Funding Updates

The Impact we've Made Together

Our success to date

Since we first began our mission in 1985, Suncoast Charities for Children has sought to make a direct impact in our community by raising funds for our area’s most important and meaningful organizations, agencies and nonprofits. 

And we’re so proud of the results!

With your help, we have been successful in this mission, leading to our ability to provide a range of life-changing benefits and opportunities for the children, teens and adults with special needs throughout Sarasota, Manatee, DeSoto and Charlotte counties. Below shows you how we did just that!

Because of You:

Because Of You, We Were Able To Make These Recent Funding Allocations

Children-First-Logo-Square

New Preschool Cribs & Toddler Cots | Installation of In-House Garden
Job Skills Training For Parents

  • New preschool classroom items were purchased 
  • Over 48 preschool children (3-5 years) and toddlers will be able to enjoy new pack & play cribs, toddler cots and access to evacuation cribs
  • The installation of a new in-house garden at the Venice Campus location will allow 123 preschool children to enjoy on-site field trips and provide an environmentally focused curriculum
  • Working parents of preschool children will now receive specialized job training skills to earn higher wages
The Haven

New Preschool Cribs & Toddler Cots | Installation of In-House Garden
Outdoor Art Activity Area

  • Therapy scholarships were provided to Preschool children requiring speech, occupational, physical, feeding, and aquatic therapies 
  • Over 86 preschool students (ages 1-5) will now be able to attend a summer classroom program offering a high-quality learning experience
  • Funding was provided to the Growing Healthy Kids Program, which serves approx. 17,312 meals and 8,656 snacks to at-risk preschool children with disabilities
  • Over 200 clients a week will be able to enjoy an outdoor art activity area

Florida Center for Early Childhood

New Playground Equipment

  • New occupational/ speech therapy testing materials were purchased for therapists working with children requiring developmental therapies
  • Climbing tunnels and a new slide were installed at the Sarasota Campus location, impacting over 30 preschool students (6 weeks-5 years) at the Starfish Academy

New Laptop Computers | New Wellness Equipment

  • A new outdoor therapeutic activity area for children and adults with intellectual & developmental disabilities was installed
  • Two-in-one laptop computers purchased will help over 140 clients with disabilities to strengthen their communication, daily living and social skills
  • New wellness equipment will allow over 150 clients with disabilities to continue to stay physically fit and healthy
Special Olympics

New Summer Sports Equipment | Two Week Summer Camp In 2023

  • A first-ever two-week Summer camp will be established in Sarasota County
  • Sports equipment will provide continued sports training and competition to over 120 clients with intellectual disabilities
  • Funding was provided to help launch the first ever two-week Summer Camp for special athletes in Sarasota County.

New Baseball Batting Helmets

  • New safety helmets and uniforms were provided for individuals with physical and/or cognitive challenges 
  • Batting helmets will provide safety to over 200 children with physical and/or cognitive challenges
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Suncoast Foundation – 2021/2022 Capital Improvements & Necessary Maintenance

  • Funding support to the Haven for two new group homes for aging adults with developmental disabilities that have developed Dementia/ Alzheimer’s (Sarasota Campus)
  • Installation of new hurricane-proof windows and doors, new air conditioning units, new electrical panel and structural repairs at The Florida Center for Early Childhood (Sarasota & North Port Campuses)
  • Replacement of flooring at Children First (Venice Campus)
  • Upgrades to the Sertoma Speech Clinic in Venice
  • Renovations at the Venice Sports Complex utilized by The Haven