ANNA MARIA ISLAND – After taking a year off, this year The Giving Challenge returns just when local nonprofits need funds the most.
Due to closures to help slow the spread of coronavirus, many local nonprofits have had to close their doors to the public and seen drops in the donations required to keep their community programs going after the pandemic passes.
The Giving Challenge, hosted by The Community Foundation of Sarasota County, brings together nearly 700 local nonprofit organizations to help raise needed funds.
One of the bonuses of giving to local organizations during the challenge is that donations of up to $100 each are matched by The Patterson Foundation. That means that a donation of $100 to a participating Island nonprofit results in $200 going to the nonprofit.
All the nonprofits in this year’s Giving Challenge are from Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte and DeSoto counties. Some of the local participating organizations are:
- The Center of Anna Maria Island
- The Anna Maria Island Concert Chorus and Orchestra
- The Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island
- Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (FISH)
- Friends of Manatee County Animal Services Inc.
- Friends of the Florida Maritime Museum
- Keep Manatee Beautiful
- The Paradise Center of Longboat Key
- Manatee Children’s Services
- Manatee County 4-H Association
- Manatee County Audubon Society
- Manatee County Habitat for Humanity
- Manatee County Public Library Foundation
- Manatee County Historical Commission
- Manatee Family YMCA
- Mayors Feed the Hungry Program
- Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee
- Moonracer No Kill Animal Rescue
- Mote Marine Laboratory
- Palma Sola Botanical Park Foundation
- Southeastern Guide Dogs
- South West Florida Therapy Animals
- Special Olympics Florida – Manatee County
- Suncoast Waterkeeper
- Art Center Manatee
- The Blessing Bags Project
- Hope Seeds
- The Manatee Players
- TIFF Initiative
- Underdog Rescue of Florida
- We Care Manatee
- Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Inc.
- Women’s Resource Center Inc.
There are many more organizations participating. For information on all the participating nonprofits and to donate during the challenge, visit The Giving Challenge.
