Community Spotlight Community Spotlight: Lakewood Ranch Community Fund and Northern Trust Celebrate Local Women

BRADENTON — The Lakewood Ranch Community Fund and Northern Trust held the third annual ladies-only celebration honoring the philanthropic members of local women’s giving circles. Nearly 80 guests gathered for the GALentine’s Day event on Tuesday, February 10, 2015, at The Lake Club in Lakewood Ranch, where they presented a donation of $900 to Turning Points, a non-profit organization that provides, coordinates and facilitates services to the homeless and those at risk of becoming homeless in Manatee County.

“These fabulous women are real difference-makers for our community,” said Marilyn Howard, Executive Director of the Lakewood Ranch Community Fund. “Together, they pool their resources, talents and passions to help support a variety of local causes and programs.”

The women who attended the GALentine’s Day event received gift bags from SAKS Fifth Avenue, and were entered into a chance drawing to win a stunning heart-shaped ruby and diamond necklace, courtesy of Grapevine Communications Advertising Agency. Guest presenter and Sisterhood For Good giving circle founding donor and advisor Angela Massaro-Fain spoke to the group about the substantial growth of the giving circle program and its impact on local organizations. Additionally, 18 tickets were sold for the March 21, 2015, Mad Hatter Gala, the annual event benefitting Lakewood Ranch Community Fund’s grants and programs.

Lakewood Ranch Women’s Giving Circles are a dynamic group of women bonded by friendship, shared interests and values in supporting organizations and programs in need. Each circle must have at least 10 members and commit to establishing a $10,000 minimum endowed fund to be a part of the Founders’ 50 of the Lakewood Ranch Community Fund. A new women’s giving circle formed at the GALentine’s Day event, which brings the total to six circle groups in Lakewood Ranch and The Lake Club. Membership ranges from 10 to more than 40 women for each group.

About the Lakewood Ranch Community Fund

The Lakewood Ranch Community Fund was created as a charitable fund under the larger umbrella of the Manatee Community Foundation. Its mission is to enhance the quality of life in and near Lakewood Ranch by promoting philanthropy, connecting the charitable interests of donors with the ongoing needs of the community, and granting funds. For more information, visit LWRfund.org or call 941.556.5448.

Grapevine Communications provides full-service advertising, marketing and public relations services to clients nationwide. The firm is the most award-winning advertising agency in Sarasota, Florida, and the surrounding areas. Recent accolades include the 2014 Small Business of the Year by the Manatee Chamber of Commerce; the 2014 Best Marketing/PR Agency by SRQ Magazine readers; and the 2010 Frank G. Berlin, Sr. Small Business of the Year by the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce. For more information on Grapevine Communications, contact John Butzko at Jbutzko@grapeinc.com or 941-351-0024.

Left to right: Diane Brune, Debbie Vincent, Molly Van Lue, Ruth Harshman, & Carole Booher