VENICE, FL (September 6, 2022) – The Here4YOUth Initiative of Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation and Gulf Coast Community Foundation has awarded Wingspan Productions, Inc. a $25,000 grant from the Here4YOUth Mental Health Initiative. Wingspan Productions, Inc. is a nonprofit educational film company based in Sarasota, Florida that addresses vital issues of our time. The grant will fund various aspects of Wingspan’s year-round educational initiative, including community screenings, discussions, and talkbacks, partnerships with community organizations, social media, and resource materials to accompany the new film about mental health, Bridge to the Other Side.
Gulf Coast Community Foundation has been investing in innovative solutions to improve mental wellness in our region for years. “Reducing the stigma around asking for help and increasing social support is critical to improving mental health outcomes. We are thrilled to partner with a successful filmmaker like KT Curran to lift up the voices of young adults and first responders through a powerful feature-length film. We can’t wait to see Sarasota on the big screen working together to chart a healthy future for all,” said Jennifer Johnston, Director of Community Leadership at Gulf Coast Community Foundation.
“Since the pandemic, mental health concerns of children and families in this community have increased 200%,” said KT Curran, Executive Director of Wingspan Productions. “Bridge to the Other Side is a powerful story about first responders as they work to address the rising crisis of mental health. We are so grateful for this generous grant that will help us share not only the film, but valuable mental health resources locally, statewide, and around the world,” continued Curran.
Bridge to the Other Side, a powerful film about resilience, mental health, and finding strength in dark times, was created out of 150 interviews in the community with youth, parents, teachers, police officers, nurses, therapists, firefighters, and agency leaders. Filmed in Sarasota and Cape Coral, the movie features numerous professional and volunteer actors, and was created by a crew of 55 film professionals, interns, and volunteers. The film will have its international premiere in Toronto at Commffest Global Film Festival and its national premiere in Los Angeles at Lady Filmmaker’s Film Festival in Beverly Hills. It will go on to screen nationally with Reel Recovery Film Festival, a national festival that focuses on mental health and addiction, and will premiere in Florida at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival in November. Many local screenings are planned in Sarasota and across Florida in the coming months.
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About Gulf Coast Community Foundation
Headquartered in Venice, Fla. and with a second office in downtown Sarasota, Fla., Gulf Coast Community Foundation has transformed the region through bold and proactive philanthropy for over 25 years. Serving the needs of the region as a partner in philanthropy, and leader in community initiatives, Gulf Coast has granted $490 million in the areas of: health and human services, civic and economic development, education, arts and culture, and the environment. Gulf Coast was named one of the “Best Nonprofits to Work For” nationally by The Nonprofit Times in 2010, 2011, 2017, 2020, and 2021. To learn more visit GulfCoastCF.org and follow us on Facebook at @GulfCoastCommFnd.
About Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation
The Charles and Margery Barancik family has long believed in the power of philanthropy to shape our world and enrich the lives of all people. It was the expression of this belief that led them in 2014 to establish Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation—a private, family foundation located in Sarasota, Florida. Barancik Foundation creates initiatives and awards grants in Sarasota and beyond in the areas of education, humanitarian causes, arts and culture, the environment, and medical research. For more information, visit www.barancikfoundation.org.
About Wingspan Productions, Inc.
In an age of global anxiety, discord and polarization, Wingspan Productions creates powerful films of hope and resilience, films that encourage communities to connect across differences and forge new ways of listening and understanding. Wingspan, created with the support of a founding grant from the Daniel E. Offutt III Charitable Trust, is a 501c3, nonprofit organization formed to write, create and distribute inspirational and educational films for public, educational, and artistic purposes. For more information about Wingspan Productions and Bridge to the Other Side, email KT Curran (kt@wingspanproductions.org) or call Wingspan at 323-422-0857.