We know that group philanthropy begins with educated members who understand the needs of their community. Together, our giving circle brings an intimate knowledge about the causes that need attention in our area. This helps us make a real difference for the organizations and programs we support. Since the formation of Sisterhood For Good, we have presented grants to the following organizations:
2019 Recipients
A Ray of Hope Support: $2,000.00
This grant provides support with resources to parents of special needs children for respite and self-care. The Restoration Respite Program operates year round. This grant would help 40 individuals @$50 per person.
THANK YOU! You have made a real difference in the lives of families we serve. Thanks to you, 40 individuals and families will be restored, refreshed and refilled to continue caring for special needs families.
Racquel Sommer
Founder / President
A Ray of Hope Support Network, Inc.
All Star Children's Foundation: $3,600.00
The mission of ASCF is to create a safe place for children to heal from the trauma of child abuse. $3,600 would serve 6 children for 2 mos. (1 therapy session per wk). This treatment is shown to provide faster results than traditional Cognitive Behavioral Therapy currently utilized by other providers in our community.
Thank you for your generous donation of $3,600.00. Because of your gift, we can continue our mission to serve foster children, their families, and their foster families. You truly are the Sisterhood For Good!!!
With deepest gratitude!
Graci McGillicuddy
Board Chair
All Star Children’s Foundation
Easter Seals Southwest Florida, Inc.: $1,500.00
This grant will provide VIP Academy equipment and supplies for its photography club. The club provides developmentally challenged adults a creative outlet and an opportunity to earn income for photos sold. Each artist keeps 70% of the funds generated by the sale. It will benefit 34 clients and their parents.
Hope Family Services: $1,500.00
To help feed residents at the Emergency Safe Shelter by buying fresh nutritious food & perishables. Approximately 450+ children & women will benefit from our contribution.
Limb, Laugh, Love, Inc.: $1,500.00
The organization's aim is to provide emotional support and financial assistance to 3 Florida families of children that have suffered traumatic limb loss.
Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee / The Food Bank of Manatee: $2,000.00
To be used for the Sack Summer Hunger program for children in Manatee County, which provides weekend meals during the 2019 10-week summer school break. Will provide 400 sacks of food to children. Sacks contain 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners + 2 snacks. The program does NOT receive funding from any governmental source (Federal, State or County). All funding for this program comes from philanthropic gifts from individuals, foundations + corporations.
Reach Out Recovery: $2,500.00
A community-wide program, delivering books to recovery pods in jails, teen court, Mothers & Infants Program, foster children, trafficked women, faith-based recovery programs, after school programs + other community programs. These groups represent thousands of individuals who could benefit from Recovery Book Program. (The activity book has writing prompts, pages to journal + includes colored pencils) 156 books.
Sarasota Manatee Association of Riding Therapy SMART: $1,012.50
To support 5 women to participate in the Warriors in Transition Program; encourages female veterans to heal their emotional wounds + help improve their quality of life. The one-day workshops encourage them to set healthy boundaries, lead without force + relax without losing awareness. Sessions are no cost to the Veterans; runs from Oct-June.
Thank you. Support like yours means the world to these Veterans who need assistance with their physical and emotional healing as they navigate through the challenges of repeat deployments and/or transition into civilian life. We could not keep our commitment to changing their lives forever without your help.
Gratefully,
Dee Danmeyer
Executive Director
SMART
Senior Friendship Centers, Inc.: $1,000.00
To provide up to 10 weeks of caregiver support group facilitation through Friendship Centers’ Caregiver Resource Center (CRC). Support groups are free + bring family caregivers together for a weekly 1-1/2 hour session; education, connection, support; critical in reducing stress to help 30 family caregivers provide care for their loved one & care for themselves.
Thanks for your recent grant award to the Friendship Centers’ Caregiver Resource Center. This grant will help caregivers who are caring for loved ones diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Big hugs to the Sisterhood For Good! Thanks for caring about the older adults in our community.
With gratitude,
Erin McLeod
President & CEO
Teen Court of Sarasota: $2,400.00
To offer better communication between case managers, parents & youth. Texts are a preferred method of communication for both students and parents; they will receive reminders for services and have a direct contact to their case manager when needed. This Grant will allow case managers to text / call their 500+ students and their families.
Please accept our sincere appreciation for the $2,400.00grant awarded to our organization. Work cell phones allow case managers the privacy of not giving out their personal cell phones. This is a win-win for Teen Court organization as well as our staff. This need has been a long time coming and you are the answer to our prayers.
Please share with your fellow members that this grant IS making a significant difference in the lives of children and families in our community. Our families truly benefit from this very generous gift.
Sincerely,
Heather Todd
Executive Director
Teen Court of Sarasota, Inc.
The Twig Cares Inc.: $1,000.00
For children in foster care to shop free of charge for clothing, shoes, and accessories at a boutique solely for them. Serving 300 children every month. 10 items each per 10 children; funds will purchase underwear, socks, etc. + provide an opportunity for them to spread the word that TWIG is a resource for them.
