Grants Database
Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation | 1515 Ringling Boulevard, Suite 500, Sarasota, FL 34236 | Fax: 941.343.2912
Grants Database
Project Nature Bridge
Imagine summer break without parks, waterways and other green spaces. Welcome to an all-too-typical reality for children when school gets out. Bored, uninspired, dormant.
In 2017, Barancik Foundation dreamed big to bridge the gap for low-income students interested in science to organizations with access to Sarasota’s best outdoor experiences. Project Nature Bridge was born.
“The best and richest classroom is roofed only by the sky”
– Margaret McMillan
In partnership with Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Mote Marine Laboratory and Asolo Repertory Theatre, a summer initiative was established for members of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Sarasota County, Girls Inc., and Laurel Civic Association to explore outdoor learning, natural wonders, and their relationship to the environment.
Designed to immerse kids in environmental education, two dozen of sixth and seventh graders participated in nature reflection, conservation, and environmental learning opportunities.
Like nature, the initiative continues to bloom and adapt to its environment. Barancik Foundation continues to support youth-serving staff in developing curriculum, beyond the summer field trips, that they can use at their facilities throughout the school year.
Through our partnership with the Museum of Science and Industry of Chicago, preeminent trainers in their field will instruct local youth science educators on trends and best practices across the country to engage youth in environmental learning opportunities and conservation all year round.
A Holistic Family Approach
A child’s success begins with the parent. That’s why when children are enrolled at Children First, parents and caregivers are welcomed into the family as well. The organization’s Families First Institute is aimed at empowering parents to be a positive role model for their child—and giving them the resources to do it.
While children receive enriching care throughout the day, these family strengthening services offer parents access to vocational training, parenting workshops, and employment opportunities. However, as word about these services spreads and need keeps growing, the current program structure has reached capacity.
A six-year, transformational investment of $1,251,000 from Barancik Foundation provides Children First the opportunity to expand the Families First Institute and hire new Vocational Family Advocates. The Advocates focus closely on barriers that hinder families’ economic mobility and work to elevate overall family well-being by working one-on-one with the parents.
Now and into the future, parents will be provided wrap-around support to become their child’s best teacher, while having the help they need to achieve their own goals and dreams.
Always Remember Your Pride
Imagination has the power to change lives, but it needs the right environment to flourish.
Unmatched in the region, Florida Studio Theatre School offers opportunities for children to discover their creativity through year-round workshops and summer camps. They believe that all students should share these experiences. Yet when a family is struggling financially, artistic classes are the last thing on their priority list.
Knowing creative learning experiences benefit students in the long-run, our funding fills a need for scholarships to make theatre camp affordable and accessible to as many children as possible. The partnership provides an opportunity for the Theatre School to create a culture where everybody is invited, especially those from low-income homes.
Furthermore, the support allows FST to expand its VIP Performing Arts Camp, helping youth with physical, mental, and emotional challenges find their voice. Now every child will be able to expand their hearts and minds, make lifelong friendships, and join a nurturing theatre community.
Tom Knight
Special Adviser
Sheriff Tom Knight is the 10th Sheriff of Sarasota County, serving since January 6, 2009. To pursue this office, he left a 20 year career with the Florida Highway Patrol where he held the position of Troop Commander, managing a seven-county region with more than 300 employees, a central communications center and a $20 million budget.
Sheriff Knight has lived in Florida since 1973 when his family moved to Sarasota County from western Pennsylvania. He graduated from Venice High School in 1981, attended Manatee Junior College and later transferred to Florida State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Criminology in 1986. Sheriff Knight and his wife Tracy have two daughters and currently reside in Venice.
Margery L. Barancik
In Memorium
Margie Barancik was a founder and vice president of the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, established in 2014. She had a passion for helping the underserved, particularly children and families and had served on numerous boards that support her passion.
Margie attended Smith College where she earned a B.A. in Elementary Education and went on to earn a M.A. in Deaf Education from Columbia University. Her schooling led to a career teaching children who were deaf and young adults with multiple handicaps. After becoming a mother of three, she focused on helping her community.
