Community Foundation honors partners, community at Better Together

Although Jonathan Parks and Kathryn Parks may not be involved with the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, that didn’t stop the couple from heading out to the charitable organization's block party-style event, Better Together, on Thursday. 

The Parks, who live downtown, decided to come down and see what the event was all about. “This is such a great cause. They do so much for the community,” Kathryn Parks said.

It was exactly the kind of turnout the foundation was hoping for when it decided to host the event, which closed down a block of State Street for the evening. 

Kelly Borgia, a strategic engagement manager for the foundation, said the event, which celebrates donors and nonprofit partners of the foundation, has not been open to the public in the past and was always held in a dinner format since it began in 2006.

“We decided to open up the event to the full community and really celebrate community, collaboration and connection,” she said. 

The many attractions found at the event included a community art piece provided by local artist Brandon Thrift, a booth for submitting submit "random acts of kindness" to community helpers, music provided by DJ Lira with live instrumental accompaniment, numerous food trucks, and circus performers from The Circus Arts Conservatory making the rounds. 

Chief Operating Officer Veronica Thames said the event was an opportunity to celebrate that the foundation’s Philanthropy Center in Sarasota is an extension of its headquarters in Venice as well as an extension of the infrastructure of the foundation’s partners.

“Many nonprofit partners do not have space downtown,” she said. “We want to open our doors to the community and nonprofits.”

Sarasota Mayor Kyle Battie said the event allowed for members from different backgrounds to come together. 

“As it says in their moniker, ‘community,’ that's what this is about — bringing communities together, bringing people together from all walks of life, all ethnicities and socioeconomic groups. They’re just out here having a good time and enjoying themselves and walking and talking amongst each other.”

“We are grateful to our community partners and donors for working together to make our community a better place,” Thames said. “Today is just an opportunity to come and celebrate not only Gulf Coast Community Foundation, but the impact all our partners and donors have in the Sarasota region.”