A passion for Goodwill runs in this family

For father and son duo Robert and Rob Morris, volunteering on behalf of Goodwill Manasota is a family affair.

Robert served on the board of directors for at least 20 years, serving as chairman several times; this month, Rob will step down as chairman after two years leading the nonprofit.

Robert, who is the founder and chairman of the board of RAMAR Group Companies, was attracted to Goodwill Manasota because it operated like a for-profit entity, with metrics that made it easy for leadership to track the organization’s progress.

“The scale of Goodwill made it an enterprise that enabled the organization to pursue its mission vigorously and accomplish things on a scale that made a real difference in the community,” he said.

Throughout his childhood, Rob saw firsthand his family’s commitment to “giving back” as a routine part of life.

“We always donated to Goodwill,” Rob said. “I remember going through the closets and the garage many times, and I still remember the Goodwill truck coming to our house to pick up the bigger donations.”

Rob, who is president and CEO of RAMAR Group Companies and owner of Certified Fleet Services, came onto the board in 2008.

He has served on the audit finance committee and the Goodwill housing board. In 2015 and 2016, he was chairman; now he will serve as chair emeritus.

Rob is continuing the Goodwill tradition with his own family, regularly going through the house to select items to donate to Goodwill.

“A key factor in our success is the leadership that we have in place, with all working together to help us achieve our mission of changing lives through the power of work,” said Bob Rosinsky, president and CEO.

“We owe a debt of gratitude to Robert and Rob for their dedication to our organization and to bettering our community.”

— Submitted by Sharon Kunkel

Lakewood Ranch women’s giving circle now accepting grant applications

Sisterhood For Good, a donor-advised fund of the Lakewood Ranch Community Fund, is now accepting grant applications from nonprofit organizations and programs throughout the Sarasota-Manatee area that need help.

Applications can be submitted online at SisterhoodForGood. org and are due by April 15, to be selected for the 2017 grant distribution.

Sisterhood For Good raises funds to support projects and programs for a variety of causes, including women’s and children’s issues, animal welfare, arts and education, health and safety, and hunger and homelessness.

In 2016, the giving circle received a record number of applications and awarded grants to the following non-profits: Sarasota Manatee Association for Riding Therapy, Inc (SMART); Mark Wandall Foundation; Children’s Healthy Pantry; Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee/Food Bank of Manatee; and Child Protection Center, Inc.

Sisterhood For Good accepts unsolicited proposals for a variety of programs and causes. However, the group does not provide grants to support capital campaigns, operational funding, event fundraisers or sponsorships, lobbying of any kind, or endowments.

For more information on Sisterhood For Good or to complete a grant application for next year’s distribution, visit SisterhoodForGood.org.

— Submitted by Britney Guertin