SRQ Magazine Celebrates Philanthropy at the Giving Coast and Good Hero Awards Luncheon

SRQ Magazine presented the annual Giving Coast and Good Hero Awards luncheon and panel discussion yesterday at Michael's on East. The prestigious event brought together nonprofit organizations, community foundations, individual and corporate donors and civic leaders to celebrate and elevate the spirit of giving that drives our region forward.

Wes Roberts, Executive Publisher of SRQ Magazine, host and co-moderator opened the program and gave thanks to the event’s host sponsor, Michael Klauber and Phil Mancini of Michael’s On East, trophy sponsor, Ken Levanti of Sarasota Trophy & Awards, floral sponsor, Chante DeMoustes of Tropical Interiors Florists and table sponsor, Katherine Adams Love who placed SRQ Gives Back Chocolate on each table. He then asked Keynote Speaker, Mark Brewer, President and CEO of the Central Florida Foundation to take the stage.

Featured panelists representing community and private foundations in our region were then invited to take part in a discussion moderated by Roberts. This year’s panelists were Joe Carter, CAP, VP of Philanthropy for Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Michael Corley, Senior Consultant for Administration with The Patterson Foundation, Wendy Deming, CEO of Bishop-Parker Foundation, Pam Kandziora, President, Impact100 SRQ, Kirsten Russell, VP of Community Impact with Community Foundation of Sarasota County and Veronica Thames, CEO of Manatee Community Foundation.

Ashley Grant, SRQ’s Senior Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Engagement presented this year’s Good Hero Lifetime Achievement Award to Roxie Jerde, President/CEO, Community Foundation of Sarasota County. Jerde has led the Community Foundation since 2011, which has almost tripled in asset growth under her leadership and now oversees more than half a billion dollars in charitable assets. “I always say that all of us are smarter than one of us,” Jerde said. “I say that because it really does take each one of us, every day, to impact a life, a cause, a community.”

Grant then presented the Good Hero Philanthropic Awards to the very special individuals from all areas of the independent sector who have made a difference in our community. “We celebrate individuals who represent the staff, philanthropists, board members, corporate good heroes and storm heroes that make giving back part of their personal mission,” she said. “We recognize all of these individuals for their big hearts—and for reaching out—to strengthen the impact of our regional philanthropic core.”

Pictured: (l-r) Lisl Liang and Wes Roberts, SRQ Magazine with Roxie Jerde, recipient of the Good Hero Lifetime Achievement Award.

See this story as it originally appeared on Jan. 29, 2025, in SRQDaily here.