Good News Friday: Good Deeds - Dec. 19, 2014
The community has raised its first $500,000 in this year's Season of Sharing campaign, triggering a $100,000 contribution from The Patterson Foundation. Much of the $500,000 total was raised on Giving Tuesday, during which the Community Foundation of Sarasota County matched all donations, dollar for dollar, up to $100,000. Additional contributions, each capped at $100,000, will be made for every $500,000 raised by our region during the campaign.
The 22nd Annual Hot Dogs & Cool Cats –Laugh Your Paws Off Gala benefiting the Humane Society of Sarasota County raised more than $225,000 for homeless pets in need. Christina Crane, from the Jones & Crane Morning Show on 107.9FM, encouraged guests to raise much-needed funds for HSSC. Crane announced that an anonymous donor would give $50,000 if the $25,000 goal was met and later in the evening, Derek and Heather Byrd also agreed to match the $25,000 goal. The 300 attendees donated $48,000.
The McCauley-Brown Fund of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County recently awarded Embracing Our Differences a $5,000 grant to help fund its teacher workshops. A key component of its ongoing educational initiatives, Embracing Our Differences' annual teacher workshops provide area teachers with new skills, strategies and resources to bring their students creative new ways to think, learn and succeed at the annual Embracing Our Differences exhibit and beyond.
Goodwill Manasota received a grant of $20,000 from the Mildred & Bernard Doyle Charitable Trust to assist in hiring an additional Job Connection specialist at the new Goodwill Job Connection office at its corporate campus in Bradenton.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County raised more than $100,000 at its fourth annual black tie event “Little Wishes, Big Dreams.” The funds will be used toward the Clubs’ afterschool and summer programs.
The Education Foundation of Sarasota County announced grant awards of nearly $185,500 to be put toward 227 projects developed by teachers from 41 public schools in the district.