USF Sarasota-Manatee regional chancellor joins All Star Children’s board of directors

USFSM regional chancellor joins All Star Children’s board

Karen A. Holbrook, the regional chancellor at the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee, has joined the All Star Children’s Foundation board of directors.

Holbrook brings an exceptional level of expertise to the board as a scientist, administrator, corporate director and strategic planner and “will significantly enhance our ability to transform the foster care system through innovation, science and compassion," board chair Graci McGillicuddy said. "I am so deeply grateful to her for her commitment to our most vulnerable children and their families.”

Holbrook previously served in leadership positions at the Ohio State University, the University of Georgia, the University of Florida, and the University of Washington School of Medicine. She also spent a year as interim president for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

Library Foundation for Sarasota County elects 5 board members

The Library Foundation for Sarasota County has elected Tim Jaeger, Kelley Lavin, Todd Sweet, and Crishuana Williams to three-year terms on the board of directors. Also, Quinn Gulliver will serve as the Boys & Girls Club STAR (Students Taking Active Roles) board member for a one-year term.

Jaeger is director and chief curator of galleries and exhibitions at Ringling College of Art and Design. Lavin has held senior management positions at Vogue, Metropolitan Home, Chicago, and Texas Monthly magazines. Sweet is an architect and founding principal of Sweet Sparkman Architecture and Interiors. Williams has over a decade of experience in nationally recognized libraries.

Since its founding in 2011, the nonprofit Library Foundation has raised more than $8 million for the benefit of Sarasota County public libraries. To learn more, visit SarasotaLibraryFoundation.org or call 941-404-3139.

Southeastern Guide Dogs receives AFFF donation for Palmetto campus

The Armed Forces Families Foundation is providing $115,000 to Southeastern Guide Dogs to help build a courtyard and gardens on its dog training campus in Palmetto. The space is expected to open in early October.

"The Armed Forces Families Foundation Veterans Retreat offers a special place for our veterans training with dogs on campus and creates a sanctuary where unbreakable bonds can be forged,” Southeastern Guide Dogs CEO Titus Herman said. “The retreat extends its embrace to veterans from surrounding communities, providing them and their families with a haven of tranquility and peace."

Southeastern Guide Dogs, founded in 1982, breeds, raises, and trains elite service dogs for people in need. Many recipients of guide dogs are military veterans suffering from PTSD. Over the past 40 years the organization has successfully partnered over 1,200 service dogs at no charge to recipients.

ensembleNEWSRQ welcomes group's first general manager

Kate Mulligan, most recently executive director of Capital Philharmonic of New Jersey, has been named the first general manager for ensembleNEWSRQ, responsible for managing the chamber music ensemble’s finances, operational systems, performance logistics, and contractual relations.

Mulligan has devoted her career to helping nonprofit organizations thrive in executive roles for over 20 years. She holds degrees in music and nonprofit management from Westminster Choir College of Rider University and an MBA in business from Rutgers.

Mulligan will also coordinate grants and fundraising campaigns, supervise independent contractors, and oversee marketing and community outreach programs. For more information, visit ensrq.org.

Around and about ...

Selby Botanical Gardens is accepting submissions for its 43rd annual Juried Photographic Exhibition that will debut online on Aug. 29 and run through Sept. 30. The open call for entries is Aug. 7-14. The virtual exhibition will celebrate photos taken at Selby Gardens' downtown Sarasota campus and at Historic Spanish Point. For guidelines and more information, visit the contest portal at selby.org.

· The Greater Hurst Chapel AME Church, 2730 N. Links Ave., Sarasota, will host a Women’s Day service honoring 12 African American female business owners on Aug. 20 at 3 p.m. Pastor Anita Williams of Bethel CME Church will be the guest speaker. Information: Elizabeth.Deane1@verizon.net.

· Temple Emanu-El, 151 McIntosh Road in Sarasota, will host “Sundae with the Rabbis” on Aug. 20 at 2 p.m. The open house for prospective members (with ice cream) with synagogue leaders will offer a chance to learn more about the congregation's worship, social, community service, youth, educational, and spiritual programs. Register at sarasotatemple.org/upcoming-events1.html. Information: 941-371-2788; info@sarasotatemple.org.

Submissions by Ruth Schoch, Su Byron, Kate Schwartz, Peter D'Abrosca, Greg Luberecki, Liz Deane, Elaine Rose Glickman.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Karen A. Holbrook joins board at All Star Children’s Foundation