Margie served on the board of the Glencoe Junior Kindergarten and was a member of the Glencoe PTA. She was a board member of the Mary Lawrence Chapter of Jewish Children’s Bureau, the Greater Illinois Chapter of the National MS Society and the board of the Jewish Family & Children’s Service of Sarasota-Manatee. Her other volunteer work included chairing and co-chairing the Highland Park Hospital benefit galas and co-chairing the Jewish Family & Children’s Service gala.
Margie had been married to Chuck Barancik since 1960 and enjoyed spending time with her two sons, one daughter and three granddaughters.
Charles L. Barancik
In Memorium
Chuck Barancik was the founder and vice chair of the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, established in 2014. He had a diverse background in accounting, private industry, and entrepreneurship and brought vast experience to his philanthropic endeavors.
Chuck earned a B.S. in Business Administration from Northwestern University and began his career as a Certified Public Account with Miller Copper & Co. In 1956, he entered private industry, and for over 30 years, he purchased and operated 10 manufacturing companies. There were three major companies his family’s portfolio: Justrite Manufacturing Company, Mayline Company, and Hamilton Industries.
Justrite was the first company the Barancik family acquired in 1965. Half of the company’s sales were carbide lamps and lanterns, while the rest was in a limited line of fire prevention equipment. Chuck’s vision was to become the foremost force in fire prevention and he credits the company’s dedicated management team for achieving dominance in this niche market. Federal Signal purchased Justrite in 1994. Next came Mayline, an office furniture manufacturer, which was acquired in 1975, and sold in 2007, to Robert Baird Venture Capital. The third major company owned by the Barancik family was a laboratory solutions company and office furniture manufacturer called Hamilton Industries. They owned it from 1982 to 1992, at which time it was purchased by Fisher Scientific.
These companies grew substantially over the years and great recognition is given to the contributions of their outstanding management teams. Chuck instituted a program of paying out at least 25 percent of each year’s earnings in the form of bonuses and defined benefit plans—often times reaching the maximum allowed by statute in profit sharing fund contributions. He is particularly proud of the fact that officers’ compensation was more than prevailing wages, resulting in tremendous loyalty and tenure among the members of the leadership teams.
Starting in the early 1990’s, all of the companies were sold in order to embark on a new career path. His focus transitioned to philanthropy where he gave generously of his time and resources. Chuck served on the boards of Asolo Repertory Theatre, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Ravinia Festival, and Sarasota Orchestra.
He and his wife, Margie, married since 1960, had many philanthropic passions. Of greatest interests, are the health and welfare of children and families, education, appreciation for the arts, and supporting medical research. Chuck and Margie established the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation to carry out their philanthropic vision in Sarasota, Florida, and beyond. They were keenly aware of the permanence of the Barancik Foundation and have entrusted its future care to their family and professional managers. It was Chuck’s sincere hope that they will carry out its mission to make a meaningful difference.
Rebecca Harris Barancik
Chair
Rebecca Harris Barancik has been honored to be chair of the Barancik Foundation since its inception in 2014. Originally from Hartford, CT, Rebecca holds a Ph.D. in Economics from The George Washington University and a B.A. in Economics from Georgetown University. She teaches Economics at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg, where she also co-leads the Women and Leadership Initiative. Rebecca is an active lay leader and Board member of Temple Beth-El in St. Petersburg. She also serves on the Executive Board of Tampa Bay’s Phi Beta Kappa Alumni Association.
Both professionally and personally, Rebecca is passionate about promoting equity, providing educational opportunities, and protecting the environment – and the interplay between and among these issues. At the Foundation, she feels fortunate to carry out Margie and Chuck’s vision to help make a difference in these areas as well as many others. Rebecca lives in St. Petersburg, FL, with her husband, Scott, where they are raising one daughter and two cats.
