Jessica Braemer Honored as Good Hero
Each year, SRQ Media invites the community to nominate individuals with hearts of giving who have made a significant impact with local nonprofit organizations — from volunteers and board members to individual staff members and donors. This year, attendees were thrilled to be together as we recognized our annual Good Hero Philanthropic Award recipients at the SB2: Philanthropic Agenda Luncheon and Good Hero Philanthropic Awards Luncheon on Tuesday, March 7th at Michael’s on East in Sarasota. We are happy to feature each of the ten honorees in our Wednesday Philanthropic edition of SRQ Daily.
Today we recognize Jessica Braemer, Sarasota and Manatee County Partnership Manager at Better Together. Jessica is an individual with a long history of working in the nonprofit sector. She helped grow her organization 417% in two years across three counties. According to her colleagues, “Jessica is an invaluable and passionate advocate for children and families across Sarasota and Manatee counties. She exemplifies all of Better Together’s core values, is an asset to the organization, and a gift to all who know her. She leads the nonprofit in developing relationships and bringing life-changing programs to families across the region.” Jessica Braemer is truly a Good Hero in our community! 
Pictured: Jessica Braemer (center) with Dr. Helene Lotman (left) and SRQ Magazine Managing Editor, Barbie Heit. Photo by Wyatt Kostygan.
Sean Allison joins Tidewell Foundation as Philanthropy Advisor Serving Manatee County
Sean Allison of Palmetto has joined Tidewell Foundation as a Philanthropy Advisor serving Manatee County. As part of Empath Health, Tidewell Foundation supports Tidewell Hospice services, including free care and grief services, and other Empath not-for-profit care programs in Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte and DeSoto counties. Allison has been a cause-driven leader in not-for-profit service for more than 25 years. For nearly 15 years he served as CEO for the YMCA in Manatee County. “My passion is to develop funding that provides vitally important services to those who need it the most,” he said. Allison has a bachelor’s degree from Drury University. He is a member of the Healthcare Committee for the Manatee Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Lakewood Ranch Rotary Club. Allison can be reached at (941) 552-7519 or seanallison@tidewellfoundation.org.
Richard (Rick) R. Gans, President & Shareholder, Fergeson Skipper, P.A.
As president and shareholder with Fergeson, Skipper, P.A., Richard (Rick) Gans is proud to be an important part of the Suncoast. Gans has been on the Fergeson Skipper team since 1994 and has earned an AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, which is the highest rating available for an attorney’s legal ability and professional ethics. He is also an accomplished speaker and author, with a growing number of published and peer-respected works.
Throughout his career, Gans has believed in giving back to the community as much as he believes in providing his clients with trusted guidance and experienced representation as a board-certified specialist in Wills, Trusts and Estates. He was recently named to the Boca Grande Historical Society’s board of directors, and he has served as board chair of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County and as the director of the Woman’s Exchange, Inc.
FergesonSkipper.com
941.957.1900
Gulf Coast Community Foundation Repeats As A Best Nonprofit To Work For
For the sixth time, The NonProfit Times has recognized Gulf Coast Community Foundation (Gulf Coast) as one of the country’s “Best Nonprofits To Work For.” The national publication ranked Gulf Coast 17th on its 2023 list of the 50 “Best Nonprofits To Work For” which was published in a special report on April 1. The foundation placed 12th on the Small Employer Category (15 to 49 employees). Gulf Coast also received the “Best Nonprofit to Work For” recognition in 2010, 2011, 2017, 2020, and 2021. The NonProfit Times partners with Best Companies Group to vet the organizations from where leaders submit applications to complete. The program is designed to recognize outstanding places of employment in the United States. The “Best Nonprofits” program, conducted annually by The NonProfit Times, is designed to identify the best employers in the nonprofit sector and recognize leadership and strategies that can benefit the sector and those it serves. The results are based on a rigorous survey process open to nonprofits across the country. Selection of this year’s honorees was a months-long process. As part of the survey, there is one section where staff members are asked to react to 77 statements. Most of the organizations on the list survey staff at least annually to keep communication lines open. Besides the list ranking, the “Best Nonprofits” program offers participating organizations the opportunity to receive a benchmark report it can use to further organizational and staff development. That data is a particularly valuable reason to participate, said Gulf Coast’s Chief Operating Officer, Veronica Thames.
