Denise Davis-Cotton, the director of the Florida Center for Partnerships in Arts Integrated Teaching (PAInT) at USF Sarasota-Manatee, recently received a $2.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to launch a professional development program for educators who teach social studies in elementary and middle schools that serve low-socioeconomic status households and communities across the country.

At the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Ian, the Community Foundation of Sarasota County  awarded a second round of grants totaling $625,000 to nonprofits to address ongoing impacts of the catastrophic storm. The nonprofits who received grants are YMCA's SKY Academy in Englewood, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Charlotte County, Rebuilding Together Tampa Bay, Habitat for Humanity Sarasota, Inc., Florida Rural Legal Services, Inc., Legal Aid of Manasota, Charlotte County Homeless Coalition, Restore Global and Good360.

The Armed Forces Families Foundation (AFFF), a nonprofit organization that funds infrastructure for American military families, and Southeastern Guide Dogs recently opened a Veterans Retreat garden funded by $115,000 in proceeds from the annual Skyway 10k road race.

Teen Court recently received a $25,000 grant from the Gulf Coast Community Foundation to address the 10 percent growth in south Sarasota County civil citations, as well as adress the need to add a south Sarasota County case manager to its team. 

The Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation has awarded a grant of $150,000 to Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe to help WBTT secure sufficient production staff to maximize the use of its theater space, increase its education and outreach programming, and continue to grow its operations.

The Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance hosted its 6^th Annual Alliance Gives Back Volunteer Days on Oct. 5, 6 and 7. Notably, more than 350 volunteers participated; 120 companies were represented; 950 hours were donated across 35 projects; 600 care packages were sent to the Caribbean; 2,400 lbs. of food were sorted and readied for distribution; and the LWRBA reported $27,000 in total economic impact.

Neal Communities recently donated $5,800 to help support local school programs that benefit children and families.