First 1,000 Days Partners
A Bond of Love
All Faiths Food Bank
All Star Children’s Foundation
Care Net Manasota Pregnancy Center
CenterPlace Health
Child Protection Center
Children First
Coastal Behavioral Healthcare
Community Foundation of Sarasota County
Early Learning Coalition of Sarasota County
Easter Seals of Southwest Florida
First 1,000 Days Florida
First Step of Sarasota
Florida Association of Health Start Coalitions
Florida Center
Florida Department of Children & Families
Florida Department of Health
Forty Carrots Family Center
FSU Center for Prevention and Early Intervention
Girls Inc. of Sarasota County
Glasser/Schoenbaum Human Services Center
Gulf Central Early Steps
Gulf Coast Community Foundation
Harvest House
Healthy Start of Sarasota County
In-Your-Nest Home Health Services
Jewish Family & Children’s Service
John Hopkins All Children’s Hospital
Manatee Community Action Agency
March of Dimes
Mommy Magazine
My Choice Pregnancy Center
Nurturing Touch
Operation PAR
Parenting Matters
Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida
Pregnancy Solutions
RADical Healing, Inc.
Riverview High School Teen Parent Program
Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center (SPARCC)
Sarasota County Health and Human Services
Sarasota County Libraries
Sarasota County Schools
Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office
Sarasota Medical Pregnancy Center
Sarasota Memorial Hospital
Sarasota YMCA Safe Children’s Coalition
SOLVE Maternity Homes
Step Up Suncoast
St. Jude’s Catholic Church
Suncoast Partnership to End Homelessness
The Florida Center for Early Childhood
United Way Suncoast
Women’s Resource Center
Teri A Hansen
President | CEO
Teri A Hansen manages the daily work of the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation as it strives to make a difference in Sarasota and beyond. The Barancik Foundation was established by Chuck and Margie Barancik in 2014, and Teri was hired as its first employee in July 2015.
Teri has more than 25 years of experience in philanthropic leadership. Prior to joining the Barancik Foundation, she was president and CEO of Gulf Coast Community Foundation. During her 13-year tenure the foundation awarded nearly $200 million in grants and initiatives. She was vice president for gift planning and donor relations at The Cleveland Foundation, the oldest and one of the largest community foundations in the United States. She also worked as vice president of external relations for Central Indiana Community Foundation and was the founding president of Legacy Fund of Hamilton County (Indiana).
Teri volunteers her leadership nationally, statewide, and regionally. Currently, she serves on the Ringling College of Art and Design board and its trustee committee, the Florida Philanthropic Network board, where she is secretary/treasurer, the board of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens and its governance committee, the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce board and its executive committee, and a director on the board of Gulfside Bank. Her previous board leadership includes, Council on Foundations and its public policy committee, chairing the Council on Foundations Community Foundation Leadership Team, chairing Community Foundations of Florida’s board, and serving on Florida Chamber Foundation’s board and investment committee. She was also on the Sarasota County Economic Development Corporation board and USF Sarasota-Manatee Community Leadership Council.
Teri is honored frequently for her professional and personal contributions to the community. She received the International Women’s Forum “Women Who Make a Difference Award;” State College of Florida President’s Award of Distinction; Tampa Bay Partnership Chair’s Cup for Excellence in Regionalism; Girls Inc. of Sarasota County “She Knows Where She’s Going” Award; and AJC Civic Achievement Award. Teri was named a “Best Boss” by 941CEO magazine, one of the “50 Most Powerful People on the Gulf Coast” by Gulf Coast Business Review, and to SRQ Magazine’s Women in Business Leadership Circle.
A San Diego native, Teri earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from San Diego State University. Upon graduating, she served as a public affairs officer in the U.S. Air Force. Teri is an alumnus of Harvard Business School, having completed its Advanced Management Program.
Social Security Outreach, Access and Recovery
There’s no simple blueprint for creating a system of care for homeless adults—but making use of existing dollars is a no-brainer.
Disability and Social Security benefits are available for many who are homeless or at risk of it, but applying can be daunting. The process is difficult, extensive, and mistakes create year-long roadblocks. Local nonprofits have done their best to assist eligible people yet waiting lists have grown to more than 900 names.
With Barancik Foundation support, Suncoast Partnership to End Homelessness launched the SOAR (SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery) Team program to streamline assistance services and improve outcomes. Three years of funding will provide a well-trained team of staff dedicated to outreach and case management, collaborating with a consortium of organizations who provide homeless services.
