$785,000 going to ‘region’s cornerstone arts and cultural organizations’
During its June meeting, the board of directors of the Gulf Coast Community Foundation (Gulf Coast) approved more than $1.3 million in grant awards, “including $785,000 in funding for the region’s cornerstone arts and cultural organizations,” Gulf Coast has announced.
The Foundation leaders conducted a review of the organization’s former Arts Appreciation Grants, which have been rebranded as the Empowering Arts Grant Program, the release says. This initiative is “aimed to not just appreciate, but to empower the community’s world-class arts and cultural organizations to meet their full potential,” the release stresses.
“The Empowering Arts Grant Program is a true example of trust-based philanthropy,” Gulf Coast President and CEO Philip Lanham said in the release. “We cut the administrative red tape for these incredible organizations that serve as the underpinning of our region’s vibrant culture,” he added. “Not only do these organizations enrich our lives, they also serve as a powerful economic force in our region, generating $342,000,000 in economic impact in 2022. Support is needed now more than ever to sustain these economic assets.”
The 13 Empowering Arts recipients are Asolo Repertory Theatre, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Florida Studio Theatre, Sarasota Ballet, Sarasota Orchestra, The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Sarasota Opera, Venice Theatre, Circus Arts Conservatory, Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, Embracing Our Differences, Hermitage Artist Retreat, and Venice Symphony, the release notes.
“Additional grants were approved by the Gulf Coast Board to support vital community projects and causes,” the release adds. Those are as follows:
- $50,000 to the Friends of The Legacy Trail for the Beneva Road Sidewalk Replacement project, to connect The Legacy Trail with the Nature Park at Bobby Jones Golf Club, Nathan Benderson Park, and the Mote Marine Science Education Aquarium that is under construction between Benderson Park and the Mall at University Town Center.
“Gulf Coast has provided strong support for the extension of The Legacy Trail,” the release points out. “This grant was supported by the Maria Haber Charitable Fund.” - $150,000 to the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Foundation to continue support for the regional workforce development program CareerEdge Funders Collaborative. In 2023, the release says, 461 individuals took part in training that resulted “in 281 earned industry credentials, 158 raises, and 98 promotions earned by workers. These represent a cumulative increase of workers’ earnings of $1,793,626, a total economic impact roughly equivalent to $2.7 million dollars” (based on U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Economic Analysis direct effect multipliers), the release adds. “This grant was supported by Gulf Coast’s Venice Endowment Fund and the Ed and Barbara Strobel Fund.”
- $209,979 to The Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties “for the third and final installment of Gulf Coast’s $1-million commitment to support the rebuilding of the Gene Matthews Club in North Port, which was destroyed by Hurricane Ian. The new club will provide services to more than 500 members annually, plus approximately 300 young people in the summer, and more than 250 during the school year,” the release points out. “This grant was supported by Gulf Coast’s Venice Endowment Fund, the Gould Family Trust Foundation, and the Anna V. Pfister, Nellie Mae Koss and Helen K. Hadden Memorial Endowment Fund.
- “$70,000 to the Education Foundation of Sarasota County for PLANit Sarasota, the local college access network, to support young adults with the resources to enroll in post-secondary education, and to launch an educational navigation program. This grant is supported by Gulf Coast’s Venice Endowment Fund and the James M. Maestranzi Charitable Fund,” the release says.