The Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation recently granted $6 million to local organizations focusing on supporting early learning needs, strengthening mental health support and building equitable pathways to education, healthcare, and legal services. Funds will also support the economic recovery of local arts organizations. The breakdown is as follows:

Grants totaling $1,035,000 have been awarded to boost efforts to support infant and early childhood services. Grantees include First 1,000 Days Sarasota, The Florida Center for Early Childhood, and Children First.

Funds totaling $964,926 have been granted to strengthen key health and human service agencies that are on the front lines of navigating families through crisis. Funding will also aid children dealing with grief after the loss of a loved one. Grantees include First Step of Sarasota Inc., National Alliance for Mental Health in Sarasota and Manatee Counties, and Tidewell Foundation.

A total of $767,767 in funding has been granted to bolster programs that promote student success and provide teachers with the tools and training they need to be superheroes in the classroom. Funds will also be used to recognize extraordinary teachers and expand efforts to strengthen the pipeline of aspiring educators in our community. Grantees include Sarasota County School District, Impact Florida, Embracing Our Differences, State College of Florida Foundation, and Florida State University Foundation.

As local cultural organizations reimagine the way they operate, $784,500 in funding has been granted to help sustain their programming. Support will also go towards making community experiences more accessible and inclusive for families of all backgrounds. Grantees include Asolo Repertory Theatre, Embracing Our Differences, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota Orchestra, Sarasota Opera, Sarasota Ballet and The Ringling Museum.

Grants totaling $488,480 have been awarded to support equal healthcare access for individuals who are traditionally uninsured and receive a poor quality of care. Funds will also be used to provide free, comprehensive civil legal aid to vulnerable populations. Grantees include The Multicultural Health Institute and Gulf Coast Legal Services.

A grant of $105,500 was awarded to Sunshine Community Compost to cover operating and start-up costs as they build a viable model for composting in Sarasota County.

An additional $2 million in funding was awarded to provide annual support for organizations that Barancik Foundation founders Chuck and Margie Barancik held close to their heart. The foundation is continuing to partner with Gulf Coast Community Foundation in identifying immediate nonprofit needs and fulfilling critical funding gaps through its Covid-19 Response Initiative.