From a catastrophic storm to an unpaid bill for a family working to make ends meet, people routinely face unforeseen challenges that affect their well-being. Understanding that disaster takes many forms, The Patterson Foundation works to create outcomes that strengthen people, organizations, and communities recovering from challenging circumstances. Season of Sharing provides a time-tested and trusted resource for neighbors to support one another, whatever the crisis.

The Patterson Foundation has provided $6.9 million to Season of Sharing through matching funds. Here is a yearly breakdown of this support:

2021 – Donors throughout the four-county region gave $4.4 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.

Visit the Community Foundation of Sarasota County to donate.

For more information, contact Stacey Gadeken in initiative support: sgadeken@thepattersonfoundation.org.