Specialists will now be able to accelerate opportunities for hope and resolve.
While the program will directly benefit those needing help, the investment will generate a greater return. By streamlining and increasing the amount of available dollars coming in from the Federal and State level, local philanthropic dollars will be saved and leveraged to provide expanded services such as housing, healthcare and mental health treatment.
Reversing Injustice
Most teenagers revel in the idea of spending a night over at a friend’s house—but the reality is far from a slumber party for those who rely on it. For many foster children, nights are spent cycling between couches or sleeping out of cars. They just want two things: independence and a stable home.
Now imagine discovering your own mom has stolen your identity and destroyed your credit. Suddenly your dreams of adulthood are roadblocked. Denied housing, college loans, and even a cellphone plan, where do you to turn for help?
In the Florida foster care system, the only party not entitled to an attorney is the child, but Barancik Foundation believes that no child should juggle complex legal nightmares alone.
In partnership with LegalAid of Manasota, a three-year, $540,000 grant launched the Legal Lifeline for Youth program. With attorneys whose singular mission is to be the voice for the voiceless, foster children ages 14 and up in the 12th Judicial Circuit now receive annual Legal Health Check-Ups to address unmet legal needs such as accessing medical and educational benefits, obtaining official documents, and mitigating fraud. Elevated issues are addressed in court, free of charge to the teen. The legal aid is timely, individualized and effective.
The safety net aims to ultimately prevent homelessness and ensure financial stability for teenagers as they transition out of foster care. Now with success of the program growing, the pilot will expand partnerships with organizations like Guardian Ad Litem, Harvest House, JFCS, the Sarasota County Bar Association, and others to increase referrals and create greater pathways to independence.
Gerry Lublin
Director
Gerry Lublin is an accomplished attorney, served in the United States Army Reserve and is a dedicated volunteer. Mr. Lublin attended Case Western Reserve University where he earned his undergraduate and law degrees. He practiced law for thirty years in Hartford, Connecticut specializing in civil trial law, arbitration, family mediation and Superior Court Special Master Work, for which he received two Certificates of Commendation from the Connecticut Judicial Department. Upon retiring to Sarasota, Mr. Lublin remained active in the legal community as a Certified Florida Family Mediator and member of the Florida Academy of Professional Mediators.
Mr. Lublin is deeply passionate about youth mentoring. In Hartford, he volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters and served as a juvenile court volunteer public defender. He frequently lectures in schools on the Bill of Rights and Constitution. He continues to mentor youth in Sarasota as the coach of Booker High School’s Speech & Debate Team and has coached the Moot Court & Mock Trial teams. He teaches a Street Law Course at Booker and has volunteered as a tutor at the Boys & Girls Club of Sarasota County.
Hosana Fieber
Director
Hosana Fieber is the Chief Financial Officer at Tervis Tumbler and also leads the company’s sustainability mission. Prior to this position she was Chief Financial Officer at ASO, a private label bandage manufacturer in Sarasota. Hosana is from Miami, Florida, where her accounting career began. She received her Bachelor’s at the University of Miami, and later she attended Florida State University where she earned an MBA. She was in public accounting for six years, working with manufacturing companies as well as non-profit organizations, before coming into the private sector. Hosana enjoys working on community projects, as she has been involved with organizations like Rotary club, Habitat for Humanity, and Girl Scouts.
Testing with Kelly
I am a popup!
21st Century Learning Initiative
Today’s life and work environments require more than content knowledge alone. That’s why the Barancik Foundation, in partnership with Gulf Coast Community Foundation and Sarasota County School District, is committed to transforming the way teachers teach and students learn. The Barancik Foundation’s investment of $3.7 million in the 21st Century Learning Initiative has converted 319 Sarasota County middle school classrooms into high-tech learning environments, shifting from the traditional teacher-centered model into a student-centric one.
