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Past Recipients
2026 Recipients & Brochure
All Faiths Food Bank (Sarasota, FL) — $10,000
Project: Neighborhood Choice Market—Margie’s Market.
AFFB leased a section of Goodwill Manasota building on MLK Way in Newtown to open a center where locals can access fresh produce, meats, dairy, and pantry items. Other services offered include case management assistance, nutrition education and services such as SNAP and Medicaid. Partner agencies provide resources in employment, education, legal and financial counseling, mental health and wellness. 35% of the food will be purchased with the rest coming from donations. Our grant will cover the cost of food purchases. Margie’s Market opened March 10, 2026.
Meals on Wheels of Sarasota — $10,000
Project: Meals for Seniors: A Masala grant will provide up to 1250 home-delivered meals to homebound or elderly underserved residents. Due to needs, funds will be exhausted within a 3-month period of receiving the grant.
Habitat for Humanity Sarasota — $10,000
Project: Critical Home Repair Program (CHR): Our grant supports this program to provide urgent roof, HVAC and water heater replacement for low-income homeowners who cannot afford urgent repairs. It addresses health and safety hazards, strengthens homes against future storms and helps residents, especially seniors age in place while avoiding displacement.
United Community Centers (Bradenton, FL) — $9,700
Project: Leaders in Training Dream Builders Social Enterprise Summer Program: L.I.T. is an innovative after-school social enterprise program that empowers youth through hands-on learning in entrepreneurship, sustainability and culinary arts. This program is designed to provide practical business experience, leadership development and real-world skills that generate earned income and to support ongoing programming at the 13th AV Dream Center. This project will provide a more robust version of the after-school program during the full day summer program. Participation is open to ages 11-14. The summer camp runs June 8, 2026 - August 7, 2026.
Shelia Baynes Reading Initiative Award - $10,000
Shelia Baynes was a visionary leader, community advocate and passionate supporter of education and service. In 2013, she founded Masala Giving Circle, bringing together women committed to meaningful impact. Her legacy continues through this memorial fund.
In 2009, after a distinguished career in banking and community service, Shelia and her husband Carl relocated from New Jersey to Sarasota, FL. Shelia had a passion and commitment for making a difference in the community. She was a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta, Inc., The Links, Incorporated, and co-founder of The Bibliophiles and Literary Mavens, to name a few. In 2013, she assembled a diverse group of African American women who shared a passion for giving back and helping others. Founded under the umbrella of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, Masala Giving Circle awarded its first grant in 2015. Shelia was an avid reader and passionate about youth education. We are honored to fund the establishment of a reading initiative that celebrates this remarkable woman!
Award Recipient - Building Bridges to Education (BEE) Learning Center in Newtown: BEE Learning Center provides high-quality after-school and summer programs for underserved K-3 students, ages 5-11. This award will be used to purchase and implement the “Benchmark Phonics Intervention”-an evidence-based literacy intervention designed to support students who are significantly below grade level, including students with dyslexia and other learning differences. It includes instructional materials, teacher resources, and training to ensure the program's high-quality delivery. The award is expected to serve 40-50 students, significantly improving phonics skills, decoding ability, and reading fluency.
Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe Special Gift - $2500
Project: Stage Discovery - A 5 weeks summer theatre program serving 30 youths, ages 13-18.
2025 Recipients
Star Lab Sarasota, FL-$10,000
Project: Breaking the Cycle of Underachievement with Personalized Hands-On Learning.
The grant will be used to purchase “hands-on learning materials” for literacy in math, science and social studies. Star Lab’s goal is to engage children’s hands and minds. They currently serve 5 & 6 year-old students with plans to expand to ages 4 through 9. Most of the children are in single mother households and 80% qualify for free and reduced lunch.
Manasota ASALH Sarasota FL-Grant Award: $10,000
Project: Manasota ASALH Mobile Freedom School:. This innovative program addresses the lack of comprehensive African American history in traditional curricula by providing an in-depth exploration of African American history, culture and contributions to society. The Mobile School is tailored to students ages 8-11 (grades 3rd-5th) and ages 12-14 (grades 6th-8th).
Bridges to Educational Excellence (BEE) Learning Center, Inc. Sarasota FL-$10,000
Project: Educational Computer Lab : Our grant will help bridge the digital divide by equipping the center with computers and internet access. The computer lab will offer technology driven programs that prepare students for the demands of a 21st century digital world. learning. The Center aims to provide holistic academic support, including tutoring in math and reading, homework assistance and ensuring grade level proficiency in reading by the end of the 3rd grade.
