Unity Awards

John Annis Is a Connector For Community Change

“There’s a bunch of people out there who want to do good things. All they need to do is be asked.”

01/30/2020 By Hannah Wallace

Unity Awards

Top CEO Turned Minister Brock Leach Uses Leadership to Help the Disadvantaged

“It was a revelation for me that I could make a difference for someone else."

01/30/2020 By Hannah Wallace

Unity Awards

KT Curran’s Plays and Films Star Young Adults and Their Deeply Emotional Stories

“I like to do good work as much as I like to help young people."

01/30/2020 By Kay Kipling

Unity Awards

Aly Busse Spreads the Gospel of Marine Science to Area Minority Students

“We need people who’ve come from different backgrounds and life experiences to help solve problems the oceans are facing. The more diverse voices, the better.”

01/30/2020 By Megan McDonald

Unity Awards

Jacquelyn Paulk and David Rubin Help Kids SOAR

Jacquelyn Paulk's passion for students and parents is legendary. With the help of David Rubin, her SOAR Learning Center is thriving.

01/30/2020 By Susan Burns

Unity Awards

Nominate Now for the 2020 Unity Awards!

We're shining a light on the individuals dedicated to bringing our communities together in our tenth annual Unity Awards.

08/13/2019 By Staff

Philanthropy

Community Foundation Awards Grants to Unity Award Winners' Nonprofits

The Community Foundation of Sarasota County recently awarded grants to nonprofits that this year’s award winners devote their time to.

02/22/2019 By Staff

Limelight

Photos From Sarasota Magazine's 2019 Unity Awards

The annual awards luncheon at Michael's on East honored nine members of the community who advance equality, diversity and inclusion.

02/20/2019 Photography by Lori Sax

Unity Awards 2019

Meet the Winners of Our 2019 Unity Awards

We’re a closer, brighter place thanks to the winners of our 2019 Unity Awards.

01/24/2019 By Susan Burns, Cooper Levey-Baker, Isaac Eger, Kay Kipling, Megan McDonald, and Ilene Denton Photography by Everett Dennison

Unity Awards 2019

Dr. April Glasco Helps People Who’ve Hit Bottom Start Over

Having found her own second chance, Glasco wanted others to have theirs, too.

01/24/2019 By Kay Kipling

Unity Awards 2019

Claudia Baeza Gives Free Yoga Classes to Those Who Need Them Most

"Years of therapy did not help me this much.”

01/24/2019 By Megan McDonald

Unity Awards

Pam Fazio Goes to Bat for Manatee County’s Special Olympics Athletes

Fazio oversees more than 300 athletes age 8 to 70, coaching bocce, bowling and swimming, and training potential new coaches across Southwest Florida.

01/24/2019 By Ilene Denton

Unity Awards 2019

Mary Braxton-Joseph Taps Into the Magic of Live Theater to Spark Cross-Cultural Connections

Braxton-Joseph is sharing stories about diversity through live theater.

01/24/2019 By Kay Kipling

Unity Awards 2019

Because of Hector Tejeda, Students Dare to Dream of—and Enroll in—College

Tejeda has helped 400 students enroll in college.

01/24/2019 By Isaac Eger

Unity Awards 2019

Demetrius Jifunza Helped 1.6 Million Floridians Win Back Their Right to Vote

Jifunza founded the Sarasota chapter of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, the statewide organization behind Amendment 4, a measure created to restore voting rights to most felons after they have completed their sentence.

01/24/2019 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Unity Awards 2019

Shannon Fortner Started a Festival That Unites Thousands for Sexual and Gender Equality

Fortner believes the Harvey Milk Festival has changed hearts, minds and lives, including her own.

01/24/2019 By Isaac Eger

Unity Awards 2019

Bob and Pat Gussin Keep Seniors Healthy, Promote Literacy and Send Kids to College

The Gussins have more energy than a roomful of preschoolers and see opportunities around every corner.

01/24/2019 By Susan Burns

Honors

Meet the Winners of Our 2019 Unity Awards

This year's winners are advocates for those in crisis, for the physically and mentally disabled, and for those from different cultures, genders, races and religious backgrounds.

01/04/2019 By Staff

Unity Awards 2019

Promote Diversity: Nominate Now for the 2019 Unity Awards!

We're searching for our region's champions of diversity.

08/27/2018 By Staff

Unity Awards 2018

Meet the Winners of Our 2018 Unity Awards

Our champions of diversity inspire us every day.

01/23/2018 By Anu Varma, Susan Burns, and Cooper Levey-Baker