Embracing Our Differences raises more than $248,000 at 20th Anniversary Luncheon

Sarasota Herald-Tribune
·4 min read

Supporting teachers

Students at Booker Elementary School celebrate a grant for their teacher from Church of the Redeemer in downtown Sarasota. Redeemer recently surprised 60 public school teachers in Sarasota-Manatee with a total of $15,000 in grants for classroom enhancements of their choice. It is the second year Redeemer has provided the gifts through its St. Scholastica Program, funded in part by parishioners. “Teachers pour their hearts and sometimes their own funds into their classrooms, and we’re thankful to be able to honor them,” Youth Minister Jackie Overton said. The teachers will be honored on April 23 at Church of the Redeemer.

Embracing Our Differences raises more than $248,000

Embracing Our Differences, the Sarasota-based nonprofit that uses art and education to celebrate diversity, raised more than $248,000 at its sold-out 20th Anniversary Luncheon in February at Michael's on East.

Sarah Wertheimer is executive director of Embracing Our Differences.
Sarah Wertheimer is executive director of Embracing Our Differences.

More than 430 guests attended the event, which featured speeches from high school and middle school students. Executive director Sarah Wertheimer said EOD’s yearlong educational initiatives impacted more than 52,000 area students in 2022. The funds raised will be matched by a $100,000 challenge grant from the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation and a $50,000 grant by B. Aline Blanchard, The Swart Family and Patti and David Wertheimer.

“Our art and creative writing submissions have broken records again this year," Wertheimer said of the ongoing “Embracing Kindness” exhibition. "When we did our call for artists for our first exhibit, we received 124 submissions. This year we received 13,733 submissions from 119 countries, 45 states and 424 schools.”

The “Embracing Kindness” exhibition moves to Butler Park in North Port on March 22 with a free opening event on March 25 from noon to 3 p.m. The event features music by Monkey Finger, food trucks, and kid-friendly activities. Visit embracingourdifferences.org for more information.

Harvest House to celebrate new Life Enrichment Campus

Harvest House is inviting the public to attend the opening of its new Life Enrichment Campus at 3650 17th St. in Sarasota on March 17 at 10:30 a.m.

Erin Minor is the CEO of Harvest House.
Erin Minor is the CEO of Harvest House.

The event will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony, refreshments, a stage lighting demonstration, and a performance by the quartette Upward Notes. In addition, local nonprofits will have tables to share their mission with the public. "We have built a place where love is louder, and the light is brighter. For decades to come, the LEC will be a symbol of breaking barriers to human prosperity," Harvest House CEO Erin Minor said. "Even after 31 years of serving the community, Harvest House is just getting started."

The facility is Harvest House's first infrastructure expansion dedicated to wraparound support services for homeless families and individuals with a history of incarceration and substance abuse. For more about Harvest House, visit harvesthousecenters.org.

Florida Center receives funding from United Way of Charlotte

The Florida Center for Early Childhood recently received a $25,000 grant from United Way of Charlotte County to provide staff and resources for its Healthy Families parenting program.

Healthy Families provides free support to new and expecting parents who are experiencing stressful life situations. “This is an amazing program that ultimately prevents child abuse by helping parents succeed in their most important role,” Florida Center CEO Kristie Skoglund said. “We do this by providing parents with a Family Support Specialist who teaches positive discipline techniques, sets short and long-term goals and helps parents cope with day-to-day stress.”

The Florida Center operates the Healthy Families program in Sarasota, Charlotte, DeSoto, and Hardee counties and serves approximately 800 families each year. For information, visit thefloridacenter.org or call 941-371-8820.

Habitat for Humanity SSC to hold annual gala in Venice

Habitat for Humanity South Sarasota County will host its annual gala and fundraiser on March 11 from 6-10 p.m. at Hotel Venezia, 425 U.S. 41 Bypass North, in Venice.

The event is themed “Puttin’ on the Glitz: Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre” presented by the Florida Studio Theatre. It will feature a live and silent auction, entertainment by the Florida Studio Theatre, dinner and cocktails. For tickets, visit habitatsouthsarasota.org/puttinontheglitz.

For more information or to make a donation to support Habitat's mission to help families build strength, stability, and self-reliance through home ownership, visit habitatsouthsarasota.org or e.givesmart.com/events/tTa.

Around and about ...

Applications are available for the Venice Teen Leadership Class of 2024. High school sophomores and juniors are eligible. The program will begin in September and the class will meet once a month until April 2024. For applications and information, visit venicechamber.com or contact Barbara Hines, Leadership Venice Director, by email at bhines@venicechamber.com or 941-800-1482.

· Phillippi Estate Park, 5500 S. Tamiami Trail, will host History Day in the Park on March 25 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event includes the Sarasota Concert Band, the Sailor Circus, a Civil War reenactment, a classic car show, antique toy dealers, raffles, and food trucks. Info: facebook.com/HistoryDayinThePark and historydayinthepark.com.

· Incarnation Catholic School of Sarasota, 2911 Bee Ridge Road, will hold a Spring Gala fundraiser on March 30 at 6 p.m. at the Field Club, 1400 Field Road. The event will honor Sister Monica Paul Fraser for 34 years of service and will feature dinner, a live auction, and music. Info: Angela Molineux at amolineaux@incarnationschool.edu and facebook.com/incarnationcatholicschool.

Submissions by Lana Mullen, Su Byron, Clifford McDonald, Merab Favorite, Colleen Donahue, Tara Baskinger, Jane Kirschner, Angela Molineux.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: EOD raises $248,000 as 'Embracing Kindness' exhibit moves to North Port