Sisterhood For Good Giving Circle Presents Over $3,000 in Grants to Local Non-Profits

SARASOTA, Fla. - June 21, 2016 - PRLog -- Sisterhood For Good, a donor-advised fund of the Lakewood Ranch Community Fund, held its fourth annual grant distribution event on May 26, 2016, at the expansive showroom of Affinity Kitchen & Bath - 1035 N. Lime Avenue, Sarasota. With another record number of grant applicants this year, the giving circle awarded more than $3,000 to local non-profits.

"The women of Sisterhood For Good are proud to support a number of diverse local causes that do so much for the people of our community," said Angela Massaro-Fain, founding donor and administrator of Sisterhood For Good. "With each year of grant distribution, it's exciting to see how our membership has grown, our reach has extended and our giving potential has increased, thereby ensuring our shared mission continues to change lives in our region."

Each year, the women of the giving circle gather to raise funds, discuss the varying needs of our community and vote on grant distribution based on the applications received. The organizations chosen by Sisterhood For Good to be this year's recipients are:

Sarasota Manatee Association for Riding Therapy, Inc (SMART)

Established in 1987, SMART was created to enrich the lives of people with special needs through therapeutic horse-related programs. The funds received through this grant will provide an impactful three-day workshop to three women veterans recovering from trauma. To learn more about SMART, visit SmartRiders.org

Mark Wandall Foundation

This local non-profit provides support and assistance to children who have had a death of an immediate family member. The funds received through this grant will support the foundation's Comfort Zone Bereavement Camp. Taking place in September 2016, this program helps children aged 7 to 17 cope with the feelings of loss and isolation, build positive life skills, and interact with peers and mentors in a camp-like setting. For more information, visit themarkwandallfoundation.org

Children's Healthy Pantry

Operating under the umbrella of Yummy Stuff Club, Inc., this local non-profit provides healthy food and water to ensure that children will not experience hunger during the school day. The funds received will help supply the pantries in Title I schools in Sarasota and Manatee counties. For more information, visit YummyStuffClub.com

Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee/Food Bank of Manatee

Founded in 1972 as a traditional home-delivered meal program for elderly and disabled residents in Manatee County, Meals on Wheels Plus also provides innovative programs to help seniors stay active and avoid isolation. The organization also operates The Food Bank of Manatee, the county's only hunger prevention program serving 100 pantries and soup kitchens. The funds received will help support local infants at risk for the dangers of malnutrition by purchasing baby formula for families in  crisis. For more information, visit MealsOnWheelsPlus.org

Child Protection Center, Inc.

Child Protection Center, Inc. was founded in 1980 to focus on the prevention, intervention and treatment of child abuse. The funds received will be used to support and expand their Personal Safety and Community Awareness Program (PSCA), which provides educational services to nearly 30,000 individuals. To learn more visit, cpcsarasota.org

For more information on Sisterhood For Good or to complete a grant application for next year's distribution, visit SisterhoodForGood.org

About Sisterhood For Good

Established in May 2011 by founding donor and administrator Angela Massaro-Fain, Sisterhood For Good is a fun, active giving circle that unites women who share common philanthropic goals, including women's and children's issues, animal welfare, arts and education, health and safety, and hunger and homelessness. Funds collected by the Sisterhood for Good Women's giving circle are held and managed as a component fund of the Lakewood Ranch Community Fund under the Manatee Community Foundation. For more information, visit SisterhoodForGood.org

Grapevine Communications provides full-service advertising, marketing and public relations services to clients nationwide. The firm is the most award-winning advertising agency in Sarasota, Florida, and the surrounding areas. Recent accolades include the 2015 Greater Good Philanthropy Award - Small Business by Biz(941) Magazine, the 2014 Small Business of the Year by the Manatee Chamber of Commerce; the 2016, 2015 & 2014 Best Marketing/PR Agency by SRQ Magazine readers; and the 2010 Small Business of the Year by the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce. For more information on Grapevine Communications, contact Shelby Isaacson (Shelby@grapeinc.com) at 941-351-0024 or visit the website at www.grapeinc.com