VIN'S PEOPLE: Manatee Community Foundation celebrating 25 years at 'Spirit' luncheon
The Manatee Community Foundation celebrates 25 years and honors its 2023 Spirit of Manatee winners during its Spirit of Manatee Awards Luncheon, 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Bradenton Area Convention Center, 1 Haben Blvd., Palmetto.
The honorees are Bob and Carol Carter, Conrad and Ruth Ann Szymanski, Tom Waters, Brooklynn Deckman and the Lakewood Ranch Women’s Club.
The Carters will receive the Mary E. Parker Lifetime Spirit Award. The longtime philanthropic leaders and volunteers inspire others to contribute to the community.
The Szymanskis, also donors and volunteers, were instrumental in forming Manatee’s first Community Partnership School.
Waters, CEO of Easterseals Southwest Florida, has been a mentor for nonprofit leaders.
Deckman, a Rowlett Academy for Arts and Communication student, led hurricane relief efforts and focuses on issues like bullying and suicide.
The Lakewood Ranch Women’s Club raised over $500,000 for nonprofits.
Wednesday’s luncheon will also be Jennifer Abbott’s first as MCF’s interim executive director. MCF’s director of philanthropy since 2018, Abbott succeeds Susie Bowie, executive director since 2016, who officially became president/CEO of the William G. and Marie Selby Foundation March 1.
For luncheon ticket information, visit ManateeCF.org.
· Say it ain’t so! DeDe Coon Snider hit the Big 4-0!
· Executive director Jacki Dezelski marked 27 years with the Manatee Chamber of Commerce.
· The Sarasota Chorus of the Keys will do the national anthem honors Tuesday for the Pirates final spring appearance at LECOM Park.
Director Drew Kirkman will lead Dave Cama, Ken Cerny, Bill Colleran, Tom Crocker, Kevin Downs, Scott Duink, Jim Finckenauer, Mike George, Tobe Halton, Joe Harris, Ron Henry, George McColgan, Roger Murphy, Ross Muzylo, Clark Niepert, Herb Pattison, Alan Pennington, Bruce Prince, Ken Rear, Joe Rocklein, John Scott, Charles Snider, Jim Stoup and Fred Williams.
· That’s 30 years of wedded bliss for Cindy and Dwayne Denison.
· And 29 for Lynn and Fred Pierce.
· Carmen Rodriguez, Manatee County Government property management custodian, is March Employee of the Month.
· Polli Geyer Stroup is 39. Again.
· Kelly Helm, too.
· Ditto Jeff Orenstein.
· And hats off to snowbird Jim Pappas.
During Tuesday’s game at LECOM Park, the 51-year-old Chicagoan made an acrobatic catch, leaning way over the railing atop the left field bleachers for a foul ball that bounced high off the aluminum stands.
His daughter, Olivia, loved the souvenir – and Dad’s derring-do.
“He’s gotten me a collection of baseballs doing that,” the smiling 10-year-old said.
Vin’s People runs Sundays. Email Vin Mannix at vinspeople@gmail.com. Or call 941-962-5944. Twitter: @vinmannix.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: VIN MANNIX: Spirit of Manatee Awards Luncheon salutes difference makers
