BUSINESS OBSERVER

+ The Sarasota Open takes to the courts by serving local charities
The Sarasota Open is more than just a tennis tournament. It also serves to local charities throughout the week.

On Sunday, USA National Miss Florida Pre-Teen Madisyn Mays made an appearance promoting the Warren Backpack Foundation, which provides supplemental food to area children, picking up where state-funded programs leave off. Visit warrenbackpackprogram.com or call 727-560-0095 for more information.
Destiny the Panda represented The Panda Foundation at a booth set up at the event. The Panda Foundation uses sports, mainly tennis, as a vehicle to help at-risk children look beyond their immediate circumstances toward a brighter future. Visit pandafdn.com or call 538-7115 for more information.

During the open, Taking Back Lives hosted a silent and online auction. The organization provides opportunity and empowerment, through education projects, to the people of Malawi, Africa—one of the world’s poorest nations. Visit takingbacklives.org or call 404-5825 for more information.

+ Library to begin summer Schedule May 1
Starting Tuesday, May 1, The Longboat Key Library will begin its summer hours. The library is located at 555 Bay Isles Road and will be open from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday until Oct. 31.