The Lakewood Ranch Community Fund, in collaboration with Lakewood Ranch Community Activities and Schroeder-Manatee Ranch, the developers of Lakewood Ranch, partnered to raise money on Lakewood Main Street during Music on Main in October for a special Hurricane Ian Relief Fund. The monies raised went to nonprofits that were directly affected, including their clients, by Hurricane Ian. 

Also, on Oct. 28, BooFest was held on Lakewood Main Street, and hosted by Lakewood Ranch Community Activities, which donated the proceeds from beer sales paid by credit card to the Hurricane Ian Relief Fund.

With the total amount raised of nearly $9,700, the next step was for the Lakewood Ranch Community Fund to gather questionnaires from nonprofits to determine the need for funding. The Fund’s grant allocation committee met in a special session to review the applications, determined the need, and then allocated the monies to four nonprofits affected by Hurricane Ian. 

The four nonprofits included:

• Big Brother Big Sisters of the Suncoast with a grant for $4,000
• Manatee Children’s Services, Inc. with a grant for $2,500
• Farmhouse Sanctuary with a grant for $1,600
• Mayors Feed the Hungry with a grant for $1,600

Checks will be cut and distributed this week. 

The Lakewood Ranch Community Fund enhances the quality of life in and near our community by promoting philanthropy, responding to community needs, and granting funds. The Lakewood Ranch Community Fund is its own 501 (c) 3 and its sole purpose is to support and fund the nonprofits that are doing impactful work in Lakewood Ranch and surrounding easter counties of Manatee and Sarasota.  The Lakewood Ranch Community Fund has granted over $60,000 this year to nonprofits during its regular grant cycle.  Over the last 20 years, the Lakewood Ranch Community Fund, under the direction of Manatee Community Foundation, granted a total of $1.4 million dollars to local nonprofits. The Lakewood Ranch Community Fund is YOUR community fund.