Goodwill Manasota is pleased to announce the 2021-2022 board of directors. Steve Boone has been elected as the board chair. New to the board this year are Eric Kaplan and Betsy Benac, who join directors Xtavia Bailey, Debbie Douglas, Rae Dowling, Shawn Hanlon, Rod Hollingsworth, Rob Morris, Laurie O’Loughlin-Shulman, Allen Weinstein and Brad West (chair emeritus).
Boone served on the board for 10 years beginning in 2009, and then rotated off in the 2019-2020 fiscal year. He served as board chair in 2013 and 2014. He is a partner at Boone Law Firm, a member of the American Bar Association and charter member of the Venice-Englewood Bar Association. His volunteer engagements include leadership roles with organizations such as the Venice Area Chamber of Commerce, Boys & Girls Club of Venice and South Sarasota County United Way. Boone has also been involved in various youth sports activities in Venice, including being a coach and manager for boys and girls Little League baseball and softball. He is currently a volunteer judge for the Sarasota County Teen Court program and a member of the Family Promise of South Sarasota County Board of Directors.
A current priority for the board is the investment and utilization of the recent $10 million gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. Those funds are already being used to expand programs such as Supported JobsPlus, which targets sustainable employment for workers with severe disabilities; Mission Development Services, which helps Goodwill organizations throughout Goodwill Industries International’s network build better organizations and strong social enterprises to better serve their communities; and the Veterans and Their Families Program, which will be opening an office in South Sarasota County. Goodwill is also launching new programs, such as the Supported Language program, to help improve English proficiency in the community.,
“We can only succeed in our mission of changing lives through the power of work if we are all working together toward the same goals. Our volunteer board members are essential in providing their leadership, guidance and expertise, and ensuring our mission is being served,” said Bob Rosinsky, Goodwill Manasota’s president and CEO. “We look forward to our new board’s service to Goodwill and our community in the coming year.”
For more about Goodwill, go to experiencegoodwill.org or call (941) 355-2721.
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.