Lakewood Ranch's Sisterhood for Good presents $150,150 in grants


Sisterhood for Good's Pamela Modisett presents a grant check for $5,000 to Save Our Seabirds Executive Director Brian Walton June 19 at the Annual Grants Ceremony at Gold Coast Eagle Distributing in Lakewood Ranch.
Sisterhood for Good's Pamela Modisett presents a grant check for $5,000 to Save Our Seabirds Executive Director Brian Walton June 19 at the Annual Grants Ceremony at Gold Coast Eagle Distributing in Lakewood Ranch.
Photo by Jay Heater
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Despite a three-hurricane 2024 season in which many individuals and businesses found themselves with fewer funds to donate to nonprofits, Sisterhood for Good found a way.

On June 19 at Gold Coast Eagle Distributing, the Lakewood Ranch fundraising group handed out 30 grants that totaled $150,150.

Although it was the first time in Sisterhood for Good's history, which began in 2011, that the group didn't award more money than the previous year, it was just a tad under the $153,036 that was given out in 2024.

"With last year's hurricanes, people couldn't give as much," said Sisterhood for Good founder Angela Massaro-Fain. "We certainly understand that. Our goal always is to increase from the previous year. But we should be proud we were able to match it."

Since 2011, Sisterhood for Good has awarded 213 grants for $622,427.

"I am very proud of our consistency in attracting new members who want to be philanthropic, and in the fact the community recognizes the importance of what we are doing and believes in our mission," Massaro-Fain said. "That is so important. We have two real fundraisers the public is invited to, and we always sell out."

Samina Morrow, who is Sisterhood for Good's co-chair for the grants committee, and co-chair for the advisory committee, said Massaro-Fain's leadership has been a big part of the nonprofit's consistency since 2011.

"Angela is a powerhouse," Morrow said. "She is fabulous. She takes this on as a full-time career and she has been great at attracting all kinds of talent."

Morrow said Sisterhood for Good's makeup with its 240 members is a big reason for its success.

"We have women in all different professions and from all different backgrounds," she said. "We are in it for the right purpose.

"With our dues at $225 a year, it is very inclusive."

Brian Walton, the executive director of Save Our Seabirds, said the $5,000 grant his nonprofit received is critical after a tough year.

"Hurricanes Helene and Milton were pretty devastating," Walton said. "We were closed for 55 days. After Helene, we have 4 feet of flooding in our building, and then after Milton, for the next 3 months we didn't have a green blade of grass anywhere. It was a tough process."

Walton said the grant would help Save Our Seabirds do more blood tests on birds that come to the rescue ill.

Sisterhood for Good's Kathy Osterberg passes a grant check for $2,500 to her sister, Amy Gorman, who was representing The Players at the Annual Grants Ceremony at Gold Coast Eagle Distributing in Lakewood Ranch.
Photo by Jay Heater

"It's meaningful," he said. "It empowers our staff to be more aggressive treating a bird.

It was just one of 30 stories about what the grants mean.

Sisterhood for Good's members noted that they are accepting more members to help with the needs.

Those who want to give back to their community don't have to be affluent to join.

"Honestly, the volunteer time is one of the most precious resources," Morrow said. "We couldn't make this work without the volunteers."

Morrow said the 2025 grants payout of $150,150 was special considering the circumstances.

"I feel very blessed," she said. "Of course we would like our target goal to increase so we can give the community more. But we still are very lucky. One of the things that sets us apart is that we raise monies for different not-for-profits. It could be about humans or animals. We just gave a grant to Save Our Seabirds."

Morrow also noted that Sisterhood for Good tends to think "outside of box" for its events.

"We have a plethora of themes for our events and we create experiences that are a little different," she said.

She said the members get their reward when they see the gratefulness of the nonprofits and the feedback about what the money enables them to do.

"We are an all-female, passionate group of volunteers who unite our talents to give back," she said. "And we have an incredible time doing it."

Massaro-Fain said the community feeds off the Sisters' passion.

"The community agrees with what we are trying to do, and they know we throw a good party," Massaro-Fan said. "When they come, they have a good time."

Although she has been guiding the organization for more than a decade, Massaro-Fain said she still gets choked up when she tallies the amount the group will contribute each year.

She said her "eye is on the prize" of handing out a million dollars overall. If the nonprofit continues its current trend, that could be within the next three years.

She still remembers going to another nonprofit's event in 2010 and being surprised at how much need there was in "such an affluent community."

"I know it now for a fact, because I've seen it," she said. "There are a lot of people who need help, kids who need help, sickness, whatever. There are nonprofits that don't get any government assistance. I think of how I can help more."

She has been packing meals for Meals on Wheels Plus, and has seen families bring their kids to collect some peanut butter, pasta, bread and milk because they can't afford those items. So many different nonprofits need assistance. And as a membership, Sisterhood for Good votes where to send the funds.

"Our voice is a collective voice, not just one person or a board," Massaro-Fain said.

She said Sisterhood for Good presented 30 grants this year, but it had received 101 applications.

"So I am hoping this year we can raise more money," she said.

Among Sisterhood for Good's five corporate sponsors are Grapevine Communications; Target Graphics; David Winterrowd, CPA Tax and Consulting; Gold Coast Eagle Distributing; and the Observer Media Group.

 

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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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