Sarasota Yacht Club raises awareness and funds for Mote Marine Laboratory
SYC Cares Under the Sea event attendees - photo credit Sarasota Yacht Club
What better place to support a local, homegrown, nonprofit, marine research and science education enterprise that has global impacts than at the beautiful Sarasota Yacht Club (SYC)? The Club’s philanthropic arm, SYC Cares, hosted their “Under the Sea” event on March 30, 2019.
Although many SYC members already participate in philanthropy, SYC Cares was recently created to make membership matter and connect the Club with the community. The group hosted their inaugural fundraising event in April 2018.
The March 30 “Under the Sea” event celebrated the newest SYC Cares grant recipients as well as presented the SYC Cares Anchor Award for Philanthropy. Event attendees also raised $56,450 for the SYC Cares fund at Community Foundation of Sarasota County. In turn, the J. Robert and Mary Jane Donnelly Fund at the Community Foundation matched donations 2-to-1 to support Mote Marine Laboratory, totaling $112,900.
Chip Gaylor, the honoree of Anchor Award and the donor advisor for the J. Robert Donnelly and Mary Jane Donnelly Fund at the Community Foundation of Sarasota, said, “We couldn’t think of a better way to support our local community than by providing support to Mote. They’re making huge progress in better understanding red tide and how to fight it, and we wanted to make sure they have the tools needed to do this important research and other vital science that will have broad impacts in southwest Florida and around the world.”
As a Guest Speaker at the event, Mote President & CEO Dr. Michael P. Crosby told the crowd about the multitude of Mote research and education initiatives. “Mote Marine Laboratory is proud to be a part of this community, and honored to have such enthusiastic support from SYC members. Tonight is a celebration for the powerful impacts of philanthropy. As an independent, nonprofit organization, our organization is built on three foundational pillars – passion for our science, partnership with our community and philanthropy that serves to fuel innovation. Philanthropic support from our community is what has enabled Mote to find answers to the threats our oceans face, such as coral disease, red tide, declining fisheries and so much more.”
“I’m so impressed by the passion for philanthropy our Club members have,” said Kimberly Bleach, SYC Cares Committee Co-chairwoman. “By bringing our philanthropy under one umbrella with SYC Cares, we are able to connect with nonprofits in our area making a difference in the environment, education and more, and provide impactful, collective support.”
About Sarasota Yacht Club:
Founded in 1926, Sarasota Yacht Club is one of the original 13 members of the Florida Council of Yacht Clubs. Totally rebuilt in 2010, SYC is a private year-round yacht club rich in history that is a favorite port of call for reciprocal members from all over the world. SYC offers a great range of amenities for both yachting and social members who span all ages and professional experience. The Club has been recognized as a Distinguished Elite Club by Boardroom Magazine and recently designated by the Club Leaders Forum as a ‘Platinum Club of America’-one of only 30 yacht clubs throughout the country. SYC Cares was recently created to make membership matter through connecting Club and community. For information, contact Stephania Feltz at 941-365-4191 or stephania.feltz@sarasotayachtclub.org.