Palmer Ranch developer cites organization’s work to build trust between law enforcement officers and local youth
The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) has received a donation of $25,000 from Hugh Culverhouse Jr. for the benefit of the Sheriff’s Activities League (SAL), the agency announced on Oct. 25.
“The mission of SAL is to cultivate positive and meaningful relationships between our deputies and our local youth through experiential and educational opportunities that allow them to explore the many diverse aspects of our community,” a Sheriff’s Office news release explains. “The opportunity for our young people to share these experiences with sheriff’s deputies is a feature that genuinely distinguishes SAL from other youth programs. This donation will expand the educational prospects offered and the number of young people able to benefit from the program,” the release adds.
“More than ever before, we see the need for mentors and youth programs like SAL in our community,” said Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman in the release. “We are so grateful for this donation and can assure Mr. Culverhouse and the citizens of Sarasota that we will be good stewards of this gift. We want to make certain as many young people as possible reap the benefits of this program,” he added in the release.
“I’m a strong believer in the power of building bridges and investing in our community’s future,” said Culverhouse, CEO and owner of Palmer Ranch Holdings, in the release. “This organization helps build trust between law enforcement and local youth, strengthening ties that can contribute to safer communities.”
Culverhouse “is a businessman, attorney, and philanthropist from Sarasota,” the release points out. “Throughout the Sunshine State and beyond, Culverhouse has donated millions to fund higher education by providing scholarships in various educational endeavors,” the release notes. He also has “bolstered community programs and social welfare causes, most recently in the realm of mental health initiatives, ensuring that individuals in Sarasota County receive the care needed though appropriate mental health treatment programs,” the release says.