal to the front lobby of the Sarasota Police Department at 2099 Adams Lane, Sarasota. (The DEA cannot accept liquids or needles or sharps; only pills or patches.) The service is free and anonymous. The Sarasota P.D. also has donated $60,000 in law enforcement trust funds to local programs that teach crime and drug abuse prevention education.
Port Charlotte Town Center will kick off its breast cancer awareness campaign from 5-7:30 p.m. next Thursday, Oct. 1 with Mission Pink. Storefronts will be decked in positive pink messaging to support education initiatives, and Rosebuds Mastectomy Salon of Port Charlotte will give a speech followed by a Zumba class and dance performances from Universal Performing Arts Studio and Elite Performing Arts.
The Patterson Foundation has donated $250,000 to the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading to promote children's literacy efforts in more than 200 communities nationwide. The campaign is a national movement to help children read on grade-level by the end of the third grade, increasing their chances of graduating high school and succeeding beyond the classroom.
Pines of Sarasota Foundation received a $15,000 gift from the Harry Kramer Memorial Fund distributed from Wells Fargo to update the HVAC system in Pines Assisted Living Facility that houses 90 campus residents. Another $5,000 gift was given by the Margaret McCartney & R. Parks Williams Foundation distributed from SunTrust Bank for medication or medical needs of Pines residents that are not covered by any other source of funds.
Gimme Shelter Pet Adoption will host the “Hair of the Dog Mighty Aphrodite” charity event from 7-11 p.m. next Thursday, Oct. 1 at World of Beer Downtown Sarasota, 1888 Main St. All proceeds from the Grecian-themed event will benefit homeless animals. Tickets are $25 in advance at Nuovo Salon, Yellow Strawberry Salon and Bohemian Bliss or online at gimmeshelterpets.com; $30 at the door.
The Community Foundation of Sarasota County and artist Sol Schwartz teamed up to provide a $31,000 gift to the Ringling College of Art and Design to purchase essential technology for the new Ringling College Library.