SYC Cares becomes 501(c)(3) foundation

Stephanie Feltz, the philanthropy and special projects coordinator at Sarasota Yacht Club, said members have long valued giving back to the community while enjoying social events together. 

Early on, when members formed the fundraising arm of the club in 2017, it made sense to work with other organizations to coordinate the structural side of fundraising. This allowed members to put everything they raise toward benefiting local charities. 

"At the time, it was a really good decision for us," Feltz said.

However, members have ramped up their efforts in recent years, and they made the decision to turn the 20-member committee into an official 501(c)(3) foundation.

"Since our beginnings, we have awarded $1.4 million to local organizations," she said, adding that she looks forward to what the future may hold with their investment in a 501(c)(3).

One of the group's main events is the "Community Connections" grant program, which took place on Jan. 15 this year. SYC members nominate worthy causes, and, by vote, they select the top three projects to award $100,000.

This year's top awardees were Project 180, Sarasota Teen Court and The Payton Wright Foundation.

The remaining seven organizations that made it to the final round also received $2,500 each.

Feltz said having the internal leadership to lead their fundraising will hopefully lead to even more opportunities to give back when the need arises. For example, members raised $200,000 to support hurricane recovery efforts.

That support extends beyond finances. Feltz said the committee prepared meals in the SYC kitchen to distribute among residents at Aloha Mobile Home Park, which was hard hit by the storms.

"We went door to door and delivered over 1,000 meals there, and we became friends with a lot of residents," she said. "It was a wonderful relationship we were able to develop."

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One of their largest fundraising events in the year is "Casino for a Cause." This year, they broke their record, raising nearly $430,000 in one evening.

Although the group coordinates large grant donations, Feltz said it also appreciates giving back in small ways. 

Two years ago, SYC Cares started a "Birthday in a Bag" program, which gifts families everything needed to host a child's birthday party.

"It's one of my favorite programs," she added. "A lot of families have to prioritize putting food on the table, so we can step in and help give the kids that experience. We do individual bags with cake mix, frosting, sprinkles, balloons, a cake pan and a few gifts."

The club currently distributes 20 bags a month. But like the other fundraising efforts, Feltz said she looks forward to seeing how members can expand their efforts with this new chapter in SYC Cares' history.