Learn more about the 2023 Best Nonprofits to Work For at
Plantation Community Foundation Awards Family Promise of South Sarasota County with $4,000 Grant for Emergency Funds
Family Promise of South Sarasota County (FPSSC) is excited to have received a generous $4,000 grant from Plantation Community Foundation. Plantation Community Foundation has been a strong supporter of FPSSC since its inception in 2015 with annual grants to assist with emergency funds for families. All grant funds will be used to provide for emergency funding as needed by client families, as needs are identified by FPSSCs staff. Examples of emergency funding use include the following: childcare expenses; car repairs and tires; driver’s license reinstatement and auto insurance; counseling; emergency shelter; clothing and shoes (kids – for school, adults – for interviews or job requirements); transportation (gas cards and bus passes); grocery gift cards; healthy snacks and drinks for children in the program while they are at the Agency’s Day Center; school supplies; storage unit costs; pet boarding; health care, dental, and optical services necessary for school and/or employment, including prescription medications; grooming and hygiene supplies; and diapers and baby wipes. There is no provision for direct cash payments to guest families. Funding these necessary expenses provides client families with items essential to their ability to achieve long-term financial and housing stability. Jennifer Fagenbaum, Executive Director of Family Promise of South Sarasota County stated, “Funding, such as this generous grant from Plantation Community Foundation, is paramount at this time as the number of families in Sarasota County spending more than 50% of their income on housing costs per month continues to increase. With the help of this grant, Family Promise will be able to offer additional assistance with unexpected expenses such as car repairs or medical expenses to keep our families employed and going to school and daycare.
Visual Artist Sandy Rodriguez and Dancer-Choreographer Rennie Harris Honored at the 2023 Hermitage Greenfield Prize Dinner, Celebrating the 15th Year of the Prize and the 20th Anniversary Season of the Hermitage
The annual Hermitage Greenfield Prize (HGP) Dinner on Sunday, April 16th honored dancer-choreographer Lorenzo ‘Rennie’ Harris and visual artist Sandy Rodriguez. This was the culmination of a weekend-long celebration of events, hosted by the Hermitage Artist Retreat (Andy Sandberg, Artistic Director and CEO) in partnership with the Greenfield Foundation. To commemorate the 20th anniversary season of the Hermitage and the milestone 15th year of this distinguished national honor, the Hermitage presented two awards – one in the discipline of visual art and a special award in the field of dance and choreography. The evening of celebration was presented outdoors by the Ringling Museum’s Ca’ d’Zan and featured inspiring performances from Broadway star and Lucille Lortel Award winner Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer (Beetlejuice), hip-hop dancer Phil S. Cuttino Jr. (Rennie Harris Puremovement), violinist Samantha Bennett (EnsembleNEWSRQ), and special appearances from past Hermitage Greenfield Prize winners Sanford Biggers (2010, visual art), and Angélica Negrón (2022, music). The annual gala raised more than $240,000 in support of the Hermitage’s mission in addition to the Greenfield Foundation’s ongoing annual gift of $150,000. The festive evening was chaired by Sherry and Tom Koski. Hermitage Artistic Director and CEO Andy Sandberg served as master of ceremonies and announced that the Ringling Museum will be collaborating with the Hermitage as the presenting partner for the premieres of both Sandy Rodriguez and Rennie Harris’ commissions in Sarasota in 2025. Harris and Rodriguez will each receive a $30,000 commission, along with an extended residency at the Hermitage Artist Retreat.
