Philanthropist seeds matching fund with $250,000 promise

Serial charitable donor and philanthropist Hugh Culverhouse Jr. has initiated a $250,000 matching challenge grant effort to expand emergency assistance for Sarasota County residents struggling to cover basic expenses.

With a goal of raising $500,000 or more, the CEO of Palmer Ranch Holdings established a dollar-for-dollar match to support Church of the Redeemer’s Culverhouse Benevolence Fund, which provides direct aid to individuals and families facing financial hardship. 

The fund was launched with a $200,000 gift from Culverhouse during last year’s federal government shutdown, when disruptions to SNAP and other programs affected many families.

“The cost of everyday life has gone up across the board,” Culverhouse said in a news release. “This is about making sure people have somewhere to turn when they come up short. I hope others will step up so we can maximize the impact of this effort.”

Since its launch, the fund has assisted Sarasota residents and supported local nonprofits, including Senior Friendship Centers, Girls Inc., Safe Children Coalition and St. Wilfred Episcopal Church Food Pantry. It has also provided groceries for families at Alta Vista Elementary School.

“This fund is about a community coming together to support one another in a time of crisis,” said the Rev. Charleston Wilson, rector of Church of the Redeemer, in the news release. “The matching effort is love in action and allows us to reach more families across our community without red tape or politics getting in the way.”

Donations to the fund may be made at OnRealm.org/RedeemerSarasota. Those in need of assistance may contact Church of the Redeemer by emailing to [email protected].