Suncoast Searchlight

Streets of Paradise Co-Founder’s Firing Sparks Turmoil at Sarasota Homeless Nonprofit

11:00am By Carrie Seidman/Suncoast Searchlight

Food For Thought

The Southern Smoke Foundation Has Launched a Mental Health Pilot Program for Florida's Hospitality Workers

The program launched in Florida earlier this month after success in 12 other states.

08/28/2025 By Lauren Jackson

Free and Clear

Forever Chemicals in North Port’s Tap Water Prompt a Grassroots Testing Effort

Suncoast Waterkeeper’s "Forever Free" program is intended to inform and empower the public.

08/18/2025 By Kim Doleatto

Dune Duty

A New Volunteer Initiative Aims to Plant 12,000 Sea Oats in Manatee County

Keep Manatee Beautiful is looking for 300 volunteers to help plant sea oats along the dunes of Anna Maria Island in an effort to shore up the natural protections between the island and the water.

07/16/2025 By Kim Doleatto

Caring Crossing

Two Sarasota Brothers Just Paddled from the Bahamas to Florida to Raise Awareness for Cystic Fibrosis

It's all to raise money for the Piper's Angels Foundation, which provides support to hundreds of cystic fibrosis patients each year.

06/24/2025 By Kim Doleatto

Q & A

Barancik Foundation CEO Teri Hansen on Her Decision to Retire, What She's Most Proud of and What Comes Next

'For us, it’s about venture philanthropy. We can try things that others—governments, businesses—can’t or won’t do. And once something works, others can scale it.'

04/11/2025 By Kim Doleatto

Showtime!

The Sarasota Players Announce 96th Season Lineup

From rock ballads to revolutionaries, the 2025-26 schedule brings passion, perseverance and powerhouse performances to the Crossings at Siesta Key stage.

04/02/2025 By Kim Doleatto

Future Flourish

Selby Gardens Nears Fundraising Goal for Its Next Phase (Plus a Sneak Peek of What's to Come)

Phase Two is set to bring a state-of-the-art conservatory, expanded gardens and a new learning pavilion as part of a visionary master plan.

03/25/2025 By Kim Doleatto

Botanic Bosses

OLIN Wins Architecture Sarasota’s Philip Hanson Hiss Award

The landscape architecture firm is celebrated for its transformative designs, including the reimagined Selby Gardens.

03/11/2025 By Kim Doleatto

Accelerating the Cure

The Jellison Family Foundation Is Helping Fund Breakthroughs in Cancer Vaccine Research

'The idea that we could use our own immune systems to fight cancer is transformative.'

02/10/2025 By Kim Doleatto

Rainbow Connection

The Limelight District's New LGBTQ+ Center Will Host a Grand Opening on Friday

Located in the Limelight District, northeast of downtown Sarasota, the center will offer a roster of services and workshops spanning mental health to gardening.

12/13/2024 By Kim Doleatto

Q & A

Project 180 Founder Barbara Richards Reflects on Helping Former Prisoners Rebuild Their Lives

Richards is stepping down from her role with the organization she founded.

12/02/2024 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Pie Day!

Celebrity Chef Marvin Woods Helps Local Students Make Thanksgiving Pie—With an Educational Twist

Woods, the first chef to launch former First Lady Michelle Obama's "Let's Move!" cooking series, taught students at Visible Men Academy how to make a delicious apple pie from scratch.

11/26/2024 By Lauren Jackson

To the Rescue

Grey Bull Rescue Helped Florida Residents as Hurricane Helene Struck

The Tampa-based, veteran-led nonprofit team—which has done rescue missions in Ukraine, Lebanon, Sudan and Russia—made its way to Sarasota to provide aid.

09/30/2024 By Kim Doleatto

Affordable Housing

In the Wake of Florida's Arts Funding Cuts, Florida Studio Theatre Receives Workforce Housing Grant for Its New Arts Plaza

Ron DeSantis cut $32 million in funding from Florida's arts budget—but a $1 million grant for affordable housing made it through for Florida Studio Theatre. That means the organization is on track to break ground on a new $57 million project next year.

07/10/2024 By Kim Doleatto

Hi, Bonsai

The Sarasota Region Is Home to a Dedicated Group of Bonsai Lovers

The art of creating these miniature trees isn't only for karate masters—but bonsai owners are obsessed with their craft.

07/05/2024 By Kim Doleatto

Good Build

New Housing For Adults With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Is On The Horizon

The Haven, a local nonprofit, is poised to build new supported independent housing on a parcel it recently acquired near its campus on DeSoto Road. It will be life-changing for its residents.

07/03/2024 By Kim Doleatto

Barking Up the Right Tree

Let's Meet Some Adorable Future Guide Dogs

Southeastern Guide Dogs breeds, raises and delivers highly trained dogs that change lives by offering companionship, guidance, safety, support and boundless love.

03/21/2024 By Kim Doleatto