Halfacre Construction Co., a commercial construction company based in Lakewood Ranch, recently donated $1,000 to a new construction technology program at Riverview High School, in Sarasota.

The high school is the first in the area to develop its own program, utilizing hands-on experiences in the construction and trades industry alongside the National Center for Construction Education & Research curriculum.

Upon completing the four-year program, high school students will graduate with industry-recognized credentials and gain access to local internships, apprenticeships and jobs.

The Gulf Coast Builders Exchange is working with its members through donations and in-kind services to transform an art lab at the high school into a functioning shop for the students. Halfacre’s donation will go toward the renovations.

“We are grateful to be able to support such an impactful program,” said Jack Cox, president and CEO of Halfacre. “… Hopefully, one day, we will be able to hire these students for our team.”

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The Venice Area Historical Society is the recipient of a $9,775 grant from the Gulf Coast Community Foundation.

The grant is made possible through the Venice Endowment Fund and is designed to keep the Historic Venice Train Depot campus as an educational tourist destination. Volunteers work as docents for the railroad-themed campus, and tours are free and open to the public.

Recently, VAHS assumed responsibility for maintaining the interior and exterior of both the caboose and the recently opened circus train car on the Depot campus. However, closures caused by the pandemic and needed repairs resulted in a loss of revenue from visitor donations that help with maintenance costs.

The Depot campus is a public/private collaboration between Sarasota County and the Society.

The Depot is located on East Venice Avenue north of the Venice Avenue bridge on the Intracoastal Waterway.

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The Service Club of Manatee County awarded $4,364 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast for 15 Chromebooks and 15 SAT study guides.

The Chromebooks are for children in Manatee County who do not have access at home to a computer, tablet or other electronic device. The SAT study guides are for college-bound students.

Most of the students served live in poverty or are economically disadvantaged. The Chromebooks will be provided to Manatee County Littles so that they have the capacity to meet virtually with their mentors, attend classes remotely as needed and complete homework and studying from home.

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Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast received $5,000 from Boca Cares.

The money will be used to buy 50 $100 gift cards for school supplies and school clothes for children served in Englewood.

Through its One to One Mentoring Program, BBBSSC provides at-risk youths with professionally supported mentors to help them remain in school and make academic progress, avoid risky behaviors, overcome barriers to academic success, graduate high school and achieve higher education and a financially sustainable career.

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The Evelyn Sadlier Jones Foundation has awarded a $15,000 grant to Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast for its Mentoring Children of Promise and Big Futures program in Sarasota County.

MCOP serves youths with one or both parents incarcerated in federal, state or local prisons/jails by providing them with specially trained mentors and necessary support services.

The youths in this program are among the most vulnerable in our community. Because they are particularly apt to feel shame and a sense of aloneness due to their circumstances, having a trained, caring mentor to provide academic and emotional support and guidance is life changing.

Big Futures extends professionally supported one-to-one mentoring services until age 21.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Donation to construction technology program, money for Train Depot