Suncoast Charities for Children

10/30/2026

❤️ This Giving Tuesday, December 1, we invite you to step away from your busy schedule and experience firsthand the positive impact Suncoast Charities for Children is making right here in our local community!

Join us for a special behind-the-scenes tour at one (or more!) of four local agencies supported by Suncoast Charities for Children. See how your generosity helps provide life-changing programs and services for children, teens, and adults with special needs.

📍 Choose a Tour That Fits Your Schedule:

9:30 AM – The Florida Center for Early Childhood
10:30 AM – The Haven
1:00 PM – Children First, Inc.
1:00 PM – Loveland Center, Inc.

Each guided tour lasts approximately 30 minutes, offering a meaningful opportunity to see your donations at work, meet the people making a difference, and learn more about the lives being impacted every day.

❤️ See the Impact! Feel the Joy! Give with Purpose!

📅 Please RSVP by November 23 by visiting: https://ow.ly/5z985102aLv

10/27/2026

Professional Plumbing & Design, Inc. has been a generous, dedicated supporter of Suncoast Charities for Children for many years and has served as a Presenting Sponsor of our annual “Friendliest Catch” Fishing Tournament. 💙

This special event provides clients and residents with special needs from several of the agencies supported by Suncoast Charities for Children the opportunity to enjoy a day of “catch and release” fishing on Sarasota Bay—where everyone is a winner! We are sincerely grateful to Matt Wittman and the entire Professional Plumbing & Design team for helping make this annual event possible and for their continued commitment to our mission of funding critical programs and services supporting local children, teens, and adults with special needs.

Professional Plumbing & Design is a family-owned and operated Sarasota company that was founded in 1985 by Ted Wittman and his brother, Andy. Today, brothers Matt and Ben Wittman carry on that family tradition, following in the footsteps of their father and uncle. Over the years, the company has grown from providing general plumbing repairs, drain cleaning, kitchen and bathroom remodeling, new construction, water filtration, re-piping, jet cleaning, video inspection, and pipe lining.

Their commitment to the community extends well beyond their support of Suncoast Charities for Children. Professional Plumbing & Design has also shown its generosity through major charitable projects, including donating $18,000 in plumbing labor and materials for Marlene’s House at The Haven, a group home that provides housing for adults with disabilities.

For more than 40 years, Professional Plumbing & Design has built its reputation not only on quality workmanship and family values, but also on a genuine commitment to giving back to the community it calls home. We are proud to recognize and thank the Wittman family and Professional Plumbing & Design for their longstanding partnership and for helping make a difference in the lives of individuals and families throughout our community.

10/26/2026

🚨🎸 IMPORTANT THUNDER BY THE BAY FESTIVAL UPDATE 🎸🚨

Suncoast Charities for Children was notified today that, following many years of touring, Cheap Trick has made the decision to take a much-needed break from performing for an undetermined period. As a result, the band will unfortunately no longer be performing at the 29th Annual Thunder By The Bay Music & Motors Festival in February 2027.

While we are disappointed by this unexpected news, we respect the band's decision and wish them all the best. THE SHOW WILL GO ON! Festival organizers are working hard to secure a new headliner for Friday, February 19, with an announcement expected soon!

Despite this unexpected cancellation, the festival's exciting lineup remains strong, with legendary rock artist Bret Michaels and Southern rock icons The Marshall Tucker Band still scheduled to perform.

🎟️ FRIDAY TICKET HOLDERS: Tickets may be transferred to another Festival day, or ticket holders may wait until the new headliner is announced before deciding whether to request a refund.

Thank you for your patience, understanding, and continued support. We look forward to an incredible weekend of music, motors, and making a difference!

10/22/2026

💙 Celebrating 65 years of making a difference! We’re proud to support Children First, Inc. through Suncoast Charities for Children and the incredible work they do to strengthen children and families throughout Sarasota County.

Congratulations to Children First on this amazing milestone and to Philip Tavill on 30 years of dedicated leadership! We’re honored to help support organizations that make such a meaningful impact in our community. 💙

10/21/2026

🎣💙 What an incredible day on the water yesterday!

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who helped make this year’s 41st Annual Friendliest Catch Fishing Fun Day a success! We are especially grateful to our “Top Angler” Sponsor, Professional Plumbing & Design, Inc., for their generous support and continued commitment to making this special day possible since the very first year.

