Girls On the Run of Southwest Florida Receives a Grant by Susie Bowie, President/CEO, William G. and Marie Selby Foundation

Did you know that Girls on the Run of Southwest Florida supports girls in DeSoto County with fun, evidence-based programs that inspire them to recognize their inner strength, increase their level of physical activity, imagine their possibilities, and confidently stand up for themselves and others? Desoto Middle School and West Elementary School are two local schools with students that recently participated in Girls on the Run programs.

In August, Girls on the Run received a $5,796 grant from the William G. and Marie Selby Foundation for new technology to support its work. Learn more about the Selby Foundation’s grant process online at SelbyFdn.org for your nonprofit serving DeSoto County, or reach out to Grants Manager Elizabeth Power at EPower@SelbyFdn.org

To learn more about how students at your school can participate in Girls on the Run of Southwest Florida’s engaging and results-focused programs, email Kristen Manomat at kristen.manomat@girlsontherun.org 

Get Ready for College Scholarships: Selby Foundation Will Visit Your Youth-Serving Group! By Susie Bowie, President/CEO, William G. and Marie Selby Foundation

Do you have juniors or seniors in your youth-serving group that would like to learn about scholarships and financial aid for college? Kiarra Womack, Senior Scholarship Manager at the William G. and Marie Selby Foundation, is scheduling Fall visits in DeSoto County.

Available in person or via Zoom, Kiarra will talk with your high school student about how to find and secure financial aid, including scholarships, and how to become a Selby Scholar. The Selby Scholarship is a renewable scholarship awarded to graduating high school students for up to four years of college. Students have significant financial need and demonstrate academic preparedness, academic rigor, grit, resourcefulness, and commitment to their community.

Schedule your visit while available spaces are open and help the young leaders in your life join the DeSoto County college students who are Selby Scholars! For more information, email Kiarra at KWomack@SelbyFdn.org or visit SelbyFdn.org.

Volunteer with The Patterson Foundation

We’re building a network of passionate volunteers to support TPF’s community initiatives, and we’d love your help. Volunteering with TPF means joining a team that collaborates with care and purpose, embraces new ideas, fosters joyful stewardship, and focuses on shared aspirations to uplift our four-county region.

-- Want to learn more? Fill out our Volunteer Inquiry Form

-- Ready to get started? Complete our Volunteer Registration Form

DeSoto County Community Champions Spotlight: Fernando Zepeda Jr.

We are proud to celebrate Coach Fernando Zepeda Jr. as the very first DeSoto County Community Champion chosen directly by the community. Building on the tradition of honoring outstanding individuals selected by the DeSoto Digest team in the past, this recognition is unique because Coach Zepeda was nominated and elevated by community members themselves.

One person who nominated him shared, "Coach Fernando, for the last three years, was a three-time consecutive district champion, regional champion, final four states for soccer, three-time coach of the year, and recently shaved his head in support of one of his softball players who was diagnosed with cancer. Has gone above and beyond for children. True asset to our community."

Coach Fernando has lived in DeSoto County for 35 years. He's entering his 7th season as the boys' varsity soccer coach and his 2nd season as assistant varsity softball coach. 

His favorite thing about DeSoto County is always seeing familiar faces around town. Although DeSoto County is growing, he appreciates that there is still a down-home feeling and an increasing support in youth sports from the community. His aspirations for DeSoto County center on helping mold young adults into respectful, productive members of the community. Learn more about him here!

Barancik Foundation Awards Over $8.1 Million in Grants

The Barancik Foundation’s Board of Directors approved $8,154,945 in grants to fund the vital work of nonprofits in Sarasota and the surrounding region. For the sake of the DeSoto Digest, we will focus on the grants awarded that include DeSoto County:

• Links to Success – $570,000 to connect more families in DeSoto County with the education and resources they need to thrive.
• MCR Health – $391,000 to increase philanthropic support and brand awareness for its low-cost, high-quality healthcare services.

Their Board also earmarked funding for two of its ongoing initiatives:


• $800,000 in matching funds for First 1,000 Days Suncoast, which connects families with resources for healthy childhood development from pregnancy through age two.
• $167,445 through the Foundation’s Recidivism Initiative to support reentry navigators and other programming at the Sarasota County and DeSoto County jails to help inmates successfully reintegrate into the community after their release.

Learn more here. 

News From The Suncoast Campaign For Grade Level Reading’s (SCGLR)



Kindergarten Countdown: Ready for Takeoff! School started a few weeks ago, and our rising kindergarteners have taken off! SCGLR is proud to once again provide Kindergarten Readiness Bags for the 2025–26 school year to incoming kindergarteners in Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee, and Sarasota counties. Funded by TPF with generous support from the Rotary Club of Sarasota Foundation in Sarasota County, these bags are filled with developmentally appropriate tools to help families prepare their children for school.

THIS KID IS COOL: THIS BOOK IS COOL! served over 3,000 families with more than 4,000 registered children who received their backpack filled with 20 FREE books for summer and beyond. TBIC! Has delivered 82,000 books across the Suncoast.

Suncoast Summer Reading Challenge Launches: SCGLR also offers THIS BOOK IS COOL! In School. Thanks to the overwhelming success of the summer program, SCGLR saw an opportunity to expand and support educators during the school year. In fall 2020, they began collaborating with teachers and administrators across our four-county region to develop standards-based lesson plans, classroom resources, and family engagement activities, all designed to help children become superstar readers.

