Milestones & History

Celebrating Our Generous Community

The buildup to the 2018 Giving Challenge was powerful. More than 630 nonprofits located in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, and DeSoto counties passionately shared their missions and the valuable work they do to make an impact. Since 2012, The Patterson Foundation has supported the Giving Challenge with match funding to inspire generosity. To date, the Giving Challenge has raised more than $39 million.

Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading Receives Multiple Honors

The Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading received a variety of accolades during Grade-Level Reading Week in Denver. The Campaign was recognized for exemplary work to unite the community and engage families in an effort to increase reading proficiency and combat the challenges that can undermine early literacy.

• All-America City Award
• Pacesetter Honor
• Excellence in Communications for Best Website
• Excellence in Communications for Best Media Story
• Excellence in Communications for Best Event

Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading Launches

Part of the national movement, Manatee and Sarasota counties in Florida develop a regional approach to improving early childhood literacy by forming the Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading through support from The Patterson Foundation and other community partners.

Patriot Plaza Dedication

More than 3,000 community members gather as the $12 million Patriot Plaza at Sarasota National Cemetery in Florida is dedicated and donated to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ National Cemetery Administration.

Legacy of Valor Campaign Launches

Honoring veterans, inspiring patriotism, and embracing freedom in Southwest Florida leading up to Patriot Plaza’s dedication, the Legacy of Valor Campaign touches more than 475,000 people through 100 collaborative partnerships that results in 200 events honoring veterans and their families.

Nine Initiatives Created to Honor the Family

• Aging with Dignity and Independence
• Arthritis Foundation – Florida Chapter
• Bringing Science Home
• Caregiver Connect
• Collaboratory at Ringling College of Art and Design
• EdExploreSRQ
• New Media Journalism
• Patriot Plaza
• Sister M. Lucia Haas Scholarship Endowment

A Formalized Governance

The Patterson Foundation trust formalizes its governance structure and names three members to its Governing Board. After a nationwide search, Debra Jacobs is named the first President and CEO of The Patterson Foundation.

Dorothy Creates The Patterson Foundation

Dorothy Patterson creates a trust named The Patterson Foundation with a corpus of $3 million. Dorothy was never one to consider herself “rich” and she felt that the money left to her was not hers alone, so she practiced “kitchen-table philanthropy” and supported community charities close to her heart.

Jim and Dorothy Retired to Sarasota

Jim and Dorothy Patterson retire to Longboat Key in Sarasota, Florida, and become very active in the community while maintaining their trademark down-to-earth personalities.

Jim Joins The Daily News

Jim Patterson joins The Daily News as a reporter in its Washington Bureau.

Jim Graduates from West Point and Marries Dorothy

Jim Patterson graduates from West Point and marries his high school sweetheart Dorothy Clarke.

The First Broadcast Licenses In New York and Chicago

Working together, The Chicago Tribune and The Daily News secure the first radio and television broadcast licenses in Chicago and New York.

Capt. Patterson Creates The Daily News

Jim Patterson's father, Capt. Joseph Medill Patterson, who worked in editorial for the Chicago Tribune, left Chicago to create The Daily News in New York City, which is considered the first “tabloid” in history because of its innovative use of photos and comics to tell the news.

Medill Buys the Tribune

Joseph Medill buys into the failing Chicago Tribune and transforms it into one of the most prominent newspapers in the nation, using it to help create the Republican Party and get Abraham Lincoln elected president.