An enormous thank you also goes out to the Spivey Family Foundation for their generous donation and to more than 30 boat captains who donated their time, boats, fuel, and equipment to give nearly 80 individuals with special needs the opportunity to enjoy a fun-filled day of fishing and time on the water. 🎣🚤

We also want to thank the Sarasota Police Department and Sarasota County Emergency Services Fire Department for taking the time to meet and spend time with our anglers, the Sarasota Sahib Shrine for donating lunch, the Sarasota Outboard Club for hosting this annual event, and the numerous volunteers who come together to make it all possible.

Friendliest Catch is about so much more than fishing — it’s about creating opportunities, building friendships, and giving these individuals an experience they’ll remember long after the boats return to the dock. 💙🐟

10/21/2026

🎸🔥 IT’S GOING TO BE EPIC! 🔥🎸

Three days. Three national headliners. One incredible cause! ❤️

The 29th Annual Thunder By The Bay Music & Motors Festival is coming to the Sarasota Fairgrounds February 19–21, 2027, featuring Cheap Trick, Bret Michaels, and The Marshall Tucker Band!

And the best part? 100% of Festival net proceeds benefit Suncoast Charities for Children, helping provide critical programs and services for local children, teens, and adults with special needs. ❤️

🎟️ Tickets are ON SALE NOW — and General Admission starts at just $15, with kids 12 and under FREE!

👉 Get your tickets and start planning your weekend: https://thunderbythebay.org/tickets/

Ride in. Rock out. Give back. 🤘🏍️🎶

10/13/2026

🐟❤️ THANK YOU, BONEFISH GRILL! ❤️🐟

What a wonderful night of giving back! We are incredibly grateful to everyone who joined us for our Bonefish Grill Give Back Night at the Sarasota University Parkway location.

Thanks to your support, 15% of net sales from the event was donated to Suncoast Charities for Children — totaling an incredible $1,023.28! 🎉

A very special thank you to Managing Partners Larry Roushia and Brian Smith for welcoming our supporters and helping make this Give Back Night such a success. We truly appreciate your generosity and partnership!

And, of course, thank you to everyone who came out, enjoyed a great meal, and helped make a difference for local children, teens, and adults with special needs. Your support makes a meaningful impact in our community. ❤️

Thank you for helping us make a difference, one meal at a time! 🐟💙

10/12/2026

Thunder By The Bay is our biggest annual fundraiser of the year, helping us to continue providing financial support for critical programs and services to ten local agencies for children, teens, and adults with special needs.

We are excited to announce that the headline acts for the 29th Annual Thunder By The Bay Music & Motors Festival include:

🔥 FRIDAY - FEBRUARY 19: Cheap Trick
🔥 SATURDAY - FEBRUARY 20: Bret Michaels
🔥 SUNDAY - FEBRUARY 21: The Marshall Tucker Band

Discounted early bird tickets go on sale this Wednesday, October 14!

Ride In. Rock Out. Give Back. And be sure to follow our Thunder By The Bay page to stay up to date on festival announcements!

The 28th Annual Thunder by the Bay Music & Motors Festival, Feb 13–15, 2026 at Sarasota Fairgrounds. Benefits Suncoast Charities for Children.

10/08/2026

We’re getting ready for the 41st Annual Friendliest Catch Fishing Fun Day, a special day that gives individuals with special needs the opportunity to enjoy an unforgettable experience out on the water then an awards luncheon where everyone's a winner!

We’re looking for businesses and community partners to help us fill 80 participant bags with fun goodies for each attendee to take home with their award. Donations can include gift certificates, coupons, snacks, branded promotional items, small giveaways, or other items you think participants would enjoy.

Every contribution helps make this day even more memorable and is a great way for your business to support an event dedicated to creating smiles, new experiences, and lasting memories. 💙🐟

Interested in donating an item or certificate? Reach out to Lisa at Suncoast Charities by calling 941-706-3685 or email [email protected].

10/07/2026

Grab your clubs and gather your foursome! ⛳️

Registration is open, but limited, for the 4th Annual Heritage Cares Charity Golf Scramble on Sunday, November 22, 2026 at TPC Prestancia. Enjoy a great day on this prestigious course while helping make a meaningful impact in our community.

Funds raised throughout the Heritage Cares Weekend of Giving will benefit both Suncoast Charities for Children and the Heritage Cares Foundation. The weekend kicks off with the Heritage Cares Charity W**e Tasting on Friday, November 20 from 5–8 PM, followed by the Heritage Cares Charity Racquet Festival on Saturday, November 21 from 9 AM–12 PM at TPC Prestancia Sports Club, featuring tennis and pickleball.

To register, contact Katelyn Joyce at [email protected] or 941-922-2800 ext. 6 and be sure to mention that Suncoast Charities for Children sent you!