MARCH 2018 | SARASOTA SCENE 51
philanthropy
them and the good work they did.
And he reports that they’re doing a
much more effective job of that today,
probably due in part to Susan and Rob
serving as ambassadors by introducing
others to the group’s mission.
With such growth in our area, Rob is
concerned about how quickly land
is being gobbled up. “It’s vital to
have land set aside that will stay in
its natural state,” he says, “whether
that’s through outright purchase,
land conservation, deeds, or other
legal ways.” Susan adds that the
Conservation Foundation can help
communities learn ways to preserve
land and protect the environment, as
they’ve done in Braden Woods.
One of the key programs Susan and
Rob supported from the start is the
Youth in Nature initiative, where
area at-risk youth are given WOW!
moments in nature by offering
reserves, and waterways. “So many
kids live here, but many have never
been in the woods or gone in the
water,” says Susan. This program gets
kids away from computers and games
and instead shows them how to use
kayak, or witness a live alligator in
the Myakka River. For many young
are life changing.
“We gave seed money for that. It’s a
great program,” says Rob. He points
out that in general, philanthropy in
Sarasota focuses on three main things:
cultural arts, education, and charitable
works. “These are all marvelous
things, but environmental projects
sometimes aren’t in the forefront. So
that’s what we’ve been looking into.
We’d like to advance those projects
and help put environmental issues
into the community’s mind.”
“We like to know our money has
a tangible effect right here in the
community. With the Conservation
Foundation, we know that’s the case.”
they make vacation plans, they
try to include some type of biking
states just to bike,” Rob says. Beyond
fantastic way to see nature and be at
one with the environment.
“The Potomac Peddlers is the largest
bike group in the country,” notes
Rob. “We used to do a lot of rides
with them. When we came here,
we got involved with the Sarasota
Manatee Bike Club.” That’s how
they met fellow bike enthusiast
Roland Abraham, whose kindness
and generosity impressed them
greatly. The Emily & Roland Abraham
Educational Fund has to date
granted 1000+ college scholarships
through the Community Foundation
of Sarasota County. Add in the
charitable contributions he’s given to
many, many organizations, and his
So when the Community
Foundation—an organization Susan
and Rob have worked with before
to support the Girl Scouts, the Boy
Scouts, and the American Littoral
Society through their own donoradvised
fund—let them know about
the Conservation Foundation of
the Gulf Coast’s desire to create
a bike shelter on the Foundation
property named after the late Roland
Abraham, they jumped at the chance.
“I think he’d be pleased to know it’s
there,” Susan says. “He really loved
biking.” Susan and Rob have also
funded a bike shelter on the Legacy
Trail.
Through that partnership with the
Conservation Foundation, Susan
and Rob learned about the group’s
mission and values which were
very much in alignment with what
they cared about. They immediately
became champions of this
organization that appreciated nature
and the environment as much as
they did. Rob told the Conservation
Foundation that they had to get their
messaging out more effectively—
more people needed to hear about
either, to make a difference. Susan
and Rob paid for a road sign on
Tamiami Trail directing people to
the Conservation Foundation. They
also funded an engineering study
for a road that was part of their
strategic planning, and they helped
docks used by kids in the Youth in
Nature initiative. “You don’t have
to fund an entire building to make
with a smile.
“They’re wonderful people there,”
says Susan about those who work
at the Conservation Foundation.
“The love and dedication they
have for their work is just amazing.
Christine Johnson and the others
why Susan and Rob continue to
mission: protecting land, educating
people about the environment, and
collaborating with the community
to make it all happen.
“The only thing I miss about DC
is the Chesapeake Bay,” admits
Rob. “The sailing up there was
wonderful. Truly wonderful.” Susan
is quick to agree. To this day, they
remain boating enthusiasts, being
members of the Bird Key Yacht
Club and having visited all 36 of
the Florida Council yacht clubs.
Rob ends with: “I’m not sure
consciousness or environmental
appreciation. One certainly
reinforces the other.” And thanks
to the efforts of Susan and Rob
in support of the Conservation
Foundation, there’s going to
be more of it around for future
generations to appreciate.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
about the Conservation Foundation
of the Gulf Coast, please visit
www.conservationfoundation.com or
call 941.918.2100.
/www.conservationfoundation.com