The Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation board of directors recently approved $6.3 million in grant funding that will address areas such as hunger and food insecurity, support affordable housing opportunities, and promote projects that enhance diversity, equity, and civil rights in the region.

The grant recipients are as follows:

$2.5 million to All Faiths Food Bank to expand food insecurity screening programs in Sarasota and DeSoto counties.

$546,220 to Mothers Helping Mothers to build a suite of wrap-around services at the organization’s Sarasota drop-in center.

$300,000 to Second Heart Homes to purchase additional homes to help address homelessness.

$300,000 to support Barancik Foundation’s Teacher Retention Recruitment initiative.

$300,000 to the Hermitage Artist Retreat to help the organization grow its capacity to deliver programming focused on community impact, education, and social justice.

$250,000 to Suncoast Partnership to End Homelessness to establish a flexible housing fund.

$250,000 grant to Community Assisted & Supported Living (CASL) to build and operate affordable rental units.

$250,000 grant to WEDU PBS to boost local programming that focuses on diversity, equity, community wellness, attainable housing, and civil rights.

$150,000 investment into collaborative community efforts to combat diabetes and obesity in underserved communities and create a five-year health equity plan in Sarasota County.

$132,141 to Lighthouse Vision Loss Education Center to support capacity expansion to better serve blind and visually impaired individuals.

$130,000 grant to ALSO Youth to assist the organization in relocating their Manatee County service center.

$103,341 to New College Foundation to improve equity by helping area students aspire to and attain a bachelor’s degree.

$100,000 to Emerge Sarasota to improve the relationship between our community at large and Black and Indigenous young professionals.

$100,000 grant to purchase gas cards for clients of human service agencies.

$100,000 to The Children’s Guardian Fund to provide unrestricted funding to help respond to children’s immediate and ongoing needs when they are removed from abusive or neglectful homes.

$100,000 to Solutions to Avoid Red Tide (START) to improve the quality of our waterways by emphasizing the reduction and flow of excess nutrients out of our ponds.

$100,000 to Sarasota County Schools to create engaging Professional Learning opportunities for K-12 art teachers.

$75,000 to Southeastern Guide Dogs to support its Children & Teens Program.

$60,000 grant to Gulf Coast Sports Group to support the "A Lions Reach" Youth Mentoring Counselor/Ambassador Program.

An additional $500,000 was awarded to support programs and projects with partner organizations.