Selby Botanical Gardens president elected chair of state tourism agency Visit Florida
Selby Gardens president elected chair of state's tourism agency
Jennifer O. Rominiecki, president and CEO of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, has been elected chair of Visit Florida's board of directors for the 2023-24 fiscal year. Rominiecki, currently vice chair of the state’s tourism marketing corporation, will begin her one-year term on July 1.
Rominiecki, who has served on the Visit Florida board since July 2020, has chaired the organization’s Industry Services, Small Business and Rural Development Council in addition to serving as vice chair. She has served as Selby Gardens’ chief executive since 2015.
“I am deeply honored to serve as chair of this vital organization that is so essential to the state of Florida’s record-breaking success in tourism,” Rominiecki said. “It’s a privilege to work with president and CEO Dana Young and the whole Visit Florida team.”
Rominiecki has overseen the creation and construction of a three-phase Master Site Plan for Selby Gardens’ Downtown Sarasota campus. Phase One of the project is expected to open in November, resulting in the first net-positive energy botanical garden complex in the world. Visit selby.org.
Celebration salutes Caribbean American Heritage Month
Caribbean American Cultural Connections Inc. is hosting its seventh annual Caribbean American Heritage Celebration on June 24 from 1-9 p.m. at City Center Front Green, 4970 City Hall Blvd., in North Port.
The free family friendly event celebrating Caribbean American Heritage Month will feature ethnic food vendors, a kids activities zone, and live performances by J’Nelle, YaYa and the Dream Chasers, Bianca (JustBee) Russell and a musical showcase (Empress Uneek, Nikki Fyah, Ras Chakai, Kulcha Cally, Mystic Soul, Errol Woodhall) backed by the Undiluted Band.
Also, an art exhibit at North Port City Hall is open on Mondays to Fridays through June 30 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and a Caribbean American Heritage Social is scheduled on June 24 from 7 p.m. to midnight at Le Lambi Restaurant, 3802 Tamiami Trail, in Port Charlotte featuring DJ Swizzy Beatcity and DJ Curtain Claat. Visit caccincfl.com or follow on social media @caccincfl.
Campaign Against Summer Hunger doubles gift from Heritage Oaks
Heritage Oaks Golf & Country Club recently raised $23,626 for All Faiths Food Bank's Campaign Against Summer Hunger, which doubled the gift through the campaign's match program for community donations.
Members and staff at Heritage Oaks rallied behind club manager Greg Hurst's participation in the Florida Keys100 Ultramarathon to create the fundraiser, according to Barbara Fraser, chair of Heritage Oaks' Backpack Kids program. The $47,252 total will purchase 18,900 meals, Fraser said.
The Campaign Against Summer Hunger has raised more than $14 million in the past decade. Visit allfaithsfoodbank.org.
Nonprofits partner on reading initiative to support families
The Aqua Cares Foundation, Goodwill Manasota, and Pregnancy Solutions are partnering this summer to help bring safety awareness to children through a reading initiative.
Youth who send in artwork showing how they can create a safer environment for themselves and their family will receive a voucher for a complimentary book from any Goodwill Manasota retail or bookstore location in Sarasota, Manatee, DeSoto, or northwest Charlotte counties. Youth can draw, color, or write about how they can create a safer home and email it to info@aquacaresfoundation.org or by text to the Aqua Cares Foundation at 941-415-3425.
“We want to help youth engage in reading, but there is also an opportunity for them to express their creativity through art,” said Skip Stanton, chair of the Aqua Cares Foundation. For information, visit aquacaresfoundation.com.
Around and about ...
Piano Friends will hold their 15th Anniversary Meeting on June 24 at 1:30 p.m. at the State College of Florida Recital Hall, 5840 26th St. W., Bradenton. Talented pianists from intermediate to professional will perform, including special guest Eleonora Lvov. Info: Debye Bernard at axhandle@comcast.net.
· The Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast recently received a $20,000 grant from the Rita B. LaMere Memorial Foundation to support the organization's mission to protect the land and water in Southwest Florida. To date, the organization has permanently protected over 19,200 acres across 56 properties in five counties. Visit conservationfoundation.com.
· The Friends of the Betty J. Johnson North Sarasota Public Library is seeking to fill five vacancies on its seven-member board during its Annual Meeting on June 20 from 5-7 p.m. at the library, 2801 Newtown Blvd. Visit bettyjjohnsonfriends.org. ... Members of the Aphasia Community Center of Sarasota are hosting an Aphasia Awareness Dinner on June 24 at Concordia Lutheran Church, 2185 Wood St., in Sarasota. RSVP: aphasiasarasota.org or aphasiacommunitycenter@gmail.com.
Submissions by Troy Scott, Greg Luberecki, Sonia Owens, Barbara Fraser, Veronica Brandon Miller, Sam Valentin, George Bradt, Becky Reese.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Selby Gardens CEO Jennifer Rominiecki elected chair of Visit Florida