Minorities in Shark Sciences-Sarasota, FL-$10,000
Project: Minorities in Shark Sciences Summer Camp: The grant will fund 8 underserved students who will learn the basics of marine biology and conservation from instructors who are marine scientists working in the field and are people of color. In addition to providing field and lab experience, instructors will also conduct discussions on college readiness and career options in the field of marine science.
2024 Recipients & Brochure
Educational Consultants Consortium
Founded in 1955 by 4 retired Manatee County educators and 2 business men. They strive to maximize the chances of high school graduation and post graduate success. The project funded is Iron Sharpening Iron, a Summer Engagement Program. The project is a bridge between the close and start of the school year. Rising 6th-12th graders are connected with summer employment, academic resources, workshops and activities that keep them out of potentially dangerous situations.
Rosalyn Walton Education & Enrichment Services, Inc.
Founded in 2016 to support the achievement of African American youth by providing equitable education resources and opportunities. The project receiving an award is the funding of technology needs of the Freedom Leadership Academy. This award will fund technology equipment, black history text books, IXL licenses and 4 laptops.
Sisters Sowing Seeds, Inc.
Founded in 2015 by Monica Donley to support African American women and girls through personal development and mentoring programs. The project receiving an award is their Sisters in Schools Initiative. This is a 12 week after school program which will serve 25 African American girls in Booker Middle, Braden River and Lee Middle Schools. Their goal is to cultivate humility, integrity, character and to provide a safe place to talk, listen to others and support one another.
The Multicultural Health Institute
Founded by Lisa Merritt with programs to educate, identify and test for diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, COVID 19, diabetes, infant mortality, obesity, stroke, and other health issues affecting underrepresented communities. The project funded is a successive 8 week Healthy Living Class at Sarasota Housing Authority’s two housing locations in Janie’s Garden and Orange Ave.
United Community Centers
Founded in 1937 by local activist Minnie Rogers, Mary McCloud Bethune and Eleanor Roosevelt to provide a safe haven for recreation, cultural, social and educational activities serving youth in low-income neighborhoods of central Bradenton. The Project is STEAM Dreams which will provide funding of necessary resources, including computers and accessories, a 3D printer and interactive displays.
Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe of Florida Inc.
Founded in 1991 by Nate Jacobs to promote and celebrate African American culture, heritage and talent in performing arts. The Project receiving an award is Stage of Discovery, an intensive 5 week summer theatre camp for 30 youth, aged 13-18, 90% whom are African Americans.
2023 Recipients
Minorities in Shark Science ($10,000) grant to support a week-long marine science summer camp designed to increase accessibility to the ocean and marine science for 20 teens of color ages 13-17, and to promote diversity and inclusion in shark science.
Jasmine Graham, President & CEO
ASALH Freedom School ($7,320) grant to support The Manasota branch of the Association for the Study of African American History Black History school for K-12 African American students on Saturdays at the Betty Johnson library in Newtown.
David Wilkins, President of ASALH (Association for the Study of African American Life and History)
Take Stock in Children – Sarasota ($10,000) grant will support a college readiness & admissions mentoring and college for low-income, at-risk children in Sarasota County.
Marilyn Stewart, Director, Leaders for Life Fellowship
All Faiths Food Bank ($10,000) grant to help provide a mobile food pantry to bring food directly to the areas of highest need in the African American community.
Becky Wright, Manager of Special Events & Donor Engagement
Good Samaritan Pharmacy & Health Services, Inc. ($5,080) will provide free medication and medical services to diabetic clients in North Sarasota.
George Forcier, Volunteer
Sarasota African American Cultural Coalition, Inc. ($8,963.73) grant will provide funds to repaint the walls, window trim, door and finishing touches at The Leonard Reid House, the site of the first African American Museum in Sarasota.
Vicki Oldham, President
Meals on Wheels, Sarasota ($10,000) provides and delivers meals to homebound, mentally or physically disabled or elderly persons who can’t prepare meals themselves. The grant will help provide 5 meals/week for up to a month to 125 African American clients in North Sarasota.
Rhonda Leiberick, APR Executive Director & Tom Flanagan, Secretary
Habitat for Humanity – Manatee ($3,000) grant will partially underwrite the rehabilitation of a home for an African American special needs teacher and her two children.
Kaveecia Moore, Director of Homeowner Services
Habitat for Humanity – Sarasota ($10,000) grant will partially underwrite the rehabilitation of a home for a single-family home for an African American family.
Renee Snyder, CEO & President & Susie Ellis Resource Development Coordinator