The Community Foundation has agreed to a five-year commitment to ITNSarasota, which has resulted in a combined total of over $250,000 over the past three years. Their donations have helped ITNSarasota pay for insurance, scheduling, mileage reimbursement and other administrative costs.

Without the generous support of The Community Foundation of Sarasota County and other invaluable foundations in Southwest Florida, the area would not have seen such remarkable growth in charitable giving. Organizations like ITNSarasota rely heavily on community support in order to provide their services. For more information on how you can contribute to ITNSarasota’s growth, visit their website at www.itnsarasota.org.

Read the full article.

Christopher M. Pinckney: Chris is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch where he and his wife, Johanna Gustafsson, operate a wealth management practice for the benefit of affluent families and successful businesses.

Teresa K. Bowman, Esq.: Teresa is an associate attorney with the firm of Boyer & Jackson, P.A. and practices in the areas of Estate Planning, Medicaid Planning, Long Term Care Planning, Probate, and Special Needs Trusts.

Nicci Kobritz, R.N. N.P: Nicci is President & CEO of Youthful Aging Home Health, one of the nation’s first, if not the first, home health care “boutique” practice.

Scott Carpenter: Scott is President of cPR – Carpenter Public Relations, an award winning public relations firm in Southern Florida.

ITNSarasota is one of the fastest growing non-profits in Sarasota County, and these new additions to the board will be instrumental in continuing ITNSarasota’s success.

Read the full bio of these and other ITNSarasota board members.

“We would not have been able to launch this safe, affordable, and sustainable transportation alternative to the community without the caring support of the Community Foundation!” says Art Mahoney, ITNSarasota Board Chair. “We’ve implemented an innovative model whereby seniors and visually impaired adults now have access to arm-through-arm, door-through-door, cost-effective transportation when they want it and for whatever reason. That’s great news for the thousands of older adults and visually impaired in our service area.”

“I’ll be 80 years old next month, but still want to live life to the fullest, stay active and be involved in the community,” Sarasota resident and ITN member, Barbara said. “This service allows us to schedule our appointments, shopping, and visits to the Volunteer Friendship Center when we choose and not have to depend on someone else’s availability. My daughter is wonderful and can often take us places, but she has a full-time job. ITNSarasota was her gift to us and it has helped my husband and I regain some of the independence we lost when we stopped driving,” said Theresa.

ITNSarasota is one of 16 ITN affiliates in communities nationwide that replicates the successful, nonprofit membership organization begun in Portland, Maine nearly 20 years ago by Katherine Freund. Freund, now founder and president of ITNAmerica, is a national leader in senior transportation issues.

“The Community Foundation of Sarasota County has helped us launch this exciting service locally, and a diversified base of community support will keep us growing,” says ITNSarasota Executive Director, Donna Dunio. “Individuals, businesses, community organizations and most especially Volunteer Drivers are invited to contribute to and participate in this dignified transportation option for seniors and adults with visual impairment. Dunio added, “Our Volunteer Drivers are our heroes – think how rewarding your help and companionship would be to a senior who can no longer get behind the wheel!” For more information on how YOU can be a Volunteer Driver for ITNSarasota contact ITNSarasota at (941) 364-7530 or www.itnsarasota.org.”

Judi Gallagher, ABC 7 Culinary Director and Celebrity Chef, Cliff Roles, radio show host of Talk of the Sun Coast, 1280 AM WTMY and Nora Patterson, Sarasota County Commissioner were on site as Celebrity Volunteer Drivers to give member-riders a unique ride.

“We are so pleased to have the support of these caring local celebrities as our safe, affordable, and sustainable transportation alternative for this community becomes a reality,” says Sophia LaRusso, chair of the First Rides Event. “We’ve implemented an innovative model whereby seniors and visually impaired adults now have access to arm-through-arm, door-through-door, cost-effective transportation when they want it and for whatever reason. That’s great news for the thousands of older adults and visually impaired in our service area.”

The Community Foundation of Sarasota County played an instrumental role in ITNSarasota’s growing success. Phil Gorelick, Board Chair of ITNSarasota, presented Stewart Stearns, President of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County a “gift” on behalf of ITNSarasota in honor of his many years of outstanding service to the community.

“We are so grateful for the extensive planning support and start-up funds provided by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. They helped us launch this exciting service locally, and a diversified base of community support will keep us growing,” says ITNSarasota Executive Director, Donna Dunio. “The individuals, businesses, community organizations, and volunteer drivers who attended our “First Rides” Event have all enabled us to provide this dignified transportation option for seniors and the visually impaired!” For more information about ITNSarasota call (941) 364-7530 or go to www.itnsarasota.org.

