Longboat Key Garden Club grows local grants and scholarship

The Longboat Key Garden Club is blooming, and not just in terms of members.

On April 18, the club gave out $48,000 worth of grants and scholarships, a number that surpasses amounts from all previous years.

“It’s inspiring, and it’s incredible,” club President Susan Phillips said.

The grants and scholarships were awarded during the club’s annual meeting and luncheon at Joan M. Durante Park. Club members, grant and scholarship recipients and other supporters gathered under the wooden shelter and mingled before Phillips called the meeting to order. Along with giving out grants and scholarships, the club members voted on their new budget, now $6,000 larger thanks to Michael J. Renick & Co./ Mangrove Realty Assoc. Inc., and voted in their new officers.

Twelve local schools and organizations received grants totaling $22,000. Eight students received scholarships totaling $25,000. Sally and Sam Shapiro Babies and Children’s Medical Center and ROAR Children’s Reading Program received $1,000.

From conducting research abroad to establishing medicinal gardens, the scholarship recipients already have plans for how to use their scholarship money. Alexander McClure, a biology student at University of South Florida, plans to study abroad in Costa Rica and research plants. He remembered hearing about the trip during his freshman year and knowing it was something he wanted to do. This scholarship will help him do that.

“I was inspired by the Costa Rica [trip], so I hope I can inspire students the same way,” he said.