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opening of the Mosaic NEST (Nature, Environment, Science and
Technology Center.)
“We’re also incredibly excited for the opening of the Mosaic
Backyard Universe at the South Florida Museum,” Barron
enthuses. “Mosaic is a big fan of the museum, which has taken
the downtown cornerstone to the next level as the region’s only
natural history learning center. We encourage families from
across Tampa Bay to come ��nd their WOW�� at their museum.”
While these big gifts are the ones that make headlines, Barron
says Mosaic is just as passionate about their smaller community
contributions. For instance, the company donates to annual
teacher grants through the Manatee Education Foundation, Stuff
the Bus bene��tting the Manatee Food Bank, awards recognizing
amazing safety records for school bus drivers, and limo rides
for A-plus students at Myakka Elementary, just to name a few.
Mosaic also supports the Mote’s Sea Turtle program and is a
sponsor of the Bradenton Downtown Farmers Market.
“Mosaic also welcomes any opportunity to champion the good
work done by the Manatee Community Foundation, the Manatee
Chamber, the United Way Suncoast’s Campaign for Grade Level
Reading and the Giving Alliance of Myakka City,” Barron adds.
Additionally, the company stays involved with the Early Learning
Coalition (ELC). “It’s been an honor to have served as a sponsor
of the ELC’s Golf Classic for the last several years as well as
supporting the good work of NextGen,” Barron says. “Early learning
is the key to reaching academic milestones and one day realizing
a successful career. We believe the future of our community is
shaped by the investments made today in early learning.”
Preservation & Restoration
Barron says Mosaic is particularly excited about a recent grant to
the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program. “This summer, we awarded
a grant to help fund work restoring the area’s interior streams,”
she explains. “Streams are the arteries of our environment. A
healthy bay starts with a successful stream system. Mosaic has
been recognized for its stream reclamation and restoration work,
and now the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program may join us in that
ongoing effort.”
Barron says that while mining is an “impactive industry,” Mosaic’s
cutting-edge environmental work has netted global attention. “Much
of our incredible preservation and restoration work in Manatee
occurs in areas few ever see, but the work is critical as it ensures
healthy Myakka and Peace River watersheds,” she explains.
“Our reclamation and ecology team construct successful wetland
and upland systems, restore streams long since lost to manmade
impacts and take care of our creatures. From special
housing protecting eagles, who might perch on power poles,
to a new program monitoring Lease Tern to reestablishing the
region’s Scrub Jays in Manatee to trail cams capturing everything
from deer to gators. They are knee deep in good environmental
work every day.”
Eager to Give Back
When asked what inspires the Mosaic team to give back to the
community, Barron responds, “It’s not what we give but what
we receive.”
She says Mosaic recognizes that every hour and every dollar
donated makes a difference. “I knew the minute I walked in the
door of Mosaic, this place, these people are special,” she recalls.
“Despite long days and the signi��cant work done to help feed
the world, from the CEO to the dredge operator, conversations
often center around opportunities to volunteer. Our folks look
forward to serving up a special lunch to the teachers and staff
at Myakka Elementary every year, and the Wingate team loved
reading to children at Braden River last spring.”
Each year, Mosaic also mans a booth at the Manatee Fair to
celebrate the hard work of local youth taking part in the 4H and
FFA livestock sales. “It’s our favorite time of year,” says Barron.
“Friendly faces, 4H and fair food��”
When Betty Glassburn from the Duette Community Association
put out a call for help sprucing up the old Duette schoolhouse
(recently added to the National Register of Historic Places),
Barron says a crew from the Four Corners Mine, including the
General Manager, showed up with a bulldozer.