Donor Stories
Charitable Giving By Our Community, For Our Community
May 8, 2025
A Tale of Two Sisters
For nearly a decade, our community foundation has invited individuals and families we work with to behind-the-scenes tours of local nonprofit organizations to gain a more in-depth understandin…
January 27, 2025
Donor Legacy: Behind the Scenes at Florida Studio Theatre
Most people will never know what it feels like to step onto a stage, but generous Community Foundation guests came close at a recent behind-the-scenes tour at Florida Studio Theatre (FST). W…
January 8, 2025
Leaving a Legacy
Meet generous, innovative donors whose vision for a vibrant community continues on.
December 18, 2024
Guardian Angel: The Many Pursuits of Kathleen F. Cellura
Photo credit: Maggie Martinez At 87 years, Kathi Cellura has energy that belies her age. She moves around her villa with apparent ease, presenting meticulously arranged collections of angels,…
May 28, 2024
A Heart Needs a Home
Claudia Barnett remembers the first place she truly felt at home. In truth, her address was in the small town of Leonia, New Jersey. But her heart was at home in New York. Specifically, her gr…
December 20, 2023
Putting the “Fun” in Fundraising: the Flanagans and the Community Foundation of Sarasota County
The high school sweethearts’ love affair with Sarasota began in 1999. Former Chicago and Silicon Valley residents Tom and Nancy Flanagan visited this charming coastal city for vacation a…
April 28, 2023
Celebration of life set for former ambassador who retired to Sarasota
To Ronald Gault, his friend – the late Jim Joseph – was a man for all seasons, with an uncanny ability to engage in debate on a broad range of ideas and react to them almost with a…
April 3, 2023
Investing in the Future: Drs. Wharton and the Community Foundation of Sarasota
It was six years ago when Sarasota Scene first got to know Drs. Richard Wharton and Lou Bertha McKenzie-Wharton. At that time, they were recognized for helping provide scholarships to the firs…
March 3, 2023
Power Couple: Guided by their faith, David and Adie Rubin are brightening the way for others and themselves with their generosity.
Good Hero philanthropic award recipient David Rubin and his wife Adie have deeply impacted our community through thoughtful charitable giving with a focus on uplifting others through education…
November 2, 2022
A Godmother to the Arts: Flora Major and the Community Foundation of Sarasota County
Coming to America Flora Major was born and raised in Budapest, then Communist Hungary. Philanthropy came naturally and was the norm among friends and family. Nobody had any money to speak of a…
June 16, 2022
Masala Giving Circle awards $20,000 in grants to support the African American community in Sarasota and Manatee Counties
SARASOTA - June 29, 2022 Masala Giving Circle has announced the recipients of their 2022 grants. FUNducation, Inc. will receive a grant of $10,000 for their project, “Betty J. Johnson No…
February 17, 2022
Beloved Philanthropist, Jean Weiller, Continues Her Legacy With A Recent Gift Of $1 Million To Boys & Girls Clubs Of Sarasota And DeSoto Counties
She has been a volunteer, a teacher, an advocate, and a leader. Her name is Jean Weiller, and her legacy is one of philanthropy and service. In 2021, Jean once again proved just how limitless…
December 13, 2021
Paying It Forward: Scholarship Donors Change Futures, Motivated by Life Experiences
When Bea Holt was in her mid-30s working as a nurse in Philadelphia, she dreamed of a career in business. With her employer’s financial support, she enrolled in night classes and receive…
December 1, 2021
A Healthier Community: The Caring Legacy of J. Robert and Mary Jane Donnelly
When J. Robert and Mary Jane Donnelly moved to Nokomis, Florida in 1987 from Republic, Michigan, they fell in love with their new home and the many possibilities to engage their community on a…
July 23, 2021
Building a More Equitable Sarasota With Philanthropy & Mentoring
Tom and Carol Beeler believe to invest in a more equitable community means more than just making charitable gifts. It means getting involved in the lives of young people who otherwise may stru…