Halfacre Construction Company Sponsors State College of Florida Foundation’s Evening Under the Stars
Halfacre Construction Company, a Lakewood Ranch-based commercial construction company, recently sponsored State College of Florida Foundation’s Evening Under the Stars event with a $2,000 sponsorship.Held on Saturday, April 15 at the State College of Florida (SCF) campus in Venice, the time-honored cocktail event celebrated 30 years of family, friends and supporters. Attendees enjoyed music from the SCF Presidential Jazz Band and The Pops Orchestra, a blind auction tent and a wine cork pull. VIP tickets included a catered meal by Fins at Sharky’s, along with beer and wine, and a food truck was on-site for general admission to purchase. A firework show set to The Pops Orchestra concluded the night.Proceeds from the event directly benefited students and programs at State College of Florida, helping to make the very best education possible to enhance the quality of life in the Venice community for all. During the event, guests heard from Dr. Carol F. Probstfeld, State College of Florida’s president, as well as a student that has received scholarship funds thanks to the foundation’s sponsorships. “Giving back is part of the corporate culture at Halfacre Construction Company,” said Jack Cox, president and CEO of Halfacre Construction Company. “Helping to remove some of the financial obstacles that students have is something we’re proud to support.” Over the years, Halfacre Construction Company has continually given in-kind services and contributions to local nonprofits and educational facilities, including Loveland Center, First Step of Sarasota, The Haven, Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County, Suncoast Charities for Children, Special Olympics Florida – Sarasota County, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast, SKY Family YMCA, United Way Suncoast, Senior Friendship Centers of Sarasota, HOPE Family Services and St. Jude Catholic Church.
Pictured: Brooke Lawton, project administrator at Halfacre; Dean Crowley, project manager at Halfacre; Tom Rees, vice president and project executive at Halfacre and Tammi Dodson, marketing and proposal manager at Halfacre.
GRAB BAG:
Ranch Nite Wednesdays at Waterside Place , February 8 – May 31, 6 to 9 p.m.
Enjoy a night of fun at Waterside Place during Ranch Nite Wednesdays. The event features food trucks, live music, a night market, a vintage mobile bar and cornhole. Visit lakewoodranch.com to learn more. Waterside Place, 1561 Lakefront Drive, Sarasota.
GRAB BAG:
Resilience: A Guided Walking Tour Experience by Compass Rose History Experiences , February 25 – April 22, 3:30 p.m.
Compass Rose History Experiences announces the launch of Resilience: A Guided Walking Tour Experience. Guides Mimi Cirbusova and Andrea Knies will navigate attendees on a journey back in time down Main Street as we explore the resilience of the Sarasota community during the Great Depression and World War II. Locals and visitors alike will find inspiration from the stories of the people and places of Sarasota’s past. Tours meet at Five Points Park in Downtown Sarasota and cover a distance of less than one mile over the 75-90 minute tour. All tours begin at 3:30 pm. Tickets cost $20.00 and must be purchased in advance. Guests purchasing both tours can receive a $10 discount by selecting the ticket package. Visit CompassRoseHistory.com to purchase your tickets or to learn more about Compass Rose History Experiences.
MUSEUM:
Joseph’s Coat, Skyspace by James Turrell , April 13 – May 26, Various times
Joseph’s Coat: Skyspace by James Turrell (2011) is a triumph of technology, engineering, and aesthetics. The Skyspace, created by internationally-renowned artist James Turrell, is a gathering place for contemplation and offers a unique experience. At sunset, a sophisticated system of LED lights is employed to change the color of the space. In doing so, the artist changes the context in which we view the sky through the 24-foot aperture in the ceiling, affecting our perception of the natural environment and the surroundings. As we gaze up at the sky we are invited to contemplate light, perception, and experience. Tickets are $10 and are free for members. Ringling Museum of Art, 5401 Bay Shore Rd., Sarasota, ringling.org.
MUSIC:
Big Sexy The Fats Waller Revue , April 19 – May 28, Various times
Thomas Wright “Fats” Waller was an American jazz pianist, composer, singer and comedic entertainer. He realized his dream of becoming a professional musician at age 15. His Harlem stride style influenced the sound of modern jazz piano. Nate Jacobs’ original tribute, “Big Sexy, The Fats Waller Revue,” to this irrepressible artist features Waller’s signature songs, including “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” “Honeysuckle Rose,” “Your Feet’s Too Big,” “The Joint is Jumpin’” and many more. Tickets are $50 for adults, $20 for students and active military (cost includes all ticket fees). WBTT’s Donelly Theatre, 1012 North Orange Ave., Sarasota, westcoastblacktheatre.org.
