MICHAEL SAUNDERS & COMPANY PRESS RELEASE

CONTACT: Jennifer Horvat at (941) 955-8200 ex. 3242 or

CONTACT: Maxine McBride at (904) 280-7960 or

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Michael Saunders Foundation AWARDS more than

$56,000 in grants to area organizations

Foundation presents mid-year awards to 50 non-profits throughout

Sarasota, Charlotte, and Manatee counties

SARASOTA, Fla. (July 24, 2017)The MSC Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Michael Saunders & Company,recently awarded more than $56,000 in grants to 50non-profits in Sarasota, Charlotte and Manatee counties in their summer grant cycle. Eachorganization was nominated through grant requests by Michael Saunders & Company agents and team members. The foundationpresents grants twice a year to recipients who align with the foundation’s mission to support programs that improve lives by offering shelter, sustenance, education and a path to self-sufficiency.

“These 50 grant recipients are amazing examples of grass-roots work that betters the local communities in which we are all fortunate to live,” said Drayton Saunders, President of Michael Saunders & Company. “We particularly appreciate that requests come directly from our agents and offices, as do the majority of the funds raised for these contributions – a fact thataligns withour mission and core values. We applaud our Michael Saunders & Company team for its generosity and ongoing support of vital local resources.”

Michael Saunders & Company agents and staff members are encouraged to donate annually to the MSC Foundation, and many of the company’s 24 offices hold special fundraising efforts throughout the year. The company also matches 10 percent of money raised by individuals and offices during each grant cycle. Since its launch in 2011, the foundation has donated over $457,000 to more than 140 organizations.

Grant recipients for mid-year 2017 include:

  • ALSO for Gay Youth, Inc.
  • Alta Vista Elementary School
  • American Red Cross of Southwest Florida
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Suncoast
  • Books for Kids—Promoting Literacy (Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch)
  • Boys and Girls Clubs of Charlotte County–Englewood Club
  • Boys and Girls Clubs of Sarasota County
  • CARE Center for Abuse and Rape Emergencies, Inc.
  • Care Net Manasota Pregnancy Center
  • Children First
  • Circuelle Foundation
  • Community Coalition on Homelessness (DBA Turning Points)
  • Community Foundation of Sarasota Let’s B Safe Fund
  • Day 4 Hope/Church of Redeemer
  • Florida Veterans for Common Sense Fund, Inc.
  • Forty Carrots Family Center
  • Foundation for Dreams
  • Harvest Tabernacle of Sarasota (DBA Harvest House)
  • Hope Family Services, Inc.
  • Innocence Project of Florida, Inc.
  • Jewish Family & Children’s Services of the Suncoast, Inc. (JFCS)
  • Literacy Volunteers of South Sarasota County (LVSSC)
  • Manasota Operation Troop Support, Inc.
  • Manatee County Girls Club, Inc. (DBA Just For Girls)
  • Manatee County Habitat for Humanity
  • Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee/The Food Bank of Manatee
  • Meals on Wheels of Sarasota
  • More Too Life (Living Above the Noise)
  • Mothers Helping Mothers
  • New Paradigm of Catholic Charities (Catholic Charities Diocese of Venice, Inc.)
  • Neuro Challenge Foundation for Parkinson’s, Inc. (NCF)
  • Our Daily Bread
  • PACE Center for Girls
  • Palmetto Youth Center, Inc.
  • Robinson Hearts & Minds/Manatee Hope Foundation
  • Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center (SPARCC)
  • Sarasota County Senior Advocacy Council, Inc.
  • Sarasota Family YMCA, Inc. (the Y)
  • Sarasota Manatee Association for Riding Therapy, Inc. (SMART)
  • Sarasota Sertoma Club
  • Selah Freedom, Inc.
  • Senior Friendship Centers
  • SS Peter & Paul the Apostles Conference, SVDP
  • Take Stock in Children of Manatee County, Inc.
  • Teen Court of Sarasota, Inc.
  • The Children’s Healthy Pantry, A Division of Yummy Stuff Club, Inc.
  • The Florida Center for Early Childhood
  • The Least of These/West Bradenton Baptist Church
  • Tri-County Counseling and Life Skills Center, Inc.
  • We Care Manatee, Inc.

“We are fortunate to be able to help the entire community, but in particular, the MSC Foundation donation will help five military veterans receive housewarming baskets to help make the transition into their new homes,” said Heidi Brown, President and CEO of Jewish Family & Children’s Services of the Suncoast.

“The funds granted by the MSC Foundation will go to support and empower our STAR teens to be leaders in service in the Sarasota community,” said Patricia McGraw, STAR Leadership Training Facilitator of the Boys and Girls Club of Sarasota County.

A complete list of all MSC grant recipients can be found at learn more about Michael Saunders & Company or the MSC Foundation, visit or call (888) 552-5228.

About Michael Saunders & Company

Now in its fifth decade of service to Southwest Florida, Michael Saunders & Company has grown from a single office into a network of 24 full-service real estate offices—with more than 650 agents and 163 team members spanning the Gulf Coast region from Anna Maria Island to Boca Grande.

Powerful international brokerage affiliations—including Christie’s International Real Estate, Leading Real Estate Companies of the World, Luxury Portfolio International and Mayfair International Realty—extend the company’s message to qualified buyers globally, ensuring the broadest possible exposure for our sellers’ properties.

Headquartered in Sarasota, Fla., Michael Saunders & Company affords clients and customers the most comprehensive range of real estate services in the Southwest Florida marketplace. These include mortgage, title and relocation services, a commercial real estate division and full service rental and property management capabilities.

With sales that topped more than $2.48 billion in 2016, Michael Saunders & Company is the largest-selling brokerage in all price ranges throughout Southwest Florida and is ranked 47th largest in dollar volume, according to the latest Real Trends 500 Survey of the 500 largest brokerages in the U.S. Locally focused and independently owned and operated, it is also listed among the 35 most influential Realtors in luxury real estate.

For more information about Michael Saunders & Company, please call 1-888-552-5228 or visit us at michaelsaunders.com.

Photography:

1.)From left to right: Mark Laughlin (Our Daily Bread), Linda Craig (Manasota Operation Troop Support), Victoria Kasdan (We Care Manatee)

2.)From left to right: Julia McClung (MSC Realtor), Kristin Burke (American Red Cross), Bobbie Bannan (MSC Realtor), Heidi Brown (Jewish Family & Children’s Services of the Suncoast)

3.)From left to right: Debbie Judge (MSC Managing Broker, Palmer Ranch), June Howell (MSC Realtor), Suriya Khong (Boys and Girls Club of Sarasota County, Director of Teen Outreach), Patricia McGraw (Boys and Girls Club of Sarasota County, STAR Leadership Training Facilitator)

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