Lakewood Ranch's 'visionary' honored by the Community Foundation

Rex Jensen, the Schroeder-Manatee Ranch president and CEO, has long been known for his eloquent ability to put his personal stamp on a situation.

So it was no different when Jensen accepted the 2025 C. John A. Clarke Humanitarian Award Nov. 13 at the Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club during The Soirée at the Ranch.

Jensen came to the front of a packed banquet room, looked at the crowd, which included some former C. John A. Clarke Humanitarian Award winners, along with Clarke himself, and admitted he wonders if he is worthy of such a lofty award.

"I am not qualified to chew the gum off your shoe," he said to the previous winners of the award.

But he quickly noted that, as a team, SMR, and the community as a whole, has created an amazing environment in Lakewood Ranch that has fostered humanitarianism and social welfare.

"We've been able to create one of the most wonderful communities in the United States," Jensen said. "This place is different. When I look at this room, this whole room built this."

Matt Walsh, the CEO and founder of the Observer Media Group, spoke about Jensen before he took the podium.

"You hear the expression that you should leave it better than the way you found it," Walsh said. "In this case, it is not even close. He has created a historic legacy.

"He took what once was a blank canvas, and he created a national shining star. And he has done all of this with the utmost integrity."

A video was played to honor Jensen and included comments from noted members of the community along with Jensen's coworkers.

"He is a visionary," said Maribeth Phillips, president and CEO of Meals on Wheels Plus-Manatee, of Jensen. "He sees it, and he makes it happen."

It was all made to happen during the crowning event of the Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation's 25th anniversary year. It seemed fitting that Jensen was presented with an award that was started after Clarke and SMR founded the nonprofit 25 years ago.

LWRCF Executive Director Kate Mulligan described her nonprofit as one that "connects donors, volunteers and causes."

"And tonight, we honor that legacy," she said.

She said the foundation has set a goal of doubling its grants to the community to $250,000 in 2026. She said it is a necessary quest as during the most recent grant cycle, the foundation received $180,000 in requests for aid from area nonprofits.