Designing Daughters of Sarasota's gala earns over $50,000 for local nonprofits

Designing Daughters of Sarasota (DesigningDaughtersSarasota.com), a charitable organization of young professional women dedicated to enhancing the community and cultivating the next generation of philanthropists through strategic granting, recently earned over $50,000 during its annual fashionable gala.

On Friday, April 22, Servandos in Sarasota was transformed into a savvy modern-day Havana club. More than 300 guests of Designing Daughter of Sarasota members and supporters enjoyed Cuban hors d’oeuvres, mojito and cigar rolling bars, gaming tables and high-energy tunes from DJ Joey D.

Guests departed the event enjoying Cuban coffee and ice cream sandwiches as a sweet treat. The proceeds from the gala will directly benefit the Designing Daughters of Sarasota’s grant program.

Directly benefiting local nonprofits, all proceeds will be awarded to local charity organizations. Last year, the group raised $43,000 and handed out 13 grants between $1,600 and $5,000 to local nonprofits. This year’s funds will be given out at the end of the year.

“We could not be more grateful to our members and supporters in the community who made this year’s fashionable gala such a success!” said Jennifer Rust, president of Designing Daughters of Sarasota. “The funds raised at this event will be distributed right back into the Sarasota/Bradenton community at the end of the year through our granting initiative.”

The event co-chairs are Kelsey Alholm, Meghan Buchanan, Lauren Graham Wohlwend and Ashley Markley.

About Designing Daughters of Sarasota

Shelley Lister, then a Designing Women Boutique board member, founded Designing Daughters in 2009. The charitable organization was formed as a committee to attract younger supporters and to help the organization with its fundraising efforts. Along with founding President Nikki Taylor, past Presidents Jane Thompson and Montana Taplinger and current President Jennifer Rust and others, the committee grew far beyond expectations. As of January 2015, because of this growth, Designing Daughters of Sarasota partnered with the Community Foundation of Sarasota County to maximize its giving potential.

Designing Daughters of Sarasota’s goal is to give grants to several local charities each year and with almost no overhead. Designing Daughters of Sarasota is made up of an impressive list of local, young and influential women who are well connected in the community and have been very successful in forming strategic alliances and getting underwriters to cover the expenses for these events.