Sisterhood for Good provides $153,036 in grants for Sarasota, Manatee nonprofits

Whisper Bend’s Melissa Wandall was filled with gratitude. 

She held a check for $4,360 from Sisterhood for Good on June 20 as she shared how the money would help four local children who have lost a parent, sibling or guardian go to camp. 

Wandall said her nonprofit, The Mark Wandall Foundation, usually takes 50 kids to a three-day camp that provides therapeutic services and more to help them through the grieving process. 

This year, Wandall said the foundation sent 64 kids to camp, and there were still 24 kids on the waitlist. 

“We cannot do this without our community,” Wandall said. “The collaboration we have with Sisterhood for Good is phenomenal. You can’t put a price tag on it. … The most important part (of camp) is they are connecting with other kids so they know they’re not alone in their grief.”

Angela Massaro-Fain, the founder of Sisterhood for Good, tried to hold back tears as each of the nonprofit’s grant recipients came forward to accept a check and then share how the money would impact their nonprofits during Sisterhood for Good’s annual grants presentation at Gold Coast Eagle Distributing in Lakewood Ranch. 

Massaro-Fain was in awe hearing how the funds would help hundreds of individuals in Sarasota and Manatee counties. 

Thinking back on how Sisterhood for Good started in 2011 with only 10 members and two $500 grants, Massaro-Fain said she’s filled with pride and humility to see the nonprofit expand to more than 275 members raising $153,036 to provide 40 grants for nonprofits. 

Photo by Liz Ramos

“Taking care of our community, for me, is key,” she said. “Not everybody has what everybody else has. Some people struggle, some people don’t, but for the people that struggle, they really need our help.”

The grants will help in various ways, from providing basic supplies, to care for babies, to helping children in foster care, to feeding families, to assisting animals. 

Jill Gass, the vice president of philanthropy for Easterseals Southwest Florida, said the $2,500 grant Easterseals received will pay for communication devices for children who are nonverbal. 

“Most of us can’t imagine not being able to communicate, but we have moms and dads sending their kids to us every day who have never heard their voices,” Gass said. “This grant will provide the opportunity for eight moms to hear their children’s voices for the first time.”

Nonprofits like Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee and Baby Basics of Sarasota will use their grants to provide diapers, wipes and other baby supplies to mothers. 

Jessica Ryherd, the director of marketing operations for Feeding Empty Little Tummies, said the $5,000 grant the nonprofit received will provide 3,000 weekend meals for approximately 500 children. 

Ryherd said FELT served more than 377,000 meals in the 2023-2024 school year, and the nonprofit delivers meals to every school in Manatee County. For the first time, Ryherd said there was a wait list of people wanting to receive food. 

Photo by Liz Ramos

“Donations like this help us get a little bit closer to not having a waitlist because at the end of the day, we don’t want anyone to go without,” she said. 

Nonprofits such as The Twig, Harbor 58 and Liquid Castles will assist children in foster care. 

Stacey Maloney, the founder and chief executive officer of Liquid Castles, said its ultimate is to help those aging out of foster care be able to put down a deposit on their first home. The nonprofit received $4,000.

Harbor58 is focused on providing life skills to teenagers in foster care and those aging out of foster care. Annie Wilson, a mentor for the nonprofit, said receiving a grant from Sisterhood for Good is encouraging. 

Wilson said attending the grants presentation allowed Harbor58 to spread awareness of the nonprofit. She said she was able to educate others on the mission of Harbor58 and strike up conversations with other nonprofits that could lead to future partnerships. 

Every year since 2014, Sisterhood for Good has been able to out-do themselves, raising more money than the year before. Massaro-Fain said it’s a result of the passion of the members.

Photo by Liz Ramos

“Nothing can take the place of being passionate about something you believe in,” she said. “We’re passionate about female group philanthropy and affordable philanthropy. Our philanthropy is affordable to the women who want to be able to write a small check and be able to participate in helping elevate our community.”

Massaro-Fain said she doesn’t feel pressure to have the nonprofit raise more money than the previous year but rather there’s a desire among members to do so. They work to make their fundraising events, such as Designer Bag Bingo and the nonprofit’s annual gala, so much fun people want to return year after year. 

“We make our events so interactive and enjoyable that people want to come back, so it’s not pressure, it’s a pleasure,” she said.

Looking at next year, Massaro-Fain wants to break $500,000 raised since Sisterhood for Good’s inception in 2011. The nonprofit only needs to raise $27,723 to reach the goal, but she said she would love to raise $175,000 next year.