At the 14th Annual Spirit of Manatee Awards Luncheon, givers and doers filled sixty tables at the Bradenton Area Convention Center to enjoy the inspiration from a student, a nonprofit executive director, an attorney, a copier technology firm, and the retired owners of a car dealership. Each had a different story but the same message: do the most you can to make your community a great place to live.

The Spirit of Manatee selection committee–Gene Beckstein, Carol Carter, Vin Foderingham, Karen Miller, and Barbara Najmy–received and evaluated nominations from local nonprofits who shared compelling reasons a philanthropist should be recognized.

The winners inspired the nonprofit, business, community and government leaders who joined us for lunch and celebration.

• Steve and Sara Bayard: Lifetime Spirit Winners, nominated by Manatee Performing Arts Center
• Caleb Grimes: Leadership Spirit Winner, nominated by Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County
• DEX Imaging: Community Spirit Winner, nominated by Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium
• Mina Quesen: Young Spirit Winner, nominated by UnidosNow
• Luz Corcuera: Charles Clapsaddle Community Spotlight Winner, nominated by Marianne Moyer

Read the press and watch the video:

Herald Tribune: Spirit of Manatee Awards Celebrate Community

Bradenton Herald: With Their Generosity, These Men and Women Represent The Spirit of Manatee

METV video 

View photos on Facebook!

Special thanks to event sponsors who make this event a success each year.

Premier Sponsor: The Milestone Financial Group at Morgan Stanley

Patron Sponsor: Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County

Table Sponsors:

• Air & Energy
• Anna Maria Oyster Bar
• Anon Friends
• Blake Medical Center
• Blalock Walters P.A.
• BMO Harris Bank
• Bradenton Area Visitors and Convention Bureau
• Bradenton Kiwanis
• Carter/Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County
• CenterState Bank
• CS&L CPAs
• DEX Imaging
• Fidelity Investments
• Florida Power & Light
• Foundation for Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County
• Genuity Group LLC
• Manatee Matches
• Manatee Memorial Foundation
• Manatee Performing Arts Center
• Mauldin & Jenkins LLC
• Mosaic Company
• Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium
• Mott & Associates
• NDC Construction
• Pier 22 Restaurant- Patio- Ballroom
• Pittsburgh Pirates- Bradenton Marauders
• PNC Bank
• Porges, Hamlin, Knowles & Hawk, P.A.
• Publix Super Markets, Inc.
• Regions
• Sherrill Wealth Management
• The Beverly Beall & R. Kemp Riechmann Foundation
• The Concession Golf Club
• The Library Foundation
• The Patterson Foundation
• Tidewell Hospice
• U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management
• United Way Suncoast
• Willis A. Smith Construction, Inc.
• WUSF

Co-Table Sponsors:

• Animal Network
• Charitable Gift Planners of Southwest Florida
• Dick, Johnson & Jefferson Insurance
• Easterseals of Southwest Florida
• Green Hamrick Quinlan & Schermer, P.A.
• HOPE Family Services
• John & Marianne Moyer
• Karen Carpenter
• Manatee Children’s Services
• Najmy Thompson, P.L.
• Neuro Challenge Foundation for Parkinson’s
• Parenting Matters
• State College of Florida Foundation
• UnidosNow
• University of South Florida Foundation
• W Paul Hoenle Foundation