MAY 2017 | SCENE 37 philanthropy “Gulf Coast had the ability over a very short time to expose us to Sarasota and get us acclimated into the community. They’re about researching and identifying problems even more than giving money away. They’re out there doing their homework to help people like us determine what’s worthwhile.” The couple’s donations to the Boys & Girls Club have helped create a vocational training center that aids kids in selecting a profession, he said. “For the most part, the organizations we pick are about children and families,” Joanne said. “That’s really important to us, along with the arts, which so often suffer budget cuts. Asolo Rep also brings children in at times during its season to see plays, as does the Van Wezel.” Both Peter and Joanne recommend Gulf Coast Community Foundation as an ideal resource for anyone moving into the Sarasota area with a desire to give back to the community. “One of the most important things about GCCF is their initiatives,” Joanne said. “Veronica Brady in particular has been amazing in giving us information so we can select the causes that are most meaningful to us. They have a wealth of information.” “If you’re like us, you don’t know the neighborhood,” Peter added. “Gulf Coast had the ability over a very short time to expose us to Sarasota and get us acclimated into the community. They’re about researching and identifying problems even more than giving money away. They’re out there doing their homework to help people like us determine what’s worthwhile.” Containers, which he later sold ������������������������������������������������������������ they moved to Sarasota two years ago after deciding they needed a change of scenery. “We were looking at various places in Florida and concluded we were never going to make the decision if we didn’t just pick somewhere and move,” Peter said. “Sarasota turned out to be a great choice for us.” They obviously turned out to be a great philanthropic choice for Sarasota as well. Joanne said an important goal of the couple’s patronage is keeping updated on the success they bring to organizations they support. “For example with All Faiths Food Bank, we stay in touch with them and know the kinds of programs they offer to help the community,” she said. “The Campaign Against Summer Hunger is one we particularly contribute to.” That program was necessitated in part by the fact that food donations for Sarasota County’s tens of thousands of needy kids dwindle in the summer, due to the fact that many donors — who spend just the winter here — head back up north. Thanks to donations from benefactors like Peter and Joanne, almost 50 feeding sites remain open around the county each summer. Another effort near and dear to the couple is the Reading Recovery program, which brings struggling elementary school kids up to speed with their reading skills through short term, intensive oneon one lessons with trained literacy teachers. �������������������������������������������������������������� a Title I school,” Joanne said. “Some of the children in my class went through the Reading Recovery program every day and I know it helped them.” “We pick organizations and ���������������������������������������������������� results can be achieved,” Peter added. “For example, with Children First we made a donation to them that funded a crib to help a family with a newborn. It’s more satisfying when we see results coming from our philanthropy.” FOR MORE INFORMATION about the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, visit gulfcoastcf.org.
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