SARASOTA, FL – On Friday, September 20, Goodwill Manasota and SunCoast Blood Bank will officially launch a partnership effort to encourage donations of gently-used items and of critically-needed units of blood. The organizations will bring both the Goodwill “Giving Mobile” and the SunCoast Blood Bank “Bloodmobile” to the campus of PGT Custom Windows + Doors (1070 Technology Dr., North Venice) from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Leaders from both nonprofits and PGT will be in attendance from 9:30-10 a.m. for an informal celebration and brief remarks.
The organizations are currently seeking additional locations in order to hold “Change a Life, Save a Life” donation drives at least once or possibly twice per month. Already in the works are events at FCCI Insurance Group (November 14) and Booker High School (date TBA).
“We are proud to be partnering with Goodwill Manasota for the ‘Change a Life, Save a Life’ campaign,” said SunCoast Blood Bank CEO Scott Bush. “This partnership is a wonderful example of two well-respected nonprofits working together to create an even more meaningful impact in the communities we both serve.”
“We are thrilled to forge this new partnership and help to raise awareness and increase vital resources for both of our organizations. We are particularly happy that these collections from the community stay local, benefiting the people who live and work here,” added Goodwill Manasota president and CEO Bob Rosinsky. “We look forward to finding more community-minded organizations – like PGT – who are happy to lend their parking lots or community areas to our collection efforts.”
While the September 20th event at PGT is limited to PGT employees, the public is welcome to donate during select future events. For more information or to inquire about becoming a “Change a Life, Save a Life” location, call 941-355-2721, ext. 163 or email pavitra.ciavardone@gimi.org.
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 philanthropic donations and revenue generated by the sales of donated goods, Goodwill is able to assist people with disabilities, veterans, seniors, and those with other barriers to employment by providing jobs, job skills training, and free career services. For more information or for a listing of locations, visit www.experiencegoodwill.org or call 941-355-2721.
SunCoast Blood Bank
SunCoast Blood Bank is a registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization providing a reliable supply of safe blood products and services to our community for 70 years. SunCoast provides 100 percent of the blood products and services for Sarasota Memorial Healthcare System, Manatee Memorial Hospital, Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, Doctors Hospital of Sarasota, Complex Care Hospital of Ridgelake, Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Sarasota, North Port Emergency Room, Fawcett Memorial Hospital of Port Charlotte, Englewood Community Hospital and DeSoto Memorial Hospital. Recognized for its outstanding service, the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce honored SunCoast as the 2017 Non-profit of the Year. SunCoast participates in cancer treatment programs, research and provides therapeutic services at the hospitals it serves. For donor locations and more information, visit www.scbb.org or call 1-866-97-BLOOD.