Legacy of Valor

March 2013 – November 2014

Legacy of Valor

The Purpose

Over several generations, members of the Patterson family served their country with distinction. The Legacy of Valor campaign honored them and all of our nation’s veterans and their families, as community partners and participants generated excitement leading up to the dedication of Patriot Plaza at Sarasota National Cemetery in Florida.

Strengthening the Impact

The Patterson Foundation supported more than 100 community partnerships and 200 events touching more than 475,000 people throughout Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte and DeSoto counties during the campaign. Our caring community rallied around the more than 100,000 veterans and their families who live and work in these counties. Through “Freedom. Pass It On.” — a call to action — the campaign built enthusiasm through events as the community honored veterans, inspired patriotism, and embraced freedom. That enthusiasm lives on at Patriot Plaza as our community uses the space to honor veterans and their stories for generations to come.

FAQ's

Click on frequently asked questions below to learn more about this initiative...

Why did The Patterson Foundation support this initiative?

To honor the Patterson family’s history of military service and the service and sacrifice of all of our nation’s veterans, The Patterson Foundation created the Legacy of Valor campaign to strengthen how our community honors veterans, inspires patriotism, and embraces freedom leading up to the dedication of Patriot Plaza at Sarasota National Cemetery.

What organizations did The Patterson Foundation partner with during the Legacy of Valor campaign?

The Patterson Foundation collaborated with more than 100 community organizations to facilitate events and outreach honoring veterans and their families. Partners included:

ArtCenter Manatee
Baltimore Orioles
Bradenton Marauders
CareerSource Suncoast
Florida Maritime Museum
Florida Studio Theatre
Friendship Centers
Goodwill Manasota
Jacobites Pipe Band
Junior League of Sarasota
La Musica
Manatee County Agricultural Museum
Military Officers Association of America – Sarasota Chapter
New Balance Sarasota
North Port Art Center
North Port Concert Band
Palmetto Historical Park
Realize Bradenton
Sarasota Chalk Festival
Sarasota County Schools
Sarasota Farmers Market
Sarasota Film Festival
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Sarasota Military Academy
Sarasota National Cemetery
Sarasota National Cemetery Advisory Committee
South Florida Museum
The First Brass Ensemble
The Circus Arts Conservatory
The Hermitage Artist Retreat
The North Port Chorale
The Ringling
The Venice Chorale
The Venice Concert Band
Thunder by the Bay (Suncoast Charities for Children)
Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall
Venice Museum and Archives
Village of the Arts
Visible Men Academy
Wreaths Across America Sarasota
WSRZ 107.9
WWSB MySuncoast

What is the impact of the Legacy of Valor campaign?

There were many accomplishments during the Legacy of Valor campaign. Through this effort, The Patterson Foundation has generated lasting impact through the application of partnerships and effective communications resources. Here are the highlights:

Formed more than 100 collaborative partnerships — from existing to brand-new relationships
Developed more than 200 community events and activities honoring veterans
Generated more than 475,000 "touches" resulting from community interaction at the events
Raised more than $272,000 benefiting veterans’ programs at nonprofits that partnered with the campaign
Inspired local events with a veteran or patriotic theme beyond the campaign
Provided veterans the opportunity to share their stories
Enhanced operational capacity for the nonprofit community through on-demand consulting and training workshops
Fostered collaborative partnering among nonprofits
Heightened awareness of veterans and their families
Generated media campaigns around veterans
Received national recognition from and inclusion in initiatives like the Philanthropy-Joining Forces Impact Pledge and the National Philanthropy Caucus in Washington, D.C.

What is Freedom. Pass It On.?

The Legacy of Valor campaign featured community veterans from diverse branches and generations of service. The call to action — Freedom. Pass It On. — inspired the community to participate in the events and activities honoring veterans throughout the year.