Recent funding from Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation reinforces the organization’s focus on student success, family enrichment, and environmental stewardship. This is the largest grant cycle in the Foundation’s eight-year history, bringing its total investment into the Sarasota area to more than $90 million.
“Chuck and Margie knew there would always be people in need in our community, but they also knew there would always be people willing to help them,” says Teri A Hansen, President|CEO of Barancik Foundation. “We are fortunate they believed enough in this community and established their philanthropic legacy here.”
The list of grants include:
Working Hand-in-Hand to Reinforce the System of Early Learning
A $1.25 million grant to support Barancik Foundation’s key partners’ efforts to establish an early learning initiative. Barancik Foundation is researching Sarasota County’s system of early learning to understand how best to invest in this vital sector. Early learning centers are the converging point of many of our society’s biggest challenges and greatest opportunities. These centers hold promise to stimulate intergenerational cycles of opportunity.
Creating More Access to Child Therapy Opportunities and Parent Education
A $1 million grant to Forty Carrots Family Center to support increased access to child therapy and parent education services. In 2016, Barancik Foundation helped Forty Carrots start its Child and Family Therapy Program and hire the first director of clinical services. Mental health has become a pillar of Forty Carrots’ work, and every year the therapy program serves more families. This grant will help Forty Carrots meet the growing demand for mental health services by adding more therapists and partnering with more organizations in the community.
Partnering to Help Save the Planet
A $600,000 grant to the Partners for Green Places initiative for Phase 2 of the initiative to implement water and energy efficiency improvements at local nonprofits. Money saved on utility bills can then be reinvested into the organization’s primary mission. Partners for Green Places include the city of Sarasota and Sarasota County, the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, and the Gulf Coast Community Foundation. The pilot program, seeded by the Partners for Places matching grant program, a joint project of The Funders’ Network and the Urban Sustainability Directors Network, grew to include the William G. and Marie Selby Foundation and Community Foundation of Sarasota County.
Supporting Local News
A $598,750 grant to support a Community News Collaborative initiative for start-up funding. Funds will be used to support journalistic efforts around important community issues such as education, the environment, and health, as the news industry continues to struggle with a shrinking workforce.
Boosting Early Learning Opportunities
A $408,000 grant to YMCA of Southwest Florida to increase the quality and capacity of its early learning academies. Funds will provide the resources needed to lay the foundation to develop an early learning model that addresses the critical issues the child development field is facing. Investments will be made in staff and for an early learning accreditation program.
Building Bridges for Minority-Owned Businesses
A $320,000 grant to The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Foundation for the second Opportunities for All program. The program is a continuation of the highly successful pilot launched last year. It serves as a help- desk/navigator for small and minority-owned businesses to grow as well as pairing interns with local companies in the Sarasota/Manatee region. Small grants and funding will assist with helping these small businesses thrive in the community.
Renewing Educators’ Commitment to Teaching
A $300,000 grant for Barancik Foundation to pilot the Time to Inspire Margie’s Educators (TIME) Initiative. To honor Margie Barancik’s chosen profession, the initiative will support as many as 25 grants to Sarasota County School District educators each totaling up to $12,000 to help refresh and renew their commitment to teaching.
Addressing Affordable Housing
A $275,000 grant to establish an affordable housing initiative to help support regional strategies to address the housing crisis. Support would in part fund a policy analyst position focused on Sarasota, Manatee, and DeSoto counties at Florida Policy Institute that would focus on local government policies and issues. FPI is an independent, nonpartisan and nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing state policies and budgets that improve the economic mobility and quality of life for all Floridians.
Keeping Kids Safe and Engaged in Learning
A $250,000 grant to the Boys & Girls Club of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties for flexible funding to support the organization’s operations, programming, and scholarships for students.
Repairing the Sea
A $250,000 grant to Tikkun HaYam for the Repair the Sea program. The organization partners with faith-based institutions to help them adopt earth-friendly practices as well as organizes scuba diving events with the purpose of cleaning up trash and restoring coral habitats. Funds will be used to help the organization engage the community in our area.
Expanding Mental Health Services
A $200,000 grant to The Academy at Glengary for the Wellness Within Reach program. Funds will be used to identify and address ways in which to increase physical health outcomes for individuals living with mental health challenges. Funds will also help the organization during its expansion into Manatee County.
Supporting the Needs of Manatee County
A $150,000 grant to Manatee Community Foundation for strategic support in Manatee County. Funds will be used to support the operations of Manatee Community Foundation and Barancik Foundation work to create positive results in partnership with nonprofits and donors in Manatee County.
Providing More Mental Health Services to Veterans
A $150,000 grant to Operation Warrior Resolution to provide innovative, holistic treatments for mental health to veterans and their family members; alleviating PTSD, anxiety and other mental health related issues. Funds will also be used to assist the organization hire a full-time Chief Clinical Officer.
Providing Low-cost Reproductive Healthcare and Outreach Education
A $140,000 grant to Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida to support family planning and prevention services and expand the Peer Education Program for young adults.
Reducing Juvenile Recidivism
A $125,000 grant to Teen Court of Sarasota to help the organization build capacity and meet the needs of Teen Court clients and families through mental health counseling, financial assistance, transportation and other services.
Making STEAM Education Fun, Accessible, and Effective
A $120,000 grant to FUNducation to expand their work and expose more students of color to what’s possible in science, engineering, the arts, and math. Funding will allow the organization to expand paid staff to deliver programs (including contracted teacher/educator support), provide additional training/guidance sessions for parents, purchase supplies for programming, and dramatically improve effectiveness.
Conserving Land and Protecting Our Water Shed
A $100,000 grant to Sarasota Audubon to advance conservation efforts at the Quad Parcels. Once completed, the Quad parcels will be used for educational and interpretive walks and talks on environmental issues facing Sarasota and beyond.
Building Pathways to Higher Education in DeSoto County
A $75,000 grant to Links to Success for efforts to support college and career readiness programs for students in DeSoto County. Funding will be used to build staff capacity and bolster community partnerships.
Meeting the Most Important Need
A $75,000 grant to Meals On Wheels of Sarasota County to support its meal service program for homebound and vulnerable individuals.
Annual Commitments
An additional $2 million in grants was awarded for annual operating costs and programs of organizations that Chuck and Margie held close to their heart. Organizations include:
- All Faiths Food Bank
- American Jewish Committee
- Asolo Repertory Theatre
- Chicago Botanic Garden
- Children First
- Education Foundation of Sarasota County
- Embracing Our Differences
- Girls Inc. of Sarasota County
- Harvest House
- Jewish Family & Children’s Services
- Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago
- The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee
- Library Foundation for Sarasota County
- Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
- Mote Marine Laboratory
- Museum of Science and Industry of Chicago
- National Multiple Sclerosis Society
- Ravinia Music Festival
- Ringling College of Art and Design
- Sarasota County School District
- Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation
- Sarasota Orchestra
- Sarasota Opera
- Temple Emanu-el
- The Chicago Lighthouse
- The Ringling Museum
- The Sarasota Ballet
