Fifteen high school seniors from local public and private schools who took part in the Ringling College Library Association Town Hall Lecture Series were recently selected to receive college scholarships from the Rosemary and Lou Oberndorf Town Hall Scholarship Fund and the Dorothy B. Templeton Scholarship Fund of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. Through a selection committee administered by the Community Foundation, 15 top essayists, chosen from more than 90 applicants, were each awarded $2,000 college scholarships and were recognized at the School Board of Sarasota County meeting on May 17.

Embracing Our Differences recently received an EdExploreSRQ Endowment Match from The Patterson Foundation, which will provide vital resources for the organization's annual free exhibit field trips and for its Make-a-Day-of-It! program, an educational outreach initiative that provides free bus transportation for thousands of area students and teachers to visit regional arts and cultural venues and events. The $200,000 endowment, which is managed and administered by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, matches the organization's original $100,000 endowment, provided by Dennis and Graci McGillicuddy and The Swart Family Foundation.

The charitable arm of Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate recently presented a $10,929 donation to Southeastern Guide Dogs. The nonprofit aims to create and nurture a partnership between a visually impaired individual and a guide dog.

The Masala Giving Circle of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County recently presented a $10,000 check to The Newtown Nation, a nonprofit dedicated to advocating for programs that will advance and improve the lives of Sarasota's Newtown community. The funding will ensure a local farmers' market occurs twice a month in the Newtown area to provide access to fresh, healthy food and other basic necessities. A food delivery system will also be incorporated.

Manatee County's Ballard Elementary School was recently chosen to receive a library grant from The Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries. The grant is awarded to schools to extend, update and diversify book and print collections and to encourage students to develop a love of reading and learning. The grant, worth up to $7,000, can only be used to purchase books or magazines for the school.

The Women’s Resource Center of Sarasota County recently awarded $25,000 in educational scholarships at a special awards ceremony and reception on May 15. Scholarships of $1,000 each went to students who are pursuing degrees that lead to careers in law, health and medicine, counseling, technology, design and athletics.

The State College of Florida Foundation recently awarded its inaugural Myakka Research Group Science Scholarship, funded through Ray Baden and the Manatee Community Foundation. Zachary Michel, a freshman at State College, received the $1,500 scholarship for the spring 2016 semester. Recipients must be an active participant in the Myakka Research Internship program and have 40 hours of internship experience with the program.