The Players Centre of Performing Arts: $1,000.00
We are dedicated to presenting a diverse and entertaining slate of high quality, volunteer driven theatrical experiences that educate, stimulate and enrich the entire community. This grant supports 10 at-risk or economically disadvantaged children, between the ages of 5 -12, to attend a 1 week mini-camp at the theatre.
2018 Recipients
Child Protection Center: $500.00
Funds will benefit the Personal Safety & Community Awareness Program (PSCA) to go into schools, community organizations & youth, serving agencies to provide child abuse prevention education.
Children First: $1,500.00
The funds will provide a healthy breakfast, lunch & snack to 30 at-risk children (birth to 5 yrs old). This makes up 50% of their weekly nutrition helping their minds to learn year round.
Thank you for the grant of $1,500.00 from the Sisterhood For Good. Because of you, our community’s most vulnerable children are able to attend Children First. They learn in a safe environment, are cared for by devoted teachers, and their little tummies are filled with a nutritious breakfast, lunch, and afternoon , when they might otherwise be home alone and hungry. Your generosity impacts children and their parents. Thanks to you, parents receive the support they need to be successful. Our children and families may not know you personally, but your support shows them that you care and that someone believes in them. For these families, you have made all the difference.
We are appreciative!!
Phillip Tavill
President & CEO
Children First
Children's Guardian Fund: $2,000.00
The grant will provide funding for up to 15 children in a Summer Program that meets emergency needs and enables normalcy while enriching the lives of children in foster and state care in Florida’s 12th Judicial Circuit.
Meals On Wheels Plus of Manatee: $1,054.00
Funds will support the Food Bank's emergency intervention programs for infants & children. It will purchase 62 cans of infant formula for families in crisis (each can costs $17).
Prospect Riding Center: $2,372.00
The funds will help 50 riders, 15-60 volunteers, 7 program horses for 6 weeks of therapeutic & recreational horseback riding to improve well-being for those with special needs.
Teen Court Sarasota: $2,000.00
The grant money will be used for 10 mental health counseling sessions each for youth in two families by a licensed Counselor.
Two separate families will receive ten sessions each; these sessions allow the families to communicate in an open environment where they aren’t judged and are able to hear from a professional, effective ways to parent. Please share with your fellow members that this grant is making a significant difference in the lives of children and families in our community. Our families truly benefit from this very generous gift.
Heather Todd
Executive Director
Teen Court of Sarasota, Inc
2017 Recipients
Humane Society of Sarasota: $460.00
This year’s grant will allow for the purchase of vests for therapy dogs in our Pet Therapy Program. Our Pet Therapy Program has 85 active teams that visit children, disabled people, mental and physically ill people, seniors and veterans.
To learn more, visit our website at www.hssc.org
InStride Therapy: $400.00
Partnering with our horses, we challenge individuals with special needs to reach their fullest potential. This grant will enable 30 special needs students to attend a literacy learning activity field trip experience. You can assist further by visiting our website for more information at www.instridetherapy.org
"Your donation towards our Literacy Program will allow a class to come experience a morning of reading with Little Red.
Combining the Little Red booklet and real horses, InStride’s Literacy Program reinforces in first grade children the excitement and joy of learning to read.”
Mary L. Nastan
Founder
Josh Provides Epilepsy Assistance Foundation: $700.00
We help improve the quality of life for those living with epilepsy through support groups, educational programs and financial assistance for seizure alert monitors, transportation for those unable to drive and seizure response dogs. This grant will help fund a support group of 50 youth/adults that meets with a licensed counselor in Manatee County. For further information go to www.JoshProvides.org
Mothers Helping Mothers: $2,000.00
Our all-volunteer organization provides basic necessities such as car seats, play pens, other baby items and clothing to families in need, free of charge, benefitting approximately 1,200 people for a month. For more information please visit our website at www.MHMsarasota.com
The Mark Wandall Foundation: $992.00
Our organization is dedicated to facilitating support for children and teens in grief. This grant will support 62 children to attend a bereavement camp to cope with the loss of a parent, guardian or sibling. They receive camp t-shirts, lanyard and photos of their camp experience. To learn more visit www.TheMarkWandallFoundation.org
The Players Centre For Performing Arts: $1,500.00
We are dedicated to presenting a diverse and entertaining slate of high quality, volunteer driven theatrical experiences that educate, stimulate and enrich the entire community. This grant will support 10 at-risk or economically disadvantaged children, between the ages of 5 -12, to attend a 1 week mini-camp at the theatre. We invite you to learn more about our community theatre at www.ThePlayers.org
The Tiny Hands Foundation: $500.00
It may surprise you to know that 1 in 5 children in Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties are growing up in poverty. This grant will help contribute to the purchase of up to 1,600 backpacks filled with school supplies for these underserved children. You can assist further by visiting our website for more information at tinyhandsfoundation.org
“Our core mission is to improve the quality of life for impoverished children in our area. We are a small, all-volunteer non-profit. We have no paid staff, pay no rent, and our administrative costs are minimal. Here’s how we plan to use your donation. As part of Back-to-School Backpack Brigade, 25 community school children in need will receive new backpacks and school supplies as a result of your kind and generous grant. Thank you again for supporting Tiny Hands Foundation.”
