Community leaders honored by Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties

More than 300 business professionals, community leaders, and philanthropists attended the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties’ 17th annual Intertape Polymer Group Leadership Breakfast on Sept. 8 to honor local trailblazers for their commitment to teens.

This year's event recognized the dedication of Carol Butera, a nonprofit executive; Richard Perlman, co-founder and executive chairman of ExamWorks Group; and James (Jim) K. Price, co-founder and co-executive chairman of ExamWorks Group. Proceeds from the event support the organization's teen programs, including leadership training, service opportunities, entrepreneurial education, workforce development, and college and career prep.

The event included remarks by Meghan Serrano, chair of the board; former state senator and master of ceremonies Lisa Carlton; Imani B., a junior at Booker High School and club member; and Samantha L., a senior at Riverview High School, club member, and co-MC.

Samantha thanked everyone for gathering “to celebrate three local heroes who make a tremendous impact in our local communities.”

"Opportunity is the key," Butera said. "Not all children have opportunity but yet I think it’s a responsibility of all of us as adults to provide opportunity for youth. Education is an equalizer and with education hopefully, those who are disenfranchised can become more empowered as a part of the community. I think the Boys & Girls Clubs is one of the places that is doing that.”

The Perlman Price Entrepreneur Program was created to allow students to learn how to be their own bosses. One to three participants from each class are chosen to receive full or partial funding from local investors to bring their entrepreneurial vision to life.

Following the award presentations, Samantha spoke about how the Boys & Girls Clubs has made an impact in her life.

“When I joined the Club four years ago, I wasn’t sure what to expect," she said. "My decision to join was largely influenced by my school’s requirement that students must earn volunteer hours. Having come from Venezuela, where community service was often mandated as a disciplinary consequence rather than a choice, the concept of volunteering was foreign to me. Through SRQVolunteen, I quickly learned the meaning of making a difference through service. The unexpected bonus was discovering kindred spirits among my peers."

Carlton acknowledged sponsors that included Intertape Polymer Group, the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, Gulf Coast Community Foundation, FCCI Insurance Group, Caldwell Trust Company, Cool Today, Mabry Carlton Ranch, The DeLieto Team @ MS&C, Ringling College of Art and Design, Blistex, Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, Neal Communities, Plymouth Harbor on Sarasota Bay, Synovus, Ric Smalley, Martella Family Foundation, Ken and Trish Freeman, Sarasota Memorial Hospital, and Captivation and Palm Printing.

For more information, visit bgcsdc.org.

Submitted by Erin Guzzo

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Community champions honored at BGCSD's 17 annual Leadership Breakfast