Philanthropy and Kindness Intertwined

This Monday, February 17, we celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Day, a reminder to perform small yet impactful gestures for others. It is also our wedding anniversary, a moment to reflect on the incredible partnership that marriage brings. My wife Tami and I work together to pursue our shared dreams and overcome life’s hurdles. I am profoundly grateful for Tami and her remarkable gift of kindness. She baked sourdough bread for the entire Gulf Coast staff during the holidays and has dedicated her career to nurturing children's development at the Kinder Garden School. At home, she is a loving mother to our two sons and an incredible planner who makes our busy lives enjoyable and manageable. Tami truly embodies the essence of kindness, inspiring everyone around her to contribute to making the world a better place.

In my work leading Gulf Coast Community Foundation, I also have the privilege of seeing acts of kindness from our donors and team daily. Kindness and philanthropy are deeply intertwined; philanthropists give from a place of love for humanity, and their generosity spreads joy throughout our community. With thoughtful planning alongside their Gulf Coast philanthropic advisors, our donors contribute to causes and nonprofit organizations they care about, ensuring a lasting impact. These nonprofits play an essential role in our community providing critical services, like delivering nutritious meals to isolated seniors and supporting children in overcoming academic challenges. Many of our donors thoughtfully plan their legacies with Gulf Coast, securing a future of continued community support for generations to come. Their gifts, whether financial contributions, volunteer service, or nonprofit leadership, can be transformative, fostering growth, changing lives, and spreading kindness.

One remarkable project made possible by a generous, kind Gulf Coast donor is Project HEAL (Helping Everyone Align with Love). Project HEAL is providing four homeless-service organizations – Community Assisted and Supported Living (CASL), Family Promise of South Sarasota County, Harvest House, and Suncoast Partnership to End Homelessness with training to become trauma-informed. These organizations are making significant strides in creating safe environments that foster healing and recovery, both for their staff and those they serve. Project HEAL emphasizes core principles such as safety, collaboration, empowerment, transparency, and trustworthiness, all of which are vital for building thriving communities. Addressing trauma is increasingly recognized as an important component in overcoming homelessness and promoting mental wellness, key priorities for Gulf Coast.

Family Promise of South Sarasota County’s (FPSSC) is an organization making a profound impact. Dedicated to supporting children and their families experiencing housing insecurity, FPSSC helps working families regain stability and navigate obstacles to permanent housing. Currently, over 450 children in South Sarasota County schools have been identified as housing insecure. Through Project HEAL, FPSSC has enhanced its approach, prioritizing comfort, safety, and support for new program participants. They meet individuals where they are, engaging them with empathy and kindness, offering a welcoming and safe environment for meaningful conversations. The results have been inspiring - increased participant satisfaction, improved staff retention, updated organizational values, and a renewed focus on staff well-being.

On this Random Acts of Kindness Day, I hope you take a moment to recognize the incredible work happening in our community for the greater good. Kindness can be seen in our own families, our careers, volunteering, community, and philanthropy. Philanthropy has the power to ignite a ripple effect of generosity, inspiring others to take action and create lasting change. Together, let’s continue to cultivate a culture of kindness across our region.