SARASOTA, Fla. – Designing Daughters of Sarasota (DesigningDaughtersSarasota.com), a charitable organization of young professional women dedicated to enhancing the community and cultivating the next generation of philanthropists through strategic granting, recently hosted its first-ever grants ceremony to award over $60,000 to local nonprofits.
Roughly 100 attended the ceremony to witness 15 not-for-profit organizations receive grants, ranging from $1,150 to $5,000, from Designing Daughters of Sarasota. Up until the Dec. 14 ceremony, the contributions to each nonprofit, totaling $61,874, were not revealed. Attendees, including representatives of the nonprofits, dignitaries, members and community leaders, enjoyed light bites provided by Morton’s Gourmet Market.
This year’s grant recipients included the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County, Children First, Easter Seals of Southwest Florida, Everyday Blessings, Florida Rescue Farm, InStride Therapy, Mark Wandall Foundation, More Too Life, Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, Muscular Dystrophy Association – Southwest Florida, Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue, Neuro Challenge Foundation, Pines of Sarasota, Sarasota Ballet and Take Stock in Children.
“It was truly an honor serving as president for Designing Daughters,” said Jennifer Rust. “The amount of passion and dedication that each member brings to this group is unparalleled. I am beyond proud of our efforts in 2016 and excited to be a part of the largest grant-giving session that we have ever had.”
Last year, the group raised $43,000 and handed out 13 grants between $1,600 and $5,000 to local nonprofits. Nonprofits that received funding were Any Given Child, Brothers and Sisters Doing the Right Thing, Children First, Easter Seals of Southwest Florida, Girls Incorporated of Sarasota County, Habitat for Humanity, Racing Dog Rescue Project, Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation, Selah Freedom, Southeastern Guide Dogs, Take Stock in Children, The Roskamp Institute and UCP of Southwest Florida.
About Designing Daughters of Sarasota
Shelley Lister, then a Designing Women Boutique board member, founded Designing Daughters in 2009. The charitable organization was formed as a committee to attract younger supporters and to help the organization with its fundraising efforts. Along with Nikki Taylor, founding president, Jane Thompson and Montana Taplinger, past presidents, Jennifer Rust, current president, and others, the committee grew far beyond expectations. As of January 2015, because of this growth, Designing Daughters of Sarasota partnered with the Community Foundation of Sarasota County to maximize its giving potential.
With close to 100 members, Designing Daughters of Sarasota’s goal is to give grants to several local charities each year and with almost no overhead, and the majority of its fundraising does just that. Designing Daughters of Sarasota is made up of an impressive list of local, young and influential women who are well connected in the community and have been very successful in forming strategic alliances and securing underwriters to cover the expenses for these events.