December 2009 – Present
Season of Sharing
The Purpose
Strengthening the Impact
To strengthen community generosity, The Patterson Foundation has provided $7.5 million in matching funds for several consecutive years to support Season of Sharing. The campaign has raised more than $38 million to help more than 44,500 people get back on their feet.
Visit the Community Foundation of Sarasota County to learn more and donate.
FAQ's
Why does The Patterson Foundation support this initiative?
What is the impact of The Patterson Foundation’s support of Season of Sharing?
2022 – Starting just over a month following Hurricane Ian’s landfall in southwest Florida, Season of Sharing raised $3.67 million through thousands of generous community donations. Once more, The Patterson Foundation contributed $100,000 for every $500,000 raised by the community to catalyze donations throughout the campaign — resulting in six $100,000 gifts being activated.
2021 – Donors throughout the four-county region gave $4.45 million during the holiday campaign — breaking the record for the largest donation total in Season of Sharing’s 22-year history. Through Jan. 31, 2022, The Patterson Foundation contributed $100,000 to Season of Sharing for every $500,000 donated by the community. Its seven separate $100,000 contributions to Season of Sharing were the most contributions ever activated in a single campaign.
2020 – In response to COVID-19, Season of Sharing was reactivated in March 2020 to help families and individuals facing unforeseen financial hardship brought on by the pandemic — raising $2.8 million. The Patterson Foundation contributed an immediate $500,000 gift to the campaign and a $500,000 dollar-for-dollar match, which the community achieved in less than a month.
During the 2020–2021 holiday campaign, The Patterson Foundation continued to strengthen donors with $100,000 gifts triggered each time the community raised $500,000. More than 3,200 donors contributed nearly 3,800 gifts worth more than $3.7 million from November 2020 through January 2021, including $600,000 total in matching gifts from The Patterson Foundation.
Between both efforts, Season of Sharing raised more than $6.5 million to provide stability to the community’s most vulnerable.
Beyond these contributions, The Patterson Foundation provided a one-time honorarium of more than $450,000 total to the fiscal agents and community agencies strengthening Season of Sharing in celebration of their efforts to connect people in need with these funds.
2019 – Season of Sharing celebrated its 20th year by achieving its largest donation total to date, with more than $2.5 million from over 3,000 individual gifts. This generosity triggered four $100,000 gifts from The Patterson Foundation, with each $500,000 raised by the community during the campaign.
2018 – Nearly 3,000 people contributed to a $2 million total during Season of Sharing. The Patterson Foundation strengthened giving with additional $100,000 contributions for every $500,000 raised by the community.
2017 – For the third consecutive year, The Patterson Foundation gave $100,000 each time the community raised $500,000 — bringing its total contribution to Season of Sharing to $3.9 million since 2010. More than 2,900 individual donors gave over $2 million to families and individuals in need.
2016 – The Patterson Foundation once more provided $100,000 contributions for every $500,000 raised by the community. Season of Sharing donors gave over 2,900 individual gifts totaling more than $2 million.
2015 – The Patterson Foundation provided $100,000 for every $500,000 raised by the community — without a cap. Our region raised more than $2 million to support 2,800 families on the verge of homelessness.
2014 – The Patterson Foundation provided the Season of Sharing initiative with $2,726,224 in matching funds, which attracted $6,646,219 from 16,664 total gifts.
November 2013 – The Patterson Foundation announced it would match up to $500,000 in new or increased donations made to Season of Sharing.
February 2012 – The 2011–2012 Season of Sharing campaign reached a new milestone of $1.6 million, supported by a $500,000 match by The Patterson Foundation.
July 2012 – The Patterson Foundation announced a $250,000 match for donations made to the Diane McFarlin Season of Sharing Endowment Fund, which ensures emergency funds for families on the verge of homelessness will always be available.
November 2011 – The Patterson Foundation issued a $500,000 matching challenge for all new or increased donations made to Season of Sharing.
2010 – The Patterson Foundation issued a $500,000 match for all new or increased donations made to Season of Sharing.
2009 – The Patterson Foundation contributed a $250,000 catalytic contribution and a $250,000 matching challenge to Season of Sharing.