The transformations include Science, Math, English Language and Social Studies classes. Equipped with state-of-the-art technology and empowered by training, teachers now deliver tech-rich lessons that encourage teamwork and problem-solving among their digital native students. These tech-active classes are guided by the teacher rather than the textbook, and better prepare students for the modern working environment.
Deborah K. Hanson
Director and Corporate Secretary
Early on, Deb was mostly satisfied with her employment in administrative areas of finance and education in public schools and technical colleges; in a U.S.D.A. agency’s conservation/ environmental protection program; in assistance to senior executive management of a Fortune 500 company.
Then, over 37 years ago, Deb came onboard with Charles Barancik and entered the fascinating world of the streamlined Barancik organization of privately-held companies and of entrepreneurship. She has never looked back from this welcome, diverse environment!
Deb is an essential member of the Barancik team, as controller/office manager, assistant and confidant, and has continuously been entrusted with a myriad of responsibilities, including but not limited to, administration, personnel, accounting, investment reporting.
In 2014, again rewarding work evolved with the activation of the Charles and Margery Barancik Foundation. Deb’s early years set the desire to help others whenever possible. As a Board Director, she is honored to be a part of the Foundation as it works to help those in need and to fulfill its mission to make a difference in Sarasota and beyond.
Charlie Huisking
Director
Before retiring in 2006, Charlie Huisking was an award-winning journalist for 33 years with the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Early in his career, he covered a wide range of topics, from local and state politics to environmental issues, before focusing on arts and culture. As the Herald-Tribune’s senior arts writer and columnist, he chronicled Sarasota’s evolution as an arts center.
A Sarasota native, Huisking is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame. In addition to his service on the Barancik Foundation, Huisking is a board member of the Asolo Repertory Theatre and the Library Foundation for Sarasota County. He is also a director of his family foundation, the Huisking Foundation.
Michael Gronli
Vice President and Treasurer
Mike Gronli is an award winning CPA. He worked with privately-held businesses and owners for ten years at the public accounting firm of Arthur Andersen & Co., specializing in income, estate and fiduciary tax planning. He has been employed by the Barancik family since 1987, with the following areas of responsibility: income taxes; estate, trust and gift matters; liaison for the family with the management of numerous businesses; retirement plans; acquisitions and divestitures; employee benefits; insurance; investments; philanthropy; confidant and advisor. He has headed up the Barancik family office since 2000.
Patrick Dorsey
Director
Patrick Dorsey is regional vice president of the Coastal Publishing Group, GateHouse Media and publisher of the Herald-Tribune Media Group, which includes the Herald-Tribune, www.heraldtribune.com and multiple other websites and niche publications. The Herald-Tribune Media Group is located in Sarasota, FL. The Coastal Publishing Group consists of ten daily newspapers and related print and digital operations in Florida and Alabama.
Patrick received his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA, and went on to become a certified public accountant in Virginia. He began his career as an auditor with The Auditor of Public Accounts for the Commonwealth of Virginia.
He started in publishing with Gannett in 1993 as an internal auditor at their corporate offices in Virginia. He then served as a controller for Tucson Newspapers, Inc., in Tucson, AZ; director of finance for Army Times Publishing Company in Springfield, VA; group controller for Gannett Offset, also in Springfield, VA; director of finance of FLORIDA TODAY and group controller of the Gannett South newspaper group headquartered in Melbourne, FL. He came to the Gulf Coast from Tallahassee where he served as president and publisher of the Tallahassee Democrat from 2005 until 2012.
Patrick was named publisher of the Herald-Tribune Media Group in October, 2012. He was named the 2014 Publisher of the Year by then current owners, Halifax Media Group. Under his leadership the newspaper has won numerous state, regional and national awards, including a 2016 Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting and being named a 2015 Editor & Publisher 10 Newspapers That Do It Right.
Patrick sits on the boards of the Charles and Margery Barancik Foundation, Community Foundation of Sarasota County, The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, the Sarasota County Economic Development Corporation (current Chairman), and the Southern Newspaper Publishers Association. He is a former Chairman of the Florida Press Association and former trustee of the First Amendment Foundation.
He and his wife Kecia have two sons and a daughter: Connor, Griffin and Makenna.