Rod Khleif
Founder & President
The Tiny Hands Foundation
2016 Recipients
Sarasota Manatee Association for Riding Therapy, Inc (SMART) - $500.00
Established in 1987, SMART was created to enrich the lives of people with special needs through therapeutic horse-related programs. The funds received through this grant will provide an impactful three-day workshop to three women veterans recovering from trauma. To learn more about SMART, visit SmartRiders.org
Mark Wandall Foundation - $750.00
This local non-profit provides support and assistance to children who have had a death of an immediate family member. The funds received through this grant will support the foundation’s Comfort Zone Bereavement Camp. Taking place in September 2016, this program helps children aged 7 to 17 cope with the feelings of loss and isolation, build positive life skills, and interact with peers and mentors in a camp-like setting. For more information, visit themarkwandallfoundation.org
Children’s Healthy Pantry - $460.00
Operating under the umbrella of Yummy Stuff Club, Inc., this local non-profit provides healthy food and water to ensure that children will not experience hunger during the school day. The funds received will help supply the pantries in Title I schools in Sarasota and Manatee counties. For more information, visit YummyStuffClub.com
Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee/Food Bank of Manatee - $800.00
Founded in 1972 as a traditional home-delivered meal program for elderly and disabled residents in Manatee County, Meals on Wheels Plus also provides innovative programs to help seniors stay active and avoid isolation. The organization also operates The Food Bank of Manatee, the county’s only hunger prevention program serving 100 pantries and soup kitchens. The funds received will help support local infants at risk for the dangers of malnutrition by purchasing baby formula for families in crisis. For more information, visit MealsOnWheelsPlus.org
Child Protection Center, Inc. - $500.00
Child Protection Center, Inc. was founded in 1980 to focus on the prevention, intervention and treatment of child abuse. The funds received will be used to support and expand their Personal Safety and Community Awareness Program (PSCA), which provides educational services to nearly 30,000 individuals. To learn more visit, cpcsarasota.org
It is because of caring organizations like yours that CPC is able to continue the mission of Child Abuse Prevention, Intervention and Treatment. Our vision is of a community where children are safe from abuse and free to thrive.
Thank you again for your thoughtfulness in helping some of the most vulnerable children in our community live healthier and happier lives.
Such a special gift!
Melissa M. Lane
Director of Development
Child Protection Center
2015 Recipients
BioScent K9 - $500.00
BioScent K9 was awarded $500 by the Sisterhood For Good and will use this grant to purchase a beagle puppy that will be trained to detect cancer. To learn more about BioScent K9 visit, bioscentk9.com
Child Protection Center, Inc. - $500.00
Sisterhood For Good awarded Child Protection Center Inc. with a $500 grant, which will be used to expand their Personal Safety and Community Awareness Program (PSCA). To learn more visit, cpcsarasota.org
Mark Wandall Foundation - $500.00
This local non-profit provides support and assistance to children who have had a death of an immediate family member. They were awarded $500 and plan to use these funds to offer a free Comfort Zone Bereavement Camp in October 2015 for children aged 5 to 17. For more information, visit themarkwandallfoundation.org
I am truly grateful for The Sisterhood Grant! With your help we officially welcomed over 30 campers to our one day camp at Nolan Middle school on October 24, 2015. Campers made great connections in that one day alone!
Below is a link to the video that we shared at our annual Memorial weekend fundraiser. The first few moments show the great day that we had with our golfers and the second portion is the faces of the beautiful children and volunteers you have all impacted by supporting us!
Melissa Wandall
www.MelissaWandall.com
Mark Wandall Foundation
We Care Manatee - $1,000.00
This is the second year in a row that We Care Manatee has received a grant from the Sisterhood For Good. This year they were awarded $1,000, which they plan to use to provide free screening mammograms for uninsured women in Manatee county. To learn more about this non-profit visit, wecaremanatee.org
2014 Recipients
Junior Achievement Sarasota-Manatee. - $500.00
Junior Achievement is the world's largest and fastest growing non-profit organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to plan for their future. JA Sarasota-Manatee programs are delivered by corporate and community volunteers, and provide relevant, hands-on experiences to help local students from kindergarten through high school make smart academic and economic choices.
We Care Manatee - $500.00
The Manatee County Medical Society founded We Care Manatee in 1999 to address the growing problem of providing comprehensive medical services to low-income, uninsured residents. Today We Care Manatee depends on more than 90 Manatee County medical specialists, who generously donate their free time and services to provide medical treatment for Manatee County residents.
2013 Recipients
Hope Family Services, Inc. - $500.00
HOPE’s primary purpose is to provide services to survivors of domestic violence and help them stay safe, gain strength, and evaluate their options. From the first program until today, HOPE has had one goal: to offer high quality, life saving services for victims and survivors of domestic violence.
If you would like to be considered for a grant from the Sisterhood For Good, please read our Applying For A Grant page.