GRAB BAG:
The Science of Gaming at Bishop After Dark , April 20, 6–9pm
Come and get your game on in a fun and unique event at the museum during Bishop After Dark: Science of Gaming. That’s right, we’re bringing in all your favorites, but in retro style. There will be Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man, Galaga, Mortal Kombat, Star Wars Pinball, and more! Bring some friends, have a battle, and see who the ultimate vidhead really is. Concession-style snacks and munchies, including beer, wine, and soda, are available for purchase. Cash and card accepted. Bishop After Dark is a Museum experience designed for adults 18 and older. Tickets are $25 for members and $30 for non-members. College students can use the code COL10 at checkout to save 10 percent. Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, 201 10th St. W., Bradenton, bishopscience.org.
GRAB BAG:
BLVD Bike Rides at the Rosemary District , April 20, 5:30pm
DreamLarge is thrilled to announce the return of BLVD Bike Rides, a free community bike ride that aims to bring residents, neighbors and friends together to celebrate the community and cycling in downtown Sarasota. The guided group ride will end at a local restaurant or bar. Riders are encouraged to stay and mingle with their fellow bikers after the ride. The event is free and open to everyone in the community and aims to bring residents, neighbors and friends together while enjoying a fun bike ride in downtown Sarasota. Please bring your own bike and water bottle for this ride. DreamLarge Office (facing Rosemary Park), 513 Central Ave., Sarasota, rosemarydistrict.org.
THEATER:
All the Sex I’ve Ever Had , April 20 – April 23, Various times
All the Sex I’ve Ever Had is a stirring, hilarious and moving work that challenges what we think we know about the lives of our elders. A group of six older adults from the Sarasota/Manatee community discuss the evolution of love and sexuality from the perspective of life’s later years. In this unique, socially engaged work, elders courageously open up their personal lives and experiences to fellow performers and strangers, divulging stories of first crushes, turbulent affairs, unexpected pregnancies and deaths of loved ones as they go year-by-year through their entire lives. In our youth-obsessed culture, All the Sex I’ve Ever Had re-establishes a community of wise elders to whom we can turn for advice and offers younger audiences an understanding of intimacy in later years, as well as support to older adults who can learn from, or find common ground in the experiences of their peers. For mature audiences only. Performances will be accompanied by live ASL interpretation on April 20th and April 23rd. Historic Asolo Theatre, 5401 Bay Shore Rd., Sarasota, ringling.org.
PERFORMANCE:
Oscura Listening Room , April 20, 7pm
Oscura presents the Oscura Listening Room, featuring songs and stories from Matt Burke (Have Gun, Will Travel) and Deb Ruby. No cover charge. Oscura, 816 Manatee Ave E., Bradenton, oscura.live.
MUSIC:
Broadway Bound with Sarasota Orchestra , April 21 – April 22, Various times
Sarasota Orchestra invites you to celebrate Broadway with conductor William Waldrop, and three amazing vocalists, Carmen Ruby Floyd, Eryn LeCroy and Josh Young. Prepare to melt as these three vocalists make the rafters ring with thrilling numbers from Chicago, The Phantom of the Opera and Wicked to classic songs from Carousel, Gypsy, and 42nd Street. Tickets are $40-90. Van Wezel, 777 North Tamiami Tr., Sarasota, sarasotaorchestra.org.
PERFORMANCE:
Comedy Roulette , April 13 – May 17, Various times
FST Improv’s free-form show, Comedy Roulette, is an off-the-wall improvisation potpourri where performers are freed from the traditional do’s and don’ts of improv. Instead, improvisers are encouraged to follow the funny and launch into a new scene or storyline whenever inspiration strikes. Comedy Roulette plays Saturdays in FST’s Bowne’s Lab from April 8 to May 17, 2023. Florida Studio Theatre, 1265 1st St., Sarasota, floridastudiotheatre.org.
MUSEUM:
She Engineers at the Bishop , January 24 – July 30, During museum hours
SHE ENGINEERS is a bilingual (English and Spanish) poster exhibition highlighting eight women in various engineering fields. In their own words, the women share their passion and what inspired them to become engineers. If we support a woman in STEM, then she can change the world.
