Picking up the pieces after Hurricane Milton

As our community discovers how Hurricane Milton has reshaped it, our Community Foundation has prepared to activate both immediate relief and long-term recovery support. We are fortunate that, by many accounts, our communities were spared the worst of Milton, with the damage of this storm alone not meeting the apocalyptic expectations of forecasters.

That said, Milton's timing, on the heels of Helene, magnifies the need for thougthful and trusted help.

In response to Milton, our community foundation already activated our Season of Sharing fund early to support the workforce hit so hard by Helene, and we know that Milton has compounded the need for immediate help with these basic needs as expensive repairs outpace what many families have on hand for emergencies.

Our Community Foundation’s Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund, investing in equitable and holistic recovery, is also accepting donations. As with Hurricane Ian, the fund will be an essential resource for long-term recovery in Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee and Sarasota counties responding to unmet needs once immediate emergency relief efforts have concluded.

It has been heartening to see the outpouring of support in our philanthropic community to address the deleterious effects of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Our longtime philanthropic partner The Patterson Foundation has donated $1 million to Season of Sharing in addition to its longstanding support of the initiative with a $100,000 contribution for every $500,000 raised by the community. The Patterson Foundation will also match, dollar-for-dollar (on all donations up to and including $50,000) $1 million for the Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund. The Brian and Sheila Jellison Family Foundation has contributed two matching gifts of $500,000 each to the Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund and Season of Sharing. The Baltimore Orioles also provided a $250,000 gift to Season of Sharing, with a separate $250,000 matching opportunity, and the Bishop-Parker Foundation has contributed $100,000 to Season of Sharing.