From left:  Judi Bell, new head of the Nonprofit Resource Center; Sandi Stewart, CEO of the Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Inc.; and Stewart Stearns, President & CEO of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County.

During the 8th Anniversary celebration of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County’s Nonprofit Resource Center at the Leila & Michael Gompertz Center on Thursday September 25, 2008, Stewart W. Stearns, president & CEO, presented the fourth annual Award for Excellence in Nonprofit Leadership to Sandi Stewart, chief executive officer of Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Inc., a Girl Scout council that serves more than 10,000 girls on the Gulf Coast of Florida from the Skyway Bridge to the Everglades to Lake Okeechobee.  She has been part of the Girl Scout Movement for more than 20 years, first serving as a volunteer, then as finance director, and currently as CEO, a position she has held since 1998. She successfully led a $7.8 million capital campaign resulting in the highly recognized “green” Gulfcoast Council regional headquarters located in Sarasota.   “It is my pleasure to present this award to a true Community Leader,” said Stewart Stearns. “One with solid judgment and common sense who cares deeply about our environment, cares deeply about her girls and volunteers and cares deeply about this community.” Under Stewart’s leadership, the Girl Scout council has seen a 25 percent increase in girl membership and a volunteer retention rate of 80 percent. Despite its relative small size, the Gulfcoast Council is one of the most financially strong Girl Scout councils in the nation. The Excellence in Nonprofit Leadership award was created to annually honor a nonprofit executive in Sarasota County who has served as an example and stimulated others to act in ways that significantly improve the quality of life in our community. It is made possible by the Stewart Stearns Leadership Fund of the Community Foundation, a fund created by the Board of Directors in 2004.  In his remarks, Stewart Stearns said that Sandi Stewart was chosen for her skills in being a unifier, bringing people together, thinking creatively and approaching her job with true vision. He also praised Stewart as a boundary crosser: acting not only in the interest of her organization but also in the best interest of the community. The annual event also introduced the audience to Judi Bell, new Community Foundation vice president and head of the Nonprofit Resource Center. Bell is a lifelong nonprofit professional who has served in a number of diverse leadership roles, including board chair, executive director, fundraiser and consultant. She has leadership experience in the fields of mental health, developmental disabilities, youth programming and domestic violence and joined the Community Foundation in August following a 23-year career with Girls Inc. as an executive director, regional director and associate director of national services.  The Community Foundation of Sarasota County is a public charity founded by the Southwest Florida Estate Planning Council in 1979 to meet the needs of individuals and businesses interested in leaving a charitable legacy of lasting impact. With assets of nearly $160 million in more than 600 different funds, the Community Foundation awards grants and scholarships of more than $6 million annually. Jim Shedivy is board chair. The Nonprofit Resource Center is a program of the Community Foundation, providing a wide array of workshops, trainings, programs, consultation and services that strengthen charitable agencies and their boards of directors in Sarasota and Manatee Counties. The NRC is the resource local nonprofits trust for guidance in building strong, successful organizations.