Sarasota Magazine: How YOU MATTER is Inspiring a Wave of Kindness

The following article was written by Gulf Coast Community Foundation and appeared on Sarasota Magazine’s website on March 21, 2025. 

“A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees,” Amelia Earhart.

‘Better Together’ is an idea that has deep roots at Gulf Coast Community Foundation (Gulf Coast), both in the work we do with our donors and the community. Gulf Coast explored the concept of Better Together as an annual luncheon that began in 2004 bringing innovators to the area to discuss emerging issues and pitch big ideas for transforming our region. Speakers included Pulitzer Prize-winning historian David McCullough, Harvard Law Professor and Author Noah Feldman, nutrition guru Dr. Andrew Weill, and Shark Tank star Daymond John. In 2023 and 2024, Better Together transformed into a vibrant State Street Block Party with live performances, music, and activities that celebrated education, arts, health and human services, and the environment. Instead of a block party or speaker luncheon, this year’s annual Better Together celebration is the YOU MATTER Kindness Campaign – and you can be a part of it!

Mark your calendars, as the kindness campaign kicks off the week of March 24. We’re inviting our donors, nonprofit partners, and the entire community to spread love and kindness through the exchange of YOU MATTER cards. These special cards have been mailed to Gulf Coast’s family of donors, nonprofit partners, and professional advisors. To amplify the message, our team hand delivered colorful baskets filled with YOU MATTER cards to partner organizations eager to share the YOU MATTER message far and wide. YOU MATTER cards are also available for pickup at Gulf Coast’s Venice Headquarters (601 Tamiami Trail S., Venice) and our downtown Sarasota Philanthropy Center (1549 State St., Sarasota). 

“We want everyone in our region to know YOU MATTER today, tomorrow, and always,” shared Gulf Coast’s Director of Brand Engagement Kelly Borgia. Sharing YOU MATTER cards are a simple but powerful reminder to someone that they matter in this world. “You can share the card with anyone — a cashier at the grocery store, a colleague, a friend, a neighbor on your morning walk, or the server at your favorite local restaurant,” said Borgia. “I gave my first YOU MATTER card to the baristas at my go-to coffee shop. I took a moment to look them in the eye and say, ‘Thank you! I appreciate you!’ and gave them the YOU MATTER card. They were delighted by the positive moment of recognition, and I hope they found an opportunity to PASS IT ON.” When you receive a YOU MATTER card, we encourage you to pass it along to someone who could use a reminder that they are loved, they are important, they matter. Scan the QR code on the card to share your experience of giving or receiving the card on our YOU MATTER Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1711979363087897.

The Gulf Coast team will be spreading the YOU MATTER message alongside our friends at Embracing Our Differences during their “Celebration of Kindness” event at Bayfront Park on Sunday, March 30. This special gathering will bring people together in the spirit of kindness, reinforcing the power of small gestures to make a big difference in someone’s life.

While the YOU MATTER Kindness Campaign officially runs from March 24–30, kindness doesn’t have an expiration date! A single moment of thoughtfulness can brighten someone’s entire day and inspire them to pass that kindness along. By continuing to share YOU MATTER cards, we can create a ripple effect of generosity and compassion, building a culture where everyone feels seen, valued, and connected.

Just as Amelia Earhart noted, a single act of kindness can take root and grow into something much greater.  By joining together in this initiative, we are planting seeds for a future filled with compassion, connection, and community. After all, we are better together.