Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation Board approves $8 million in grant funding

Sarasota Herald-Tribune
·3 min read
Charles and Margery Barancik long believed in the power of philanthropy to enrich the lives of all people. Their foundation’s total investment in the region totals more than $105 million since 2014.
Charles and Margery Barancik long believed in the power of philanthropy to enrich the lives of all people. Their foundation’s total investment in the region totals more than $105 million since 2014.

The Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation recently approved $8 million in grants for affordable housing, human services, and projects involving environmental sustainability, bringing the foundation’s total investment in the region to more than $105 million since 2014.

The grants include:

• $1 million to Safe Children Coalition to support construction of a new youth shelter aimed at helping to prevent children from entering foster care.

• $1 million to Chicago Zoological Society to support the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program as it engages in work to better understand and benefit the long-term resident dolphins of Sarasota Bay.

• $800,000 to Harvest House to support the organization as it expands its facilities and service offerings.

• $610,630 to Girls Inc. of Sarasota County's Family Strengthening Program, a program that eliminates barriers and offers services designed to address the social-emotional health of girls while strengthening a family’s communication through awareness, behavioral interventions, and referrals to community resources.

• $600,000 to Resilient Retreat to expand mental health programs designed for first responders and helping professionals.

• $500,000 for Barancik Foundation to establish a Recidivism Initiative to support work to prevent criminal reoffending in the 12th Judicial Circuit.

• $400,000 to Parenting Matters to allow the organization to build capacity and expand services.

• $300,000 to Lutheran Services Florida to support refugees by providing socially integrated services that are holistic, culturally competent, collaborative, and responsive.

• $250,000 to Minorities in Shark Sciences to promote diversity and inclusion efforts in marine science and conservation efforts.

• $320,000 for Barancik Foundation to continue the TIME Teacher Fellowship program.

• $262,273 to support exhibitions and hands-on activities during Sarasota Art Museum’s free Second Sundays programming.

• $250,000 to Suncoast Partnership to End Homelessness to create a mitigation fund for landlords by offering financial assurances and incentives for lowering barriers and housing highly vulnerable individuals and families.

• $250,000 to the Science and Environment Council of Southwest Florida to support an Environmental Summit that promotes action on environmental challenges.

• $225,000 to Women’s Resource Center to support their services and staff.

• $200,000 to The Salvation Army of Sarasota County to provide case management and supportive housing for families.

• $150,000 to the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Foundation to support CareerEdge’s Bridges to Careers training program.

• $150,000 to Friends of Sarasota County Parks to support the Educational Outreach Gardens at Twin Lakes Park in Sarasota. The gardens focus on educating people about nine principles of Florida-Friendly Landscaping that protect our ecosystem.

• $150,000 to Beyond the Spectrum to help individuals and families affected by autism, Down syndrome, and related developmental diagnoses.

• $140,000 to Healthy Start Coalition of Sarasota County to support prenatal and postpartum support and education for Spanish-speaking women in Sarasota County.

• $100,000 to expand Embracing Our Differences’ education programming to serve more teachers and students in Sarasota and Manatee County schools and hire additional staff.

• $56,622 to Sarasota County Schools to support the growth and sustainability of Sarasota’s Reading Recovery program.

• $30,000 to Turning Points to support their navigation program, which assists those experiencing homelessness or at risk for homelessness, including walk-ins and referrals.

An additional $230,500 in grants was awarded for annual operating costs and programs of organizations that the Baranciks held close to their hearts.

The Barancik Foundation, founded in 2014, awards grants in Sarasota and beyond in the areas of education, humanitarian causes, arts and culture, the environment, and medical research. For information, visit barancikfoundation.org.

Submitted by Barancik Foundation

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Barancik Foundation Board approves $8 million in grant funding