New leader takes over at Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation


Jeff Toale took over as president of the board of the Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation June 1.
Jeff Toale took over as president of the board of the Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation June 1.
Photo by Jay Heater
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In 1995, Jeff Toale was an eighth grader at the Out-of-Door Academy on Siesta Key who was thinking about his future.

Toale and a group of his classmates were bussed over to ODA's new school site in Lakewood Ranch. If he decided to go, he would have been among the first class to go through the high school and graduate. The problem was that there wasn't much on or near Deer Drive in Lakewood Ranch in 1995.

Toale, who was born, grew up and still lives in Sarasota, decided to go to Cardinal Mooney instead.

That doesn't mean he didn't keep his eye on Lakewood Ranch.

"There was nothing there when we were bussed out there, but I was one of those guys who watched Lakewood Ranch when I was growing up," he said.

His father was watching, too. On June 8, 2022, Robert Toale & Sons opened its Celebration of Life Center in Lakewood Ranch.

"We saw Lakewood Ranch as a growing community," Jeff Toale said. "Having a facility here would be a lot more comfortable for Lakewood Ranch families, and more convenient. We saw a need."

But committing their business to the community meant more to the Toales. They said immediately that they wanted to be part of their new community, and they wanted to give back.

That desire to give back will be in full flight as Jeff Toale has taken over as president of the board of the Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation. He took over June 1 and will hold that title for a year, unless the board decides to extend his term further.

"Three years ago, I was honored to be asked to join the board," said Toale, who is vice president of business development with Robert Toale & Sons. "It was (former Executive Director Adrienne Boohhamer) at the time. "I think Lakewood Ranch spoke to my heart. I'm all in at this point."

He said his focus will be on "donation opportunities, streamlining efficiencies, developing new committees, and continuing development and collaboration within the Lakewood Ranch community.

His term wouldn't appear to be as potentially tumultuous as the last two years under Mark Clark, who took the nonprofit from a fund to a foundation, and who led the transition from an all-volunteer staff to one that was led by an executive director, and who basically rebuilt the financial strength of the organization.

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Clark will remain on the board as past president for one year. 

Joining Toale on the executive committee are Keith Pandeloglou, vice president; Lorri Kidder, treasurer and grants committee chair; and Lisa Lawler, secretary.

Outgoing board members are Kelly Gilliland, president and broker of Integrity Mortgage Capital, and Nicole Ryskamp, a board past president who is a real estate agent with Michael Saunders & Co.

Two new board members were welcomed to the organization in Victoria Campbell, a realtor with NextHome KD Premier Realty, and Casio Jones, a founder of Level Ground Fitness and owner of The Exercise Coach-LWR. 

The Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year and has a goal of raising $250,000. 

Like previous executive directors, Toale would like to increase awareness of the organization in the community.

After a year without a soire, the LWRCF has scheduled the Soiree on the Ranch Grand Finale 2025 for Nov. 13 at Lakewood Ranch Country Club.

"We decided to jump back into it," Toale said. "Obviously, awareness always is going to be key. One of the greatest benefits for us will be for the Lakewood Ranch community to recognize us as a pillar of the community. Through awareness you garner donations. We will do anything we can to get the message out."

Besides the Soiree on the Ranch, the LWRCF will plan to have a golf tournament, a casino night and polo with the pros in the next year. 

The LWRCF gave out $125,000 in 2024 and just approved $33,250 for its first grant cycle of 2025.

"We granted nine of the 14 requests by the nonprofits that applied," he said. "A good amount of those grants went toward kids' programs over the summer. Lori Kidder does a great job heading our grants committee."

The Builders Give Back program, launched in 2023, has been a huge success and Toale is looking forward to more great results in the future. In the long term, he said perhaps a similar program could be offered to Realtors.

The bottom line if that Toale he will be looking for any way possible to find ways to give money back to the community. 

"Our job is to improve what is already here," he said.

Growing up, Toale said he saw the work done by Meals on Wheels as well as "having the good fortune of having access to people who gave advice" on the importance of supporting your community. He said the late Ron Foxworthy was a plumber who always would talk about how giving back was an important part of running his business.

He said Eddie Morton of Morton's Gourmet Market had an influence on him as he worked stacking shelves and stocking produce at Morton's.

"He was always community oriented," Toale said.

And those times his mom (Debbie) took him to serve food at St. Martha's Church at Thanksgiving were important as well.

"I always saw how grateful people were," he said.

 

author

Jay Heater

Jay Heater is the managing editor of the East County Observer. Overall, he has been in the business more than 41 years, 26 spent at the Contra Costa Times in the San Francisco Bay area as a sportswriter covering college football and basketball, boxing and horse racing.

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