Good News Friday: Good Deeds - Aug. 29, 2014
Goodwill Manasota was awarded a JPMorgan Chase grant of $35,000 to assist in funding its American Veterans and Their Families Initiative. The program, which helped 327 veterans in 2013, assists recipients in finding employment and provides homelessness prevention case management and support. This year’s grant will enable 10 veterans to go through an agricultural certification and internship with Turner Tree & Landscaping.
The leadership of The Out-of-Door Academy along with lead donors Dick Vitale and Ariane Dart officially announced the names of the new facilities under construction at the Uihlein Campus in Lakewood Ranch: Dick Vitale Family Student Center and Dart Foundation STEM Center. The Family Student Center, anticipated to open in summer 2015, is modeled after like facilities at colleges and universities to provide comfortable and flexible spaces for students to work, collaborate, socialize and pursue extracurricular activities. The STEM Center will provide an environment for project-based learning opportunities.
London Bay Homes will present St. Martha Catholic School’s “Escape to the Caribbean Interactive Dinner” on Saturday, Oct. 4 at Michael’s On East. Guests will have the opportunity to bid on live and silent auction items and be the featured “chef” at their table to cook one of the courses. All proceeds will benefit St. Martha students. To learn about donor, sponsorship and marketing opportunities; or to purchase individual tickets are $175, contact Laura Osborn, director of marketing and public relations, at (941) 953-4181.
Autumn of Sarasota Senior Living hosted a grand opening event, drawing more than 500 attendees including local dignitaries such as Veronica Brady, senior vice president of philanthropy at the Gulf Coast Community Foundation; Danny Bilyeu, field representative for Congressman Vern Buchanan; Charles D. Hines, Sarasota County Commissioner District 5 (chair); Kevin Bessolo of Bessolo Design Group; Tom Esselman, CEO of Institute for the Ages; Jack DePizzo, chairman of Autumn Senior Living, and Jim Soper, CEO of Autumn Senior Living. The community will incorporate two phases of construction: Phase I, which is now open for residents, offers 80 residences to provide for those with memory care needs. Phase II, to be started in 2015, will expand the campus to an additional 220 I-Lite residences, a concept that blends assisted living services with independence. Once fully operational, Autumn will have created 200-250 full-time professional jobs in Sarasota.
Gettel Automotive Group presented Hope Community Kids a check for $750 following its Back to School Drive, enough to give school supplies to more than 1,800 kids who applied for help in Manatee and Sarasota Counties.