Goodwill Manasota will hold its Community Ambassador of the Year Awards, honoring leaders in the areas of veterans services, philanthropy, and community partnership, on Oct. 12 at Michael’s On East in Sarasota.
The awards, returning for the first time since 2019, include:· Veterans: Rob Kehs. A U.S. Navy veteran who served from 1985-89 as a jet engine mechanic, Kehs has been an “unsung hero” for veterans in the community, serving as vice president of SRQ Vets, an all-veteran, all-volunteer organization that connects veterans with services, since 2018.
· Philanthropy: Sarasota Private Trust Company, New York Private Bank & Trust Company and The Milstein Family. In the wake of Hurricane Ian, Sarasota Private Trust Company, New York Private Bank & Trust Company and the Milstein Family donated $1 million to assist community members impacted by the storm. Goodwill served as the pass-through agency for $750,000 of the total gift, which was used to purchase gift cards and subsidize Goodwill vouchers for individuals and families severely impacted by the storm.
· Community Partner: Easterseals Southwest Florida. Goodwill Manasota and Easterseals are longtime partners, collaborating on initiatives to assist those with disabilities in finding and retaining employment. The organizations recently began working together to help veterans through the Operation1Stride program, which provides equine assisted learning to support life and leadership skills.
“We are thrilled to bring back this event, which recognizes those in the community whose contributions of time, resources, expertise and passion for helping others have enabled our organization to expand our mission impact,” said Goodwill Manasota president and CEO Donn Githens. “We could not succeed in our work of strengthening the community without the leadership, support and collaboration of people and organizations like those we will honor.”
Goodwill also will present its inaugural Robert W. Rosinsky Achievement Award – made possible by the Louis & Gloria Flanzer Philanthropic Trust – to team member Dora Talamantes. The award recognizes a team member who embodies dedication to the Goodwill mission. For information and tickets, visit experiencegoodwill.org.
Submitted by Sharon Kunkel
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