Local news- Press Release
Sarasota Parks and Rec Florida - The Bay Park Conservancy reaches another fundraising milestone 09 January 2024 ( news )
Sarasota Parks and Rec , state Florida ( By Press Release office)
Jan 09,2024
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Media Contact:
DREAMLARGE
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Main: 941 - 548 - 9889 Cell: 941 - 786 - 8732
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www . dreamlarge . org
Sarasota , FL – The Bay Park Conservancy ( BPC ) , the non - profit organization responsible for designing , developing , operating and programming a signature public park on 53 acres of City - owned land along Sarasota Bay , has reached another significant milestone . Thanks to generous donors , local businesses and other friends in the community , The Bay has raised a third $5 million from private sources , triggering a third $1 million match from The Patterson Foundation’s ( TPF’s ) current challenge match – resulting in a total cumulative TPF gift of more than $8 million to date .
This additional match marks the third major milestone in The Patterson Foundation’s challenge for the $24 million campaign announced in July 2021 , which has now generated over $15 million from private philanthropic , community sources , and matches . All funds will be used to operate , maintain and program the first 10 acres of The Bay which has been visited by more than 300 , 000 park guests .
“We live in a region where the heart of generosity beats vibrantly , and indeed , The Bay has been the beneficiary and exemplar of excellent stewardship . Over the last five years , generous donors have enabled ‘one park for all’ to become a reality , ” says Debra Jacobs , President and CEO of The Patterson Foundation .
“From the beginning of The Bay , The Patterson Foundation has been supportive , encouraging and generous , ” says AG Lafley , The Bay Park Conservancy CEO . “Debra Jacobs has been inspiring and steadfast in her support of The Bay Park Conservancy and The Bay Park . ”
In 2019 - 21 , The Patterson Foundation generously donated $5 million to support the initial $20 million challenge campaign to start up The Bay Park . In July 2021 , The Patterson Foundation announced its continued support for The Bay by committing up to an additional $4 million in matching funds to catalyze private donations for developing and operating the first phase of the park . Each time private philanthropy donates $5 million to The Bay through 2024 , The Patterson Foundation will provide a $1 million match , up to a total contribution of $4 million . TPF’s contribution coupled with $20 million in private philanthropy results in a total investment of $24 million to The Bay .
This current challenge match follows a previous $5 million challenge match provided by The Patterson Foundation which donors achieved in July 2022 .
The Bay Park Conservancy is well on its way of raising the next $5 million from philanthropists to earn the fourth and final $1 million The Patterson Foundation match by the end of 2024 . Every dollar and every donor matters toward achieving this next important fundraising milestone . Jacobs adds , “…there is still one more $1 million on the table , so I encourage you to be part of donating the next $5 million to make that match happen . ”
For more information about The Bay and The Bay Park Conservancy , visit
www . thebaysarasota . org
or contact Julia Groom at
julia@dreamlarge . org
or 941 - 786 - 8732 .
About The Bay
The Bay is a signature , public park along Sarasota Bay . Designed to be “one park for all , ” The Bay is open and accessible , free and welcoming to the full and rich diversity of the community , now and for generations to come .
The Bay preserves , restores and transforms 53 acres of precious city - owned land along Sarasota Bay into a blue and green oasis - providing a sustainable bayfront gathering place for the community to experience and enjoy a wide range of park uses , free programs and events .
The park recently celebrated the one - year anniversary of the first 10 - acre phase which opened in October 2022 . More than 250 , 000 people visited the park in the first year . Design and development of Phase 2 , the next 14 - acre $65 million development , began last summer . The completed park in total will cost an estimated $175 - 200 million and will take approximately 8 - 10 years to complete over four or more phases .
About The Bay Park Conservancy
The Bay Park Conservancy ( BPC ) was formed as a 501c3 not - for - profit organization in 2019 to implement the Master Plan approved by the Sarasota City Commission to conserve 53 acres of public land for a signature park along Sarasota Bay . The BPC entered a long - term partnership with the City to help fund , develop , operate , maintain and program the park for the benefit of the community now , and for generations to come .
For more information about The Bay and The Bay Park Conservancy ,
www . thebaysarasota . org
About The Patterson Foundation
The Patterson Foundation strengthens the efforts of people , organizations and communities . The Foundation focuses on issues that address common aspirations and foster wide participation , along with ways organizations learn and share as they evolve . For more information , please visit
www . Thepattersonfoundation . org
and connect with
@ThePattersonFdnon Twitter .
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