Pop-Up Neighbor Through Laundry in DeSoto: A Pop-Up Neighbor Through Laundry event was held in DeSoto County late July, which was a joyful celebration of community, connection, and care. Thanks to the generosity of The Patterson Foundation, 87 families were able to clean 932 loads of laundry—free of charge. The strength of our collaboration in DeSoto County was on full display: 

-- Hailey Tallman of First 1,000 Days Suncoast provided vital information and diapers to families, with enthusiastic assistance from 14-year-old Sophia Szeremy, a dedicated Sarasota Memorial Hospital volunteer.

-- Alma Ovalle, representing United Way Suncoast, shared the many supports available locally.

-- Clara Alvarez brought the message of connectivity through Digital Access for All,

-- Karissa Roosa and Nelle Miller led a team from All Faiths Food Bank in distributing apples, potatoes, and corn from their fresh produce truck.

-- We were also uplifted by the presence and helping hands of Chelsea Palmer from Team Arcadia; Beth Carsten, Administrator for the City of Arcadia; Irene Cerna, South Florida State College's DeSoto Campus Coordinator, and her son Pedro; Arcadia resident Laura Nico and her daughter Michelle Nico-Solis; and 16-year-old volunteer Kennedy Cole. Together, they helped create an atmosphere filled with connection, caring, and the spirit of contributing.

If you're an educator in Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee, or Sarasota counties and want to bring this engaging literacy program to your classroom, click here to explore the possibilities, thanks to the generosity of The Patterson Foundation. Learn more here. 

My Paper Route in Arcadia and DeSoto County by Sherry Oehler, consultant with TPF

On one day every month, I hit the road with a stack of DeSoto Digest monthly newsletters in the back seat of my car in both English and Spanish, making stops all across Arcadia and throughout DeSoto County. I’ve come to affectionately call it my paper route—not just because I’m delivering papers (DeSoto Digest Newsletters), but because it feels like I’m making lifelong connections with friends and family in my neighborhood. 

A year ago, TPF newsletters were greeted with a wondering look, but now, they are greeted with excitement and open arms because they are filled with knowledge, resources, announcements, community features, and guest articles from residents. Continue reading about Sherry’s monthly route in DeSoto and how she engages with kind-hearted folks from DeSoto County who always greet her with a welcoming smile. Learn more about Sherry’s paper route and the people she meets along the way here!

United Way Suncoast & Results 1st Announces Cohort Members

United Way Suncoast & Results First Announces Cohort Members

A collaborative effort between United Way Suncoast and Results 1st continues! Results 1st is a program that helps nonprofits achieve their goals. United Way Suncoast strives to support nonprofits by providing them with the resources and expertise they need to succeed. They have announced the following Results 1st Cohort members in DeSoto:

• Drug Free DeSoto Coalition
• Arcadia Main Street Program, Inc.
• Hope DeSoto Long Term Recovery Group, Inc.
• Catholic Charities
• DeSoto Memorial Hospital

Links2Success’s “Science at the Sea” summer STEM Camp by Ashley Coone

Students from DeSoto County had an exciting summer of discovery and hands-on learning through Links2Success’s free STEM camp opportunities: Science at the Sea and Intro to Roblox Game Design.

During Science at the Sea, hosted by Minorities in Shark Sciences, students explored the natural wonders of Florida’s coastal environment. They studied local ecosystems, learned how to assess water quality using scientific tools, and identified marine life through seine netting. Campers also had the chance to kayak through mangroves—an unforgettable experience that combined science and adventure.

In the Intro to Roblox Game Design camp, hosted by State College of Florida, students dove into the world of coding and digital creativity. They learned how to build their own 3D games using Roblox Studio, gaining valuable skills in logic, game mechanics, and collaborative problem-solving.

These enriching camps were made possible thanks to the generous support of Florida Power & Light and the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation.

Desoto County’s First Hospital-Based Wellness Market by All Faiths Food Bank

In late July, All Faiths Food Bank and DeSoto Memorial Hospital officially opened DeSoto County’s first hospital-based Wellness Market — a 24/7 pantry providing patients with access to fresh, medically-tailored food as part of their discharge plan.

Nurses and administrative staff will personally select and distribute healthy foods to patients who have been identified as food insecure. The patients will then be connected with All Faiths for an opportunity to receive additional food and benefits assistance.

This partnership is designed to reduce readmissions and improve health outcomes by addressing food insecurity as a critical health issue — especially in rural communities facing reduced federal and state nutrition support amid recent government funding cuts.

Thank you to DeSoto Memorial Hospital and the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation for making this possible!

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Discover DeSoto Gem

Our Discover DeSoto series spotlights unique places, hidden treasures, and can’t-miss activities that make this community special. Have a favorite hidden gem? Complete this form to let us know!

3 Reasons to Participate in a “New Civic Path” Book Circle

1. Meet New People: Joining a book circle is a unique opportunity to meet and engage with new people from your community. Each book circle will consist of six to ten participants.
2. Be a Part of a Group that Shapes a Better Future: What's possible when we come together? What good could we do in our community? And what role can I play? Explore these questions and more with your book circle group.
3. Be a Philanthropist: Each book circle that gathers for three meetings between July and October of 2025 has the opportunity to award a $300 donation to a regional nonprofit of their choice listed on The Giving Partner. 

Click here for more reasons to join or register here.