Ranch Rotary selects grant recipients

The Lakewood Ranch Rotary Club's charitable giving programs topped the $1 million mark this year, in large part due to participation in November's Suncoast Food & Wine Fest.

Charities receiving funds raised at the festival will be honored at a special luncheon April 5, at the Polo Grill.

“Thirty local and international charities this year alone will benefit from our member-driven fund raising efforts led by the Wine Fest which this year attracted more than 1,800 visitors,” the club's President John Freeman said. “They enjoyed fine wines and great foods and helped raise more than $100,000.”

All net proceeds from the Wine Fest are donated each year to local charities through a grant process. This year, 33 charities were selected from a total of 70 applicants.

Selected charities include, but are not limited to, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Suncoast, Community Haven for Adults & Children with Disabilities, the Humane Society of Manatee County, the Literacy Council of Manatee County and Manatee Children's Services.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].