Good News Friday: Good Deeds - Sept. 19, 2014
Miracle League of Manasota received a $10,000 donation from the Baltimore Orioles in honor of the Hall of Fame career of retiring major league player Derek Jeter. “We know that Derek’s commitment to spreading the game of baseball to children across all walks of life has had a tremendous impact throughout several communities, and his home is right up the road in Tampa,” says David Rovine, vice president of Orioles-Sarasota. “It is a fitting tribute to Derek’s ongoing legacy for the Orioles to make this donation in his name to the Miracle League of Manasota, a league that gives children and adults with special needs a chance to play the great game of baseball.”
The State College of Florida Foundation received more than $26,200 in scholarships from the Florida College System Foundation to prepare students for careers in education and health care. The gift will benefit 20 students. The scholarship awards include funds from the Florida Blue Scholarship, established by Blue Cross and Blue Shield, which were matched by Emil H. and Rose Anne Beck; the Helios Education Foundation Scholarship; and the Dream Maker Scholarship, established by Bank of America.
Sarasota Christian School received $750 from Everence Federal Credit Union’s Sarasota branch. Everence is supporting local organizations around the country through its Rebate for Missions program with 10 percent of its Visa credit card income. Everence members choose the charitable organizations to receive the local funds and a portion of Rebate for Missions funds is awarded to at least one national organization as well.
The Venice Area Board of Realtors donated $1,500 to Habitat for Humanity South Sarasota County to be used toward its pledge of $85,000 to fund a house for a low-income family in South Sarasota County.
Following the success of its spring iPromise anti texting and driving campaign, Luhrsen Law Group has started a fall campaign. Every teen and their parent who takes the iPromise pledge will be entered into a contest for one of five $1,000 scholarships. To take the pledge, log in to luhrsen.com and submit your information under the iPromise logo. The campaign ends on Veterans Day, Nov. 11.
Next Wednesday, Sept. 24, the following area restaurants will participate in a “Food Fight” to benefit the Food Bank of Manatee by donating five percent of the day’s proceeds: Anna Maria Oyster Bar, Beef O Brady’s, Cedar Reef Fish Camp, Full Belly Stuffed Burgers, Sugar Cubed Bakery, Basil’s Flame Broiled Chicken, Gio’s Fabulous Pizza & Martini Bar, Peaches, Polo Grill & Bar, MacAllister’s Grill & Tavern and Mexicali Border Café (which will participate on Tuesday, Sept. 30).
United Way Suncoast received $215,000 in donations from Chase Bank, Bank of America and Gulf Coast Community Foundation. The funds will be used toward paid internships for students, expanding health care and manufacturing training and providing funds for individuals to attend the Bridges to Careers programs.
Hyatt Regency Sarasota staff join All Faiths Food Bank on its Sprout Mobile Farm Market distribution next Wednesday, Sept. 24, for two stops. The first will be from 10:30 a.m.-noon at Sarasota Hope House, 1872 18th St., and the second from 1-2:30 p.m. at The Courts, 1912 N. Orange Ave. The Sprout Produce Program delivers fresh fruits and vegetables to families at 13 distribution sites in Sarasota and DeSoto Counties.