SARASOTA/BRADENTON, FL – On Thursday, October 5, from 6-9 p.m., Goodwill Manasota will present its 7th annual Goodwill Ambassador of the Year Awards Dinner at Michael’s On East (1212 East Avenue S., Sarasota). This year’s Ambassador of the Year honorees are Jaime DiDomenico, Cool Today; Tim and Cynthia Holliday, Children’s World; Nate Jacobs, Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe; Sheriff Tom Knight; Maribeth Phillips, Meals on Wheels Plus; and Bill Sterbinsky, SRQ VETS.
Jaime DiDomenico acquired N&M Cooling and Heating in 2004 and began rebranding in 2006. He has grown the company nearly every year since 2004 and now operates as Cool Today, Plumbing Today, and Energy Today. He has served as vice-chair of the Sarasota Boys & Girls Club and is a past president of the CEO Forum; he is involved with many charities benefiting children and the underprivileged. He has been a Goodwill Ambassador since 2014.
Tim and Cynthia Holliday have been the co-owners of Children’s World & Business World since 2001. Under their leadership, Children’s World has received numerous accolades, including the 2016 President’s Volunteer Service Award from Goodwill Manasota and a 2016 941CEO Greater Good Award. They have been recognized by 941CEO as one of Sarasota’s Best Bosses, and Cynthia was an inaugural SRQ Women in Business award winner. In addition to their longtime support for Goodwill, the couple’s daughter, Faith, is also a devoted Goodwill Youth Ambassador.
Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe founder and artistic director Nate Jacobs is a driving force in Florida’s theater scene. He founded WBTT in 1999; for nearly 30 years, this actor, singer, comedian, playwright, composer and director has worked extensively in the community, training and mentoring youth and aspiring adult artists in the performing arts. As a result of Jacobs’ outstanding contributions to young people, he has been recognized by organizations including the Sarasota County Branch NAACP Youth Council, Community Video Archives, and 941CEO and La Guia magazines. Most recently, he was honored with the prestigious “Larry Leon Hamlin Producer Award” during the 2015 National Black Theatre Festival.
Sheriff Tom Knight is the tenth Sheriff of Sarasota County. Currently in his third term, he first took office in January of 2009 following a 20-year career with the Florida Highway Patrol. Sheriff Knight serves on the State of Florida’s Commission for Law Enforcement Accreditation and is on numerous boards for nonprofit organizations in Sarasota County. He is also recognized by the Florida State University College of Criminology and Criminal Justice as a Distinguished Alumni.
Maribeth Phillips has served as the CEO of Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee since November of 2012, rising to that role after serving in various board positions for the organization. She serves on the board of directors for the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance and as governance chair and secretary of the board of directors for the Gulfcoast CEO Forum. She is the past president of the Lakewood Ranch Community Activities Corporation and is also a member of the Business Women’s Advisory Group. She has been a Goodwill Ambassador for many years.
Bill Sterbinsky is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps who served our nation in the Security Forces, guarding our nation’s nuclear assets, before leaving on a ten-month tour in Iraq. After law school, he worked at the public defender’s office before being hired by the State Attorney’s office in 2015. That same year, he and other local veterans started a small nonprofit organization called SRQ Vets, an organization that offers a broad range of services to local vets in need. He continues to be a dedicated advocate for veterans in Sarasota and Manatee counties.
“Our annual Ambassador of the Year Dinner shines a spotlight on those who contribute to our success,” said Goodwill Manasota president and CEO Bob Rosinsky. “We are blessed with ambassadors who recognize the importance of what we do: to give people a hand up and get them on their way to self-sufficiency. Without the commitment, passion, and generosity of our supporters, we could not succeed in our mission of changing lives through the power of work.”
Tickets are $150/person; proceeds support Goodwill’s programs and services throughout the community. For more information or to reserve seats, call (941) 355-2721, ext. 104 or go to experiencegoodwill.org/events.
Previous ‘Ambassador of the Year’ winners
2016: Adams and Reese LLP, Danny Bilyeu, Gloria Moss, iHeart Media, SunTrust, and Jewish Family & Children’s Service
2015: Rick Fawley, Sharon Hillstrom, Michael Klauber, Phil Mancini and Florida Representative Greg Steube
2014: Jo Rita Stevens, Cliff Walters, Realize Bradenton, Senator Bill Galvano
2013: Stu Gregory, RE/MAX Alliance Group, Tana Sandefur, Turning Points
2012: Stuart Roth, SunTrust Bank, Surry McFaul-Sun Hydraulics, Westcoast School for Human Development, Willis A. Smith Construction
2011: All Star Children’s Foundation, Ave Maria Preparatory School, Bill Isaac, CJ Fishman, Darrell Turner, John Saputo, GWIZ, Herald-Tribune Media Group, Lee Peterson, Loveland Center of Venice, PGT, Saint Stephen’s Episcopal School, Seaside Bank, Special Olympics-Sarasota County,
About Goodwill Manasota
Goodwill Manasota is an industry-leading, 501(c)(3), not-for-profit organization that changes lives through the power of work. With the sales of donated goods and philanthropic donations, Goodwill is able to assist people with disabilities and other barriers to employment by providing job skills training and employment opportunities. In 2016, Goodwill Manasota served 28,207 people, placed 755 people in jobs and assisted 240 veterans as they reintegrated back into the civilian workforce. Goodwill Manasota’s economic impact back to the community is worth $92.1 million. Goodwill is one of the pioneers of the reduce-reuse-recycle movement and this past year diverted more than 40 million pounds out of the landfill. We accomplish our mission through a network of Good Neighbor Centers in Sarasota, Manatee, Hardee and DeSoto counties and our Mission Development Services (MDS) around North America. Goodwill Manasota is accountable to a local Board of Directors. Goodwill Manasota, in essence, belongs to this community and is not owned by any individual or company. For more information, visit www.experiencegoodwill.org.