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Black Tie

The event committee and co-chairs of the 15th annnual Cooking for Wishes held on Feb. 20 at Circus Arts Conservatory
    By
  • Janet Combs
  • February 21, 2025
Make-A-Wish cooks up experiences at interactive dinner

The event raises funds for Make-A-Wish Southern Florida to grant wishes for children with critical illnesses.

  • Black Tie
Rangsook Yoon, Saoirse Ibarguen, Peggy Daiteh and Suzy Farbman
    By
  • Lori Sax
  • February 20, 2025
Guests solve murder mystery at SAM's Unconventional Evening

Sarasota Art Museum presented an interactive whodunnit for participants of the annual fundraiser.

  • Black Tie
General Director Richard Russell with Larry and Carol English
    By
  • Janet Combs
  • February 20, 2025
Sarasota Opera patrons revel in Moonlight & Melodies dinner

The second of the opera's dinner series transported guests to a Viennese feast worthy of Mozart.

  • Black Tie
Samantha Bennett, Abraham Feder and George Nickson
    By
  • Janet Combs
  • February 18, 2025
enSRQ serves up Prelude Soiree as pre-concert appetizer

The cocktail event gave new music supporters a bonus performance with special guest, cellist Abe Feder.

  • Black Tie
Sarasota Ballet Director Iain Webb, Deputy Executive Director Michelle Butler and Executive Director Joe Volpe at a black tie event.
    By
  • Janet Combs
  • February 17, 2025
Sarasota Ballet triumphs with tutus and turns at annual gala

The event, complete with cocktail hours, dining and dancing, also featured a performance by Sarasota Ballet dancers.

  • Black Tie
Together We Bloom co-chairs are Ellen Kopel-Puretz and Marilyn Lapidus
    By
  • Janet Combs
  • February 16, 2025
Healthy Start Coalition shares the love at Together We Bloom

The nonprofit's dinner was held at The Resilient Retreat.

  • Black Tie
Big and Little Sisters of the Year Hannah Bagnall and Samauria Doles and have been paired for almost six years.
    By
  • Janet Combs
  • February 16, 2025
Bigs and littles walk the runway for Big Brothers Big Sisters Suncoast

Program participants and supporters celebrate at annual Live Laugh Love Luncheon.

  • Black Tie
An "Under the Sea" candy bar at the Gulf Coast Heat Homecoming delivered everything needed for a sugar fix.
    By
  • Janet Combs
  • February 12, 2025
February is the sweetest month — for nonprofits as well as candyholics

The social season is in full swing this month with a plethora of happenings and tidbits from those who attend them.

  • Black Tie
Co-Chairs Ashley Kozel and Liebe Gamble
    By
  • Janet Combs
  • February 9, 2025
Selby Gardens' Orchid Ball celebrates new exhibit featuring George Harrison

The "Here Comes the Moon" theme kicked off Harrison's exhibit, which highlights his passion for gardening.

  • Black Tie
President Tommy Gregory receives the key to the college from Maverick the Manatee.
    By
  • Lori Sax
  • February 9, 2025
SCF inaugurates president at Avenues to the Future dinner

Guests turned out to State College of Florida to welcome Tommy Gregory officially.

  • Black Tie
Connie Davis, Arthur Wood and Lynn Morris
    By
  • Janet Combs
  • February 9, 2025
Ann Patchett espouses importance of libraries at Library Foundation luncheon

The award-winning author spoke at the annual Love Our Libraries luncheon Feb. 7.

  • Black Tie
Bishop Frank Dewane, event chair Bridget Spiess, Giovanna Barrios and Chad Turnbull
    By
  • Janet Combs
  • February 3, 2025
Catholic Charities Ball fundraiser rocks the St. Regis Longboat Key

The annual gala for the Catholic Charities Diocese of Venice benefits its programs throughout Sarasota County.

  • Black Tie
General Director of Sarasota Opera Richard Russell with event co-chairs Edie Chaifetz, Tamara Jacobs and the Mercedes-Benz offered as a raffle prize.
    By
  • Janet Combs
  • February 2, 2025
Sarasota Opera transports patrons to 'A Night in Seville'

The opera's annual gala honored Les and Carol Brualdi for their support.

  • Black Tie
Amanda Heisey and Minna Montagna with Caren Brady's design for the 2023 production of "The Drowsy Chaperone."
    By
  • Janet Combs
  • February 2, 2025
The Sarasota Players celebrates 95 years of community theater

The theater gave a nod to past performances to thank patrons for their support over the years.

  • Black Tie
Umbreen Khalidi Maseed, Karen Bell and Eduardo Anaya
    By
  • Janet Combs
  • February 2, 2025
Superheroes step into the spotlight in support of Circus Arts Conservatory

The event helped the nonprofit raise more than $300,000 for its student programs.

  • Black Tie
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Santa (Steven Trudell of St. Petersburg) gets the runners fired up just before the start of the 2025 Jingle 5K Dec. 12 in Lakewood Ranch.
  • December 13, 2025
More than 500 runners go the distance in Lakewood Ranch's Jingle 5K
2
Longboat Key Police Deputy Chief Frank Rubino (left) accepts a framed display of medals, patches and pins that demonstrate his 45-year career in law enforcement.
  • December 13, 2025
Longboat deputy chief with 45 years of experience to retire
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Nicholas Savarese, a teacher who has a background in chemical engineering, judges junior Lillian Pevzner-Downer's project on the comparison of conventionally grown crops with chemicals and pesticides versus organically grown crops at the Lakewood Ranch High School Science Fair.
  • December 12, 2025
Lakewood Ranch High revives its science fair

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