At Anna Maria Oyster Bar, we love to give back to Manatee & Sarasota Counties, which have been so good to us over the last 20 years. One of the many ways we work with friends and community partners to impact the community is through Together Manatee.
We are a group of local professionals and business leaders with a passion for our community. Our members are dedicated to sharing ideas, inspiring positive change and working to keep our corner of Florida’s Gulf Coast beautiful, productive and focused on achieving a range of both short- and long-term goals.
This particular Together Manatee project has been special to us because of our company-wide commitment to educational initiatives. Learn more about Anna Maria Oyster Bar’s signature program for local elementary school children, Dive into Reading, here.
Shown, from left to right: Dr. Carol Probstfeld, State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF); Jennifer Cox, Cox Automotive; Kris Cox, Cox Automotive; Darren Haimer, Bradenton Herald/Bradenton.com; Amanda Horne, Anna Maria Oyster Bar; Dr. Terry A. Osborn, University of South Florida, Sarasota-Manatee; Allison Perkowski, Grapevine Communications, Inc.; Dr. Valerie Viands, Manatee Technical College; Nancy Lawrence, Manatee Technical College; Cassandra Holmes, State College of Florida Foundation. Provided photo
BRADENTON
Together Manatee has donated $25,000 to the State College of Florida Foundation to build a community room in the Library & Learning Center at SCF’s Bradenton campus. The donation also qualified for matching funds from the foundation’s board of directors and SCF’s board of trustees, bringing the donation to $50,000, the organizations announced Tuesday.
The “Together Manatee” community room will offer a place to bring campus and community together, a press release stated. Programs will highlight “learning, research, culture and creativity,” and the room will have visual displays, LED monitors and teleconferencing. Two large white video screens and high-definition laser projectors will be available.
The room will have a maximum capacity of 200, or split into two for 100 each. Catering is possible with an attached kitchenette.
“Together Manatee made the grant as an ongoing part of their commitment to create a better Manatee County community through both philanthropy and project based gifts,” said Darren Haimer, general manager and vice president of advertising for the Bradenton Herald and a Together Manatee board member. “The SCF donation is one of many community projects the board has supported with organizations and nonprofits such as the Manatee Performing Arts Center, Manatee Community Foundation, and Pace Center for Girls.”
