Good News Friday: Good Deeds - Oct. 30, 2015
SailFuture, a Sarasota-based nonprofit started by New College of Florida alumnus Michael Long that helps high-risk juvenile offenders, has launched #SailForJustice. A group of troubled youth will sail onboard ‘SV’ Defy the Odds 2,700 miles across the Atlantic Ocean against 217 other sailboats to compete in the 2015 Atlantic Rally. Learn more about the young men here, and sign up to receive updates about their journey here.
Re/Max Alliance Group raised more than $13,500 for the Children’s Miracle Network during a golf tournament held at The Founders Club. Of all RE/MAX offices in Florida, RE/MAX Alliance Group is the largest contributor to the Children’s Miracle Network, which locally benefits All Children's Hospital.
Community Haven for Adults and Children with Disabilities received a grant of undisclosed amount from the Lakewood Ranch Community Fund to secure the services of a licensed behavioral therapist to provide Selby Preschool children with additional therapies. Both the Selby Preschool for special needs children ages 0-5 and the Transitions programs, serving students in grades 9-12, have benefitted from grant gifts made possible by the foundation over the years.
Replay Outreach, a Bradenton-based organization that works with teens in the juvenile justice system, received $18,000 from the Bradenton Kiwanis Club to purchase the equipment and furnishings needed to open a teen resource center. Replay Outreach also has been able to launch a job training program.
Elite Motor Works in Sarasota will participate in the national Family Service Day program by offering no-cost automotive maintenance and education on Saturday, Nov. 7. The company is partnering with the local Habitat for Humanity and Big Brother and Big Sisters to help families obtain safer and more reliable transportation. Family and children’s activities will be on site. Call (941) 556-9110 for more information.
Forty Carrots Family Center and the John and Mable Ringling Museum have partnered to bring the Partners In Play classes for families to participate in art and creativity. One Saturday each month, families attending Forty Carrots’ weekly Partners In Play classes will be invited to The Ringling for a free morning of art-themed play and exploration, and a Ringling art educator will visit the weekly classes held at the Palmetto Library in Manatee County and Jacaranda Library in Sarasota County to lead children and their families through an age-appropriate art experience. View the class schedule online here.
The public is invited to shop at the City of Sarasota garage sale to benefit United Way Suncoast from 7 a.m.-noon tomorrow, Oct. 31, at City Hall, 1565 First St. in the First Street parking lot. City of Sarasota employees will donate all the garage sale items, which will be in good condition and could include electronics, furniture, books, knickknacks and more. Items remaining at the end of the garage sale will be donated to Goodwill.
Neal Communities donated $1,500 to the Special Olympics Florida–Manatee County, a program that provides people with disabilities the chance to participate in sports competitions and an outlet for socialization and friendship. The program currently serves 221 athletes throughout Manatee County and offers 13 different sports. Neal Communities’ donation will be used to purchase new uniforms for the bowling program.