Community Involvement

Programs sponsored by Girls Inc. of Sarasota County focus on helping girls to develop independent life skills, self-acceptance, confidence and healthy bodies and minds — all within a safe and nurturing environment.

About 1,000 Sarasota County girls ages 5-18 from 20 schools take advantage of more than a dozen after-school and summer camp programs which the organization provides. These programs educate girls about entrepreneurship, technology, finances, engineering and science.

The home of Girls Inc. is a 2.9-acre campus in Sarasota that contains a 10,000-square-foot educational building, a 10,000-square foot gym, a large indoor heated pool, two tennis courts, a soccer field and a large pavilion.

Sliding-scale scholarships help about half of the girls to pay the organization’s low monthly membership fees. In addition to fees, funding for this important organization comes from individual, corporate and foundation donations and grants and from special fund-raising events.

Members of the Junior League of Sarasota are tireless community volunteers. They serve as a driving force behind the initiatives and institutions that make Sarasota a healthy place to live.

Time and time again, the Junior League is among the first organizations to step up to the plate and tackle the Sarasota community’s biggest challenges. Sarasota Junior League members support and sustain such local projects as:

• The Hunger Outreach Committee’s efforts to reduce hunger and raise awareness of hunger in Sarasota.
• The Kids in the Kitchen initiative, which empowers children in kindergarten through 6th grade to make healthy choices about nutrition and fitness.
• The Junior Leagues of Florida State Public Affairs Committee (SPAC), which serves as the advocacy arm of the Junior Leagues of Florida, monitors the state legislative process and addresses issues of political importance to members.

The Sarasota Division of the American Cancer Society focuses on education in the fight against cancer. Educating people and encouraging them to make positive decisions is an important part of the ACS’s plan to prevent cancer and cancer-related deaths.

Nearly two-thirds of all cancer cases may be prevented through simple lifestyle choices such as avoiding tobacco, improving diet and being physically active.

The ACS staffs a toll-free help line (1-800-ACS-2345), with trained cancer information specialists available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The American Cancer Society, Florida Division, also creates brochures and publications related to site-specific cancers.

The Florida Division played a leadership role in helping the state to design and implement the Florida Tobacco Control Program, which served as the pilot for Tobacco Free Florida.

The group also helped to develop the Triple Touch breast health education program and Triple Touch II, which encourages regular mammograms as well as clinical exams and self-exams.

Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee works to improve the quality of life for seniors, individuals with disabilities and families facing food insecurity throughout the community. Since 1972, the organization has been committed to ensuring that vulnerable residents have access to nutritious food and supportive services that help them remain healthy and independent.

The organization is best known for its home-delivered meal program, which provides nutritious meals to homebound seniors who may be unable to shop for groceries or prepare food on their own. These deliveries also provide an important safety check and social connection for many recipients.

Meals on Wheels PLUS also operates The Food Bank of Manatee, which distributes food to local pantries, soup kitchens and nonprofit organizations that serve residents in need throughout the county.

In addition, the organization manages Friendship Dining Centers, where seniors can gather for meals and social interaction, and the Daybreak Adult Day Center, which offers supervised daytime care, activities and support services for older adults.

Through these programs, Meals on Wheels PLUS helps reduce hunger, support independence and strengthen the well-being of individuals and families across Manatee County.