Gulf Coast Community Foundation Announces Fall Board Graduates

Twenty-four community leaders from across the region graduated October 27 from the 2023 Fall Gulf Coast Board Institute (GCBI). The group made up the 17^th class to participate in our long-running board development initiative. The initiative is part of our Invest In Incredible program which provides a variety of important services to regional nonprofits.

The following individuals who completed the 2023 Fall Gulf Coast Board Institute, and their board affiliations, are:

Mary Lou Belisle, Literacy Volunteers of South Sarasota County, START of Sarasota County

Sarah Clough, Manatee Habitat for Humanity

Thomas Doherty, Venice Area Historical Society

DeeAnna Dowdle, Manatee County Audubon Society, City of Sarasota Parks & Sustainability Advisory Board

Denise Dull, Florida International Airshow, Integrity Charitable Foundation

Len Frischer, The Haven

Victor Gartner, North Port Art Center

Kristofer Geddie, Venice Theatre, Friends of the Venice Public Library

Deborah Hamm, MD, Sarasota Orchestra

Bianca Harris, Education Foundation of Sarasota County

Wendy Ingram, Dragonfly Mental Health

Michael Ippolito, Selah Freedom

Peter Kretzmer, Sarasota Orchestra, Sarasota Cuban Ballet School

Wayne Luoma, The Haven

Lise Mills, START of SC, South County Food Pantry

Christina Ottman, Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida

Lisa Pervin, Charlotte County Homeless Coalition

Sasha Pyatte, Gulf Coast Community Foundation’s Philanthropic Advisor

Sasha Rosin, Jewish Family and Children’s Service

Paige Soper, Streets of Paradise

Dalton Tininenko, Peace River Botanical and Sculpture Gardens

Clolita Vitale, Girls Inc. of Sarasota County, Sarasota Cuban Ballet School

Gale West, North Port Art Center

Linda Zeck, Sarasota Medical Pregnancy Center

• “This institute and its participants have a significant impact on our community effecting arts and culture and all aspects of health and human services. We are so fortunate to have dedicated volunteers serving in a board capacity throughout our region. It is an honor to help these volunteers become better board members,” said Invest In Incredible Director Betsy Steiner.

  “The quality, depth, and breadth of Gulf Coast Board Institute's training for nonprofit board members was truly outstanding. This is an ‘everything you need to know’ course that provides a solid foundation for the inexperienced as well as a refresher for the pros. Every presentation was broad in scope, rich in detail, and delivered by experienced experts who animated discussions with interesting case examples and fun group activities. Without a doubt, Gulf Coast Board Institute is a powerful resource for helping our nonprofits fulfill their missions with greater positive impact on the community we love.  Upon reflection, it's not surprising to find the Ivy League of nonprofit board training in one of the most philanthropic areas of our country,” said GCBI Fall 2023 graduate Deborah Hamm, MD.

  The institute is offered each year at our two office locations: the Venice Headquarters and downtown Sarasota Philanthropy Center. The institute provides high-level board governance training to new and veteran voluntary, nonprofit board members. Applications for the complimentary February session open on Monday, November 13. To apply, click here.

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