PERFORMANCE:
Shakespeare in the Gardens , April 4 – April 23, Various times
FSU and the Asolo Conservatory are thrilled to bring back the beloved Shakespeare in the Gardens series to The Ringling Museum grounds with the Conservatory production of Love’s Labour’s Lost. Originally performed at Selby Gardens, this year the production of Love’s Labour’s Lost will be set in the remarkable Ringling Museum of Art Bayfront Gardens, surrounded by a lush banyan grove, with views of the stunning Sarasota Bay. Ringling Museum, 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota, asolorep.org.
MUSEUM:
Eco Engineers , April 12 – September 3, During museum hours
Eco Engineers are plants and animals that profoundly impact their ecosystem. Through their presence or behavior, eco engineers create microhabitats, or unique areas within an ecosystem. Other species have taken notice of these microhabitats and decided to move in! In this exhibition, explore nine of Florida’s eco engineers and discover why our landscape wouldn’t be the same without them. Eco Engineers is a bilingual (English and Spanish) special exhibition created by our own Museum curators. Included with museum admission. The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, 201 10th St. W., Bradenton, bishopscience.org.
GRAB BAG:
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens 2023 Jean & Alfred Goldstein Exhibition Tiffany: The Pursuit of Beauty in Nature , February 12 – June 26, During garden hours
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens’ 2023 Jean and Alfred Goldstein Exhibition Tiffany: The Pursuit of Beauty in Nature showcases the creativity and innovation of American artist and designer Louis Comfort Tiffany (1848-1933). The first exhibition of its type to be presented in a botanical garden, the exhibition highlights the inspiring connection between Tiffany Studios and the natural world through unique horticultural displays in the Tropical Conservatory and the Gardens, accompanied by seminal examples of Tiffany’s work on view in the Museum of Botany and the Arts. To learn more, visit selby.org. Selby Gardens Downtown Sarasota campus, 1534 Mound St., Sarasota.
MUSIC:
Reel Music at the Florida Studio Theatre , February 15 – June 25, Various times
Florida Studio Theatre presents the original music revue, Reel Music, celebrating the movies that helped create the soundtrack to the last century. Featuring classics like “Singin’ in the Rain,” “Circle of Life,” and “My Heart Will Go On,” this new Cabaret traces how films—and the music highlighted in them—have evolved over the past one hundred years. Created by Richard Hopkins, Rebecca Hopkins, and Sarah Durham with musical arrangements by Jim Prosser, Reel Music begins playing February 15, 2023, in FST’s Court Cabaret. Single tickets for Reel Music
range between $18-39 and are now on sale at FloridaStudioTheatre.org or at 941.366.9000.
MUSEUM:
Reclaiming Home, Contemporary Seminole Art at Ringling Museum , March 29 – September 4, Museum hours
Reclaiming Home, Contemporary Seminole Art group exhibition will mark The Ringling’s first presentation of contemporary art by Native American artists with ancestral, historical, and present-day connections to Florida. An imperative step toward establishing a meaningful relationship with the Native American artistic community, Reclaiming Home will highlight the breadth and depth of the artwork by Seminole, Miccosukee, and mixed-heritage artists from Florida with the important work by internationally-recognized artists. The exhibition will expand the conceptual framework of Native American art made in Florida today and provide a fuller understanding of the complexities of issues within the art of the Seminole diaspora. Ringling Museum, 5401 Bay Shore Rd., Sarasota, ringling.org.
THEATER:
Visit Joe Whitefeather and Bring the Family at Florida Studio Theatre , April 12 – May 21, Various times
Florida Studio Theatre is proud to present the world premiere of Visit Joe Whitefeather (and bring the family!) by award-winning playwright Bruce Graham. It’s the 1970s in Beaver Gap, Pennsylvania, a small town with a problem. Tourism has declined and it doesn’t look like there is any hope on the horizon. When a new resident joins forces with the bewildered city council, they devise a plan to rename the town to honor a dead, Native American war hero who had never visited the town before. It’s a plan so wild and insane that it just might work. Tickets range from $25-39 and are now on sale at FloridaStudioTheatre.org or at 941.366.9000. FST’s Gompertz Theatre, 1265 1st St., Sarasota.
Credit:Source link
