Good News Friday: Good Deeds - June 27, 2014
Big Cat Habitat’s Jam Out Hunger event raised more than $4,000 and 9,400 pounds of food for All Faiths Food Bank to distribute to families in Sarasota and DeSoto counties. With an unprecedented amount of food collected in a one-day drive, several event guests helped transport the food to All Faiths.
United Way of Manatee County has awarded a $33,250 grant to Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast for its community-based mentoring program, which ensures that children receive the adult guidance they need to develop a sense of resourcefulness and overcome obstacles.
Goodwill Manasota has received a $10,000 grant from Wells Fargo for homebuyer education and financial classes. This funding will allow Goodwill Manasota to continue to make its financial education classes available to the public at all 10 Job Connection Centers in four counties. In 2014, the nonprofit will open three new Centers – making it more convenient and accessible for low-income individuals to attend the financial education classes.
Enterprise Holdings Foundation has donated $4,000 to support the career opportunities of USF Sarasota-Manatee students. The funds will be used to sponsor professional development programs in career services such as preparing students for interviews, honing good communications skills and presenting themselves professionally.
The William G. and Marie Selby Foundation has approved Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe’s grant request for approximately $92,000 to be used for installation of new canopies on the WBBT building where presently there are open concrete walkways. The awnings will both improve the appearance of the building and act as protection from weather. WBBT is debt free after purchasing the 2.5-acrre theater campus in 2013.
The Sarasota Young Professionals Group, formed in 2003, has achieved more than 1,000 hours (or nearly 42 round-the-clock days) of volunteering efforts since September 2013. Some community organizations the group has volunteered with are Girls Inc., the Pines of Sarasota, Community Youth Development, Habitat for Humanity and Save our Seabirds. For more information about volunteering for the Young Professionals Group, contact YPG program coordinator Jon Pierce at [email protected].