USF Sarasota-Manatee's Brunch on the Bay raises $465,000 for scholarships, initiatives
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The 29th Brunch on the Bay, the marquee fundraising event for the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee, raised $465,000 on Nov. 5 for student scholarships, campus expansion and other initiatives.
A sold-out crowd gathered on campus for fine dining from local restaurants and catering companies and heard updates from USF President Rhea Law and Sarasota-Manatee Regional Chancellor Karen Holbrook on how the campus is growing – the event took place on campus in the shadow of a new $42.3 million, 100,000-square-foot student center and residence hall under construction.
Angela Perez Cruz, a child of Cuban immigrants who is studying at the Sarasota-Manatee campus, also described the impact of a scholarship funded by Brunch on the Bay.
“From my first day, the University of South Florida has consistently proven that it prioritizes student growth and success above all else,” Perez Cruz said. “Not only have I achieved everything that I set out to, but I have exceeded my own expectations.”
The USF Federal Credit Union served as title sponsor and business executives Lisa Krouse and Rod Hershberger were co-chairs of the event. Guests included USF President emerita Judy Genshaft, USF Foundation Board members, U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, and other federal, state and local officials as well as members of the USF Sarasota-Manatee Campus Board, including Chairman Rick Piccolo.
The fundraising total came from ticket sales, sponsorships and proceeds of a paddle raise. Since its founding, Brunch on the Bay has supported more than $6.5 million in scholarships for more than 2,000 students. It also supports campus initiatives, including current expansion projects.
“USF’s upward trajectory is especially evident here in Sarasota-Manatee, where we have a bold vision for the future,” Law said. As examples, Law pointed to the student center and residence hall, set to open for the fall 2024 semester, and continued planning for a $61.7 million Nursing/STEM building that will allow the campus to offer students and faculty new and expanded academic offerings and research opportunities.
“We have a lot of momentum going on,” Holbrook said. “Yes, we are constructing buildings, but we are really constructing the future leaders, innovators and influencers of Sarasota and Manatee counties and beyond. Our campus is transforming to meet the demands of an ever-expanding region.”
Perez Cruz, a junior double-majoring in biomedical sciences and psychology, said the new laboratories planned for the Nursing/STEM building would eliminate the need for her and other students to travel to an off-campus site to pursue their academic and research interests..
“Ultimately, your contributions fund our collective efforts to continue excelling both as an institution and as individual students,” she said.
Submitted by Marc Masferrer
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Brunch on the Bay raises $465,000 for USFSM scholarships, initiatives
