Local Black-Led Nonprofit Organizations Unite for National Give 8/28 Giving Day, Fostering Equity in Our Community

A community mixer of nonprofits is to be held on Aug. 28 at Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe

August is Black Philanthropy Month, and several Sarasota-Manatee nonprofit organizations will be taking part in Give 8/28, a 15-hour digital giving event designed to support Black-led and Black-benefiting nonprofit organizations.

With the goal of boosting overall Give 8/28 performance in our area, the Community Foundation of Sarasota County is once again supporting local participating organizations with kickstarter campaign donations and is encouraging community members to attend a mixer to learn more about the organizations. The mixer will be from 5-7 p.m. August 28 at Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe.

Give 8/28 is like the locally held Giving Challenge, which the Community Foundation hosts and many of the participating nonprofits have taken part in to hone their skills in preparation of this national giving day. In 2022, 17 local nonprofit organizations took part in Give 8/28, raising nearly $26,000 in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte and DeSoto counties.

Now in its sixth year, Give 8/28 is a national event, drawing attention to the unique achievements and needs of Black nonprofits and the communities they serve. It is presented by the Young, Black and Giving Back Institute, an organization aimed at capacity building and impact enhancement for the Black nonprofit community.

Participating nonprofits provide resources and community support specifically tailored to the unique communities they serve, creating opportunities to break cycles of disadvantage associated with lack of resources or visibility.

People interested in supporting the community by participating in Give 8/28 can attend the mixer to meet the people inspiring change through their organizations. Those who cannot make the event can still donate online to the following registrants this year:

• Art 4 Change, which brings awareness to social issues through art and provides opportunities to underserved people and families.
• Gamma Xi Boulé Foundation, which is dedicated to encouraging excellence in education and providing programs that develop leadership and potential in youth.
• J5 Experience Incorporated, which focuses on strengthening the mother/daughter bond as a way of promoting healthy choices that lead to success.
• Learn My History Foundation, which inspires youth through creativity, art, and education to develop leaderships skills through cultivating curiosity, collaboration, and critical thinking.
• Making an Impact, an organization that maintains a comprehensive directory of services for people in need.

• Margwine Organization, strengthening young women through proving activities and programming in a nourishing environment.
• Second Chance Last Opportunity, offering life management skills classes and resources to at-risk teens and their low-income or homeless families.
• SOAR Learning Center Inc., providing academic support services that prepares disadvantaged K-3 children for success in school and in life.
• Suncoast Black Arts Collaborative, which aims to bring visibility to the Black experience through encouraging participation in the arts.
• Multicultural Health Institute, which seeks to level the healthcare playing field by promoting, educating, and ensuring equal healthcare access and treatment to vulnerable populations.

• Truly Valued, promoting positive self-esteem, education, confidence and character among youth and families.
• Visible Men Academy, providing boys with outstanding academic, character, and social education in a nurturing school environment.
• Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, which produces professional theatre that promotes and celebrates African American history and experience.

*With more organizations potentially joining Give 8/28 pending eligibility

The date, Aug. 28, signifies important landmark moments in American history: Emmett Till’s murder in 1955, Dr. Martin Luther King’s legendary “I Have a Dream Speech” in the U.S. capital in 1963, and Barack Obama’s acceptance of the Democratic nomination for president in 2008, to name a few.

To join this year’s celebration of Black philanthropy and support these local causes on Monday, August 28, visit www.give828.org.

To qualify as a participating nonprofit, organizations must demonstrate that their board, leadership, and staff are predominantly Black and that the organization’s primary purpose is to work to build the political, economic, and/or social power of Black communities. Registration ends on August 14.