Bottom row: Jill McGarry and Jenifer Schembri. Top row: Anthony Bartirome, Charles Johnson, Matthew Lapointe, Dana Gentry.
Congratulations to the winners of the annual Spirit of Manatee awards. The Manatee Community Foundation honors individuals and organizations that embody the philanthropic spirit of Manatee County. Each winner is presented with a beautiful glass award and the opportunity to address the sold-out crowd of 400 at Bradenton Area Convention Center. Attorney Anthony Bartirome is former president of the foundation’s board of directors and Lisa Johnson, wife of litigation principal Chuck Johnson, serves as current board chair.
“Blalock Walters and its philanthropic culture have not only been instrumental in the work of Manatee Community Foundation since the very beginning in the late 1990’s, but the company’s model of community engagement is an example we proudly share with donors, leaders and other small businesses we have an opportunity to work with,” said Manatee Community Foundation Executive Director Susie Bowie.
This year’s Spirit of Manatee Awards Luncheon was about possibilities.
Each honoree has shown courage and resolve to do the hard work–making new buildings come to life that give under-served youth a chance to thrive, ensuring families that their children will have food on the table, educating residents and visitors about our environment, giving life to our community through the arts, and making higher education a reality for all people.
We salute each of the honorees for “making a difference” as they support the quality of life that everyone in our community deserves and inspires others to do the same.
Lifetime Spirit Award
Steve and Sara Bayard
Nominated by Manatee Performing Arts Center
Leadership Spirit Award
Caleb Grimes
Nominated by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County
Community Spirit Award
Dex Imaging
Nominated by Mote Marine Laboratory
Young Spirit Award
Mina Quesen
Nominated by UnidosNow
Charles Clapsaddle Community Spotlight Award
Luz Corcuera, Executive Director, UnidosNow
