Good News Friday: Good Deeds - January 24, 2014
The Sarasota Young Professionals Group donated 44 volunteer hours to Big Cat Habitat for the organization’s annual Extravaganza Fundraiser. Eleven YPG volunteers assisted with general pre-show activities ranging from show setup to directing traffic. Members of the YPG participate in volunteer events to benefit local organizations every month; the next event will benefit the Pines of Sarasota.
The MSC Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Michael Saunders & Company, awarded its 2013 year-end charitable grants last Friday at the firm’s Lakewood Ranch office. The grants were accepted by leaders of 27 nonprofit organizations in Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties. The MSC Foundation grants are voluntarily funded by the firm’s participating agents, staff and leadership.
Goodwill Manasota is launching its Good Readers program next week at Alta Vista Elementary School, where 94 percent of students are living in households below the poverty line. Good Readers seeks to develop and foster a love of reading in disadvantaged students. To learn more about participating in the program, call (941) 355-2721, ext. 114, or email [email protected].
Carats Fine Jewelry and Watches of Sarasota is hosting a jewelry design contest and auction to benefit Girls Incorporated of Sarasota County. The contest will allow local Girls Inc. participants to learn about the jewelry design process; the winning design will be turned into a hand-crafted pendant that will be auctioned at the Carats showroom, 5:30-7 p.m. March 11.
The Florida Gulfcoast chapter of the American Institute of Architects, All Faiths Food Bank, Mattison’s and Westfield Southgate are partnering to host the national program Canstruction, Feb. 28-March 10. Teams of local design professionals and students will construct original sculptures throughout the mall, which will go on display as a public art exhibit aimed at collecting food for All Faiths. Canstruction events have been held in more than 150 cities worldwide, collecting more than 21 million pounds of food.
