FEBRUARY 2018 | SARASOTA SCENE 43
philanthropy
What appeals to Aaron is how all
the organizations that are housed
there, getting nearly rent-free
space, are social services. They’re
helping the community in one way
or another through the nearly 100
different programs offered by the
agencies.
“I’m from Philadelphia,” says
Aaron, “and I’ve asked my friends
there—none of them have heard of
any place like this. It seems to be
unique.” So Aaron felt that it was
very important to help Glasser/
Schoenbaum continue its important
and special work. Always the
fundraiser, she’s also gotten others
to contribute as well.
Quite simply, education is at the
heart of what matters to Aaron.
In additiion to her passion for
Glasser/Schoenbaum, she is quite
pleased with what Children First is
doing. A lot of area children need
help, and she’s proud to point out
that almost 90% of preschoolers
in Children First’s program meet
or exceed Cognition & General
Knowledge school readiness goals.
Plus all children in their programs
receive over 50% of their weekly
nutritional needs from Children
First, which gives them a healthy
breakfast, lunch, and afternoon
snack every school day. “I’m not
a board member at Children First,
but I’m very involved with them
and the good work that they do,”
numerous grandchildren, she
knows all about how hard it is
to do an effective job of raising
children.
Part of why she became a lead
contributor and honorary chair of
the Westcoast Black Theatre’s Heart
& Soul capital campaign is their
work with at-risk children. Aaron
likes how Founder and Artistic
Director Nate Jacobs works with so
many young performers
Gerri Aaron started coming down
to Sarasota from Philadelphia with
her husband in the 1970s. “He
always rented a car,” she explains.
then I’d drive around, getting to
really know the area. That’s when
I decided we had to come here
when we retired.” And that’s
exactly what they did. In 1991,
Longboat Key, then about 20 years
ago, downtown Sarasota became
home.
Aaron got involved with her new
hometown right away. It started
with the Arts Council, which at the
time was a group of young people
who fought to keep the arts in the
schools. They supplied the school
system with artists and musicians
and worked hard to get arts funding
put back in place. On her table,
Aaron hast a photo of herself with
other protestors, marching with
“Keep Arts in Education!” signs. “It
was an amazing, exciting time.”
Shortly after, she was asked to
serve on the Selby Library Board.
A college English major who
always loved books, what could
she say but “yes”? Then came other
opportunities to serve as a board
member. Many others. Like the
Sarasota Orchestra (“I love that
wonderful orchestra!”). JFCS of
the Suncoast (“Such a remarkable
group of people who really do
good for so many!”). The American
Jewish Committee (“They do
wonders toward keeping people
peaceful and active!”). And even a
little environmental group called
the Tree Foundation that’ll be
celebrating its 10th anniversary in
2020 (“Dr. Meg Lowman is a great
scientist, a strong environmentalist,
and a good friend!”).
One of Aaron’s recent
philanthropic efforts is with The
Glasser/Schoenbaum Human
Services Center, a 501(c)(3)
“I know that my age
is against me . . . But I
have to do what I can
while I’m here”
- Gerri Aaron
human service agencies that help
low-income and at-risk adults,
children, and families.
“I’m a good friend of Betty
Schoenbaum,” says Aaron, though
she notes that Schoenbaum has a
different approach to philanthropy.
As a philanthropic leader in the
community, Schoenbaum openly
says she follows in her husband’s
footsteps. He raised a lot of
money for Glasser/Schoenbaum,
and she keeps his memory and
spirit alive by continuing that
commitment. “My husband is the
one who made the money in our
family,” explains Aaron. “He was
in business and did very well.
While he was philanthropic, he
was focused on business. I’ve
always been philanthropic, too.
Ever since I was a little girl, I
wanted to help people.”
So when Aaron learned from her
friend about Glasser/Schoenbaum,
she was intrigued. She was
already very good friends with
Glasser/Schoenbaum’s former
CEO Phil King, and the new
President and CEO, Dr. Kameron
Partridge Hodgens—who took
over in October 2014—proved
equally impressive. Aaron says,
“Kameron’s an amazing woman.
She’s doing such a good job.”