The Patterson Foundation (thepattersonfoundation.org) recently contributed $250,000 in unrestricted funds to the Center for Disaster Philanthropy’s Refugee Crisis Fund. The Patterson Foundation’s catalyst gift, one of the first committed to the Refugee Crisis Fund, is designed to help generate contributions from other supporters. The huge movement of people around the world has created the highest number of displaced persons since World War II.

Through Jan. 19, All Faiths Food Bank (allfaithsfoodbank.org) will offer free flu shots at mobile pantries throughout Sarasota County. In a new collaboration with Walgreens (walgreens.com), visitors who come to pick up food will also have an opportunity to get a free flu shot administered by a Walgreens pharmacy technician. The Food Bank will offer shots 9-10:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 15, at the Glasser-Schoenbaum Center, 1750 17th St., Sarasota; 9-10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 16, at St. David’s Episcopal, 401 S. Broadway, Englewood; and 4:30-6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 19, at Riverview High, 1 Ram Way, Sarasota. 

Achieva Credit Union (achievacu.com) will host a “Run for GOOD” family-friendly fund raiser that features a 5K run and walk, a half-mile kids’ run, a half-mile dog walk and a dog costume contest with a prize for the best-dressed dog. A pancake food truck will serve free breakfast immediately following the races. The run benefits local schools in the form of classroom grants awarded by the Achieva Foundation, a 501(c)(3). The run begins at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 30, at Payne Park, 2050 Adams Lane, Sarasota.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast (bbbssun.org) has been awarded a number of grants. The Bank of America Client Foundation (fdnweb.org/boacf) awarded the organization $30,000 to support Gateways to Graduation, a dropout prevention program. Big Brothers Big Sisters also received a grant of $35,325 from United Way Suncoast (unitedwaysuncoast.org) to support one-on-one mentoring in Sarasota County. The Bladel Foundation also awarded $5,000 to support mentoring efforts. And, finally, the Michael Saunders & Company Foundation (michaelsaunders.com/msc-foundation) awarded $1,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters for its Decisions to Win program, in which an adult mentor works one-on-one with a high school student on personal decision-making.

The Simon Youth Foundation (syf.org), a national nonprofit that provides educational opportunities for at-risk high school students, is accepting scholarship applications from graduating seniors who live within 50 miles of Ellenton Premium Outlets (premiumoutlets.com/outlet/ellenton). The foundation partners with public school districts to open dropout recovery academies inside Simon Premium Outlets shopping malls. Students can apply online by visiting syf.org/scholarships; the application period ends March 1.

Lowe's Home Improvement (lowes.com) in Sarasota helped the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe (westcoastblacktheatre.org) celebrate the holiday season by donating a 7-foot Christmas tree that was displayed in the theater lobby during the troupe’s recent production of A Motown Christmas. Lowe's also donated half the cost of a new commercial-grade washer and dryer to the organization.