- April 29, 2024
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Matt DeMasi, Vince Marino, Sam Jeffcoat, Elizabeth Moore, Dom Marino and Jon Thaxton. Event guests created a stack of over 100 vertical oyster gardens for Oyster Boys Conservation.
Photo by Ian SwabyLondon Walsh, 8, Jaxon Walsh, 13, CJ Walsh, 9 and Kendall Walsh, 11.
Photo by Ian SwabyMegan Howell and Jennifer Johnston stand beside an oragami collage created by guests at the event.
Photo by Ian SwabyPiper Borgia-Howard, 5, chases a bubble, as Emilie Campos looks on.
Photo by Ian SwabyDenise Kowal and Bill Baranowski marvel at the bubbles.
Photo by Ian SwabyButterfly farmer Cathy Strong performs a butterfly release with Jayden Toth, 7, of Sarasota and Althea Stetler, 10 and Matthew Stetler, 5, of North Port.
Photo by Ian SwabyMarley McDonald, 4, releases a butterfly.
Photo by Ian SwabyEmory Arthur, 7 and Ellie Arthur, 9 perform a science experiment at the Suncoast Science Center table.
Photo by Ian SwabySnowden Mowry, 11, paints a "Better Together" mural on the digital graffiti wall.
Photo by Ian SwabyBlaise Ryndes of Spheres Bubble Show, a Tampa-based business featured on America's Got Talent.
Photo by Ian SwabyKen Parrish, Jennifer Wilson, Harriet Thompson and Gigi Sanchez peform an oragami activity at the Health & Human Services table.
Photo by Ian SwabyMaeve McLean, 2, Jack McLean, 3, and Beth McLean, enjoy some popcorn on the sidelines.
Photo by Ian SwabyMegan Howell, CEO of Second Heart Homes, said the Better Together Block Party by Gulf Coast Community Foundation proved true to its name.
At the event, which was held April 4, she found attendees were joining together effortlessly for the origami activity she was overseeing at the Health & Human Services table.
Those who had never done origami before were quickly becoming teachers for others, and by the end of the event, she was able to proudly display an origami collage.
"I think it was amazing. I couldn't have done it without everybody coming by and being curious," she said. "It was a community effort, and we are better together."
The collage was just one one of the sights at the event, which also featured bubble performers, a butterfly release, live music by Jah Movement and more.
The occasion marked the foundation's second year of hosting the block party-style event on State Street, which celebrates the ways community organizations are transforming Sarasota.
"It really provides access for folks who maybe otherwise wouldn't have access to the Community Foundation, so it is a way for us to either create new bonds or build stronger bonds," said Philip Lanham, CEO of Gulf Coast Community Foundation.
