Meet Our Partners
I am so proud to live in a community where social awareness of the needs of the whole community is so high. I want to thank each of you that have donated your time or money to these superb organizations listed below. These organizations have been very successful in helping children in Sarasota County. It is your generous contributions of time and/or money that enable these lovely young people a chance to progress mentally, physically, and emotionally to achieve their potentials and be positive energy in society. The benefit to the lives of the disadvantaged is immeasurable. I suggest that the cost to society of not intervening to give these children the chance to reach their potential is many times greater than the cost of our generosity. Please support this valuable effort to help endangered children by sending a donation to the Apisdorf Charitable Foundation to support a mix of these fine organizations we have listed. 100% of your donation will go to these organizations. You can also donate your time or money directly to individual organizations by following our links.
Thomas Huebner
Executive Director
Apisdorf Charitable Foundation
First Step of Sarasota
First Step is a fully licensed and accredited recovery center offering an array of services from detoxification to outpatient. First step fosters fully functioning, productive individuals by offering a full array of services in partnership with our community. First Step has been providing substance abuse treatment since 1968.
YMCA of Sarasota
The Sarasota Family YMCA has been at the heart of Sarasota for over 65 years. Today, we touch over 70,000 lives through our four
fitness branches and offer more than 50 youth and family development programs within four counties.
From the Sarasota YMCA's emergency shelter and group youth homes to children's fitness programs and education series, we are
focused on our mission to build strong kids, strong families, strong communities.
YMCA of Venice
At the Y, we believe that lasting personal and social change happens when we all work together. Every day we work
side-by-side with our neighbors to make sure that everyone, regardless of age, income or background, has the
opportunity to be healthy, confident, connected and secure. We're making an impact.
Between the 2 branches, South County YMCA gives out more than 5200 scholarships annualy totalling upwards of $900,000!
Children First
Children First is a private, charitable, non-profit organization that serves over 600 of Sarasota County's most vulnerable
children, birth to five years of age, and their families. Services are provided at multiple locations throughout Sarasota County.
Through Head Start and Early Head Start programs, our children receive the care and tools necessary to succeed in Kindergarten and
for a lifetime of success. Beyond the classroom, we focus on the child as a part of a whole community. We ensure that the child is
nurtured and that the family is secure and connected to the community. Our Family Advocates spend time with each child's family to
encourage communication and to build a safe, cohesive environment.
Healthy Start Coalition
The Healthy Start Coalition of Sarasota County is here to help pregnant women and new families before, during, and after pregnancy. We strive to provide you with the resources and support you need to have a safe and healthy pregnancy and to give you the tools you require to ensure that your baby gets the healthy start they deserve.
Children's Gaurdian ad Litem 12th District
More than a thousand children in Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties have been removed from their homes due to allegations of abuse,
neglect or abandonment. Through no fault of their own, they must now navigate through the dependency court system where a judge is
forced to make decisions about a child he or she has never even met. A confused and frightened child can easily get lost in an already
overburdened child welfare system.
The 12th Judicial Circuit Guardian Ad Litem (GAL) program recruits, trains, supports and supervises court-appointed volunteers to represent
their most vulnerable children.
Big Brothers Big Sisters
For more than 100 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters has operated under the belief that inherent in every child is the ability to succeed and thrive in life. As the nation's largest donor and volunteer supported mentoring network, Big Brothers Big Sisters makes meaningful, monitored matches between adult volunteers ("Bigs") and children ("Littles"), ages 6 through 18, in communities across the country. We develop positive relationships that have a direct and lasting effect on the lives of young people.
WEDU
The Apisdorf Charitable Foundation in partnership with the WEDU television station promotes organizations that have done an excellent job helping disadvantaged children in our community One or more of the above informative television video's above appear on WEDU daily. Please join us in thanking WEDU for all of their help and support in bringing awareness of each of these wonderful organizations. WEDU shows us one of the many ways it is responsive to the needs of residents in these beautiful west coast Florida communities that generously support WEDU in these difficult times. WEDU is also responsible for the "Be More" awards each February. This is the "Academy Awards" of Non-profits in the WEDU viewing area. Plan to attend the next one for an evening of fun, and heartwarming stories of community members helping others who are not so fortunate.