View the image gallery.
Katherine Freund, founder and CEO of ITNAmerica speaking at the ITNSarasota First Rides Event
Great group shot of event
David Shukovsky, Linda Abromson, Phil Gorelick
Linda Abromson and Katherine Freund
Donna Dunnio, Sophia LaRusso and three members-riders
Guest, County Commissioner Nora Patterson and Sophia LaRusso
Sophia LaRusso and Judi Gallagher ABC 7 Culinary Director and local Celebrity Chef

ITNSarasota™, a community based non-profit agency providing dignified transportation for seniors and adults with visual impairment, is celebrating its “First Rides” with a community event on Monday, April 19th at 2:00 p.m. at the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. Chairing the event is Sophia LaRusso, an active community volunteer, past ITNSarasota board member, and former board chair of The Community Foundation of Sarasota County.


Many local celebrities will be attending the celebration as volunteer drivers. These celebrities include Judi Gallagher, ABC 7 Culinary Director and Celebrity Chef, Cliff Roles, radio show host of Talk of the Sun Coast, 1280 AM WTMY, Nora Patterson, Sarasota County Commissioner plus other local celebrity guests.


The “First Rides” event marks the start of continued mobility and independence for many residents who have already joined the ITNSarasota community. “We are so grateful for the extensive planning support and start-up funds provided by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County,” says ITNSarasota Executive Director, Donna Dunio. “They helped us launch this exciting service locally, and a diversified base of community support will keep us growing.”


Individuals, businesses, community organizations, and volunteer drivers are invited to not only attend the “First Rides” event but to contribute to and participate in this dignified transportation option for seniors by contacting ITNSarasota at (941) 364-7530 or www.itnsarasota.org.

Less than a decade after the very first Walk for Rides™ fundraising event, Katherine Freund is embarking on a 24-hour, round-the-clock walk, in support of ITNAmerica and all affiliates. The walk is around Back Cove in Portland, Maine on June 18-19. Katherine will be traveling around the country gathering support for her walk. Congresswoman Chellie Pingree, representing the 1st District of Maine, will join Katherine on June 18 to show her support for ITNAmerica and senior transportation.
If you are interested in walking with Katherine, please sign up on our website. You can register online to walk as part of Katherine’s team, and then share your page with friends and family asking them to sponsor your walk. If you can’t be with Katherine to walk in Maine, register as an individual to walk in your community. You can also promote your page on Facebook and Twitter to let more people know about Katherine’s 24-hour walk. Anyone, anywhere in the country can walk to support ITNAmerica in our Walk for Rides.

WESTBROOK ME – A generous grant from The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation has enabled ITNAmerica to expand its successful internship program supporting sustainable transportation resources for seniors across the country.

“The initial funding for this innovative project yielded such successful outcomes we’re doing it again,” says Katherine Freund, President and Founder of ITNAmerica. “With the Foundation’s funding of nine interns in affiliate communities across the country, we raised awareness about our services while also raising significantly more money than we spent.”

The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation has supported the needs of low-income seniors for over 50 years. The Foundation’s 2009 grant to ITNAmerica enabled participating affiliates to generate more than $130,000 in revenue, with $20,000 of that money reserved for ITN®’s Road Scholarship Program™ for low-income seniors. In this way, the grant helped build community support for senior mobility, enabled access for all seniors, and ensured the special needs of low income seniors were not forgotten.

“The interns helped us build support that will continue to generate funds year after year,” says Freund. “With as many as 20 interns in affiliate communities across the country in 2010, we anticipate even greater success with what has now become The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Internship Program. This support will expand our commitment to more transportation resources for more people in more places.”

“Volunteering — Your Path to Revitalizing Your Retirement, Your Chance to Matter”

Where:
Gulfcoast Event & Conference Center of Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Inc.
4740 Cattlemen Road
Sarasota, FL

When:
Friday, November 13, 2009

Time
9:30 – 9:45 a.m.
Continental Breakfast reception

9:45 – 10:45 a.m.
Presentations and Discussion

10:45 – 11:15 a.m.
ITNSarasota Volunteer registration

Must
Please RSVP to 941-364-7530.
Can’t attend but still want to learn more? Please call or visit www.itnsarasota.org.

Please click here to see the invitation.

SARASOTA — Alderman Oaks is co-hosting a forum on volunteer transportation for seniors Sept. 10 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Tanice Knopp, executive director of ITNSarasota, will speak on how volunteer drivers can make a difference. The forum will be held at The Community Foundation of Sarasota County, 2635 Fruitville Road.

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