Good News Friday: Good Deeds - November 22, 2013
Students at Ringling College Art and Design and New College of Florida raised more than $1,700 for All Faiths Food Bank through the “Turkey Bowl,” an annual flag football competition between the two schools. The funds are enough to provide 100 turkey dinners with all the trimmings for Thanksgiving. Spectators also donated 629 pounds of food, enough for an estimated 755 meals. Gold Coast Eagle Distributing, Sodexo and Chartwells provided free food and drinks for the event. (And, for what it’s worth, New College won the matchup for the second year in a row.)
A recent Safari Sarasota Interactive Dinner, hosted by Michael’s On East and Admiral Travel International, raised more than $100,000 for the All Heart Fund at the Good Work Foundation. Visiting chef Anna Ridgewell, from South Africa’s Londolozi Game Reserve, prepared a four-course meal for 200 guests on Nov. 8, pairing Londolozi recipes with Graham Beck wines from South Africa’s Cape Winelands. (Check out Sarasota Magazine’s photos of the event here.) Ridgewell also hosted a South African Wine Tasting at Michael’s Wine Cellar on Nov. 7. The “Londolozi Epicurean Adventure” will be available on the Michael’s On East lunch and dinner menus through Nov. 30. Details here.
Eat Here Sarasota is launching its new Rooftop Lounge tonight, Nov. 22, with an event benefiting the Mayors’ Feed the Hungry program. Guests can donate $25 to attend the event, 5-8:30 p.m. at 1888 Main St.
The Sarasota office of Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP has donated $7,500 to Girls Inc. of Sarasota County, part of the “Invest in the Power of Girls” business partnership program.
BMO Private Bank is providing financial support to help Ringling College of Art and Design complete production of The Lucky 6, the first feature-length film of the Ringling College Feature Film Project. BMO’s contribution will finance the post-production and completion of the film. The Feature Film Project was launched in the summer of 2013 in collaboration with the FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training to produce collaborative feature-length films that enhance the educational, artistic and professional growth of the college’s filmmakers.
Six IBERIABANK bankers recently participated in “Money Smart,” an 11-week financial literacy training course with Harvest House Transitional Centers. The coursework was designed by the FDIC to help low- and moderate-income individuals enhance their financial skills. The bankers spent more than 20 hours providing instruction to 24 students. Harvest House provides affordable residential treatment and support for individuals and families dealing with drug or alcohol dependency.
The Hernando De Soto Historical Society’s Conquistador Historical Foundation has donated $30,000 to the Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County. The check was presented at the ELC Golf Classic at Longboat Key Harbourside on Nov. 15. The Conquistador Historical Foundation works to promote charitable, literary and educational opportunities for children and families in Manatee County.
Neal Communities recently hosted its 15th annual "My Favorite Home Art Contest" at B.D. Gullett Elementary School in Lakewood Ranch. Leading up to the event, students in kindergarten through fifth grade submitted pictures of homes in their art classes, and the submissions were narrowed down to 10 finalists in each grade. One winner is selected from each grade, and the overall winner will be featured on the cover of the 2013 Neal Communities holiday card.