Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch Community Impact
For over 20 years, the Suncoast Food & Wine Fest has transformed shared culinary experiences into meaningful community change.
100% of festival proceeds support charitable causes that strengthen our region – from education and health to youth programs and family support.
The values behind the festival
OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLE… SERVICE ABOVE SELF
Festival proceeds become grants that support nonprofit organizations aligned with Rotary’s mission of service, education, and opportunity.
The Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch oversees every step – from stewardship to review to distribution. We partner with trusted local organizations to ensure funds reach the people and places they’re needed most and create the greatest impact.
Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee has served elderly and disabled residents of Manatee County since 1972, providing nutritious meals and essential support. As community needs grew, the organization expanded its mission, with the “PLUS” representing a range of programs designed to support independence and well-being.
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Today, Meals on Wheels PLUS delivers far more than meals. Through home-delivered meals, the Food Bank of Manatee, the Daybreak Adult Day Center, and Friendship Dining Centers, the organization reaches individuals and families with food, care, and connection when it matters most.
“We are most grateful for the financial support we receive from Lakewood Ranch Rotary which benefits thousands of food-insecure children and their families right here in Manatee County.” Maribeth Phillips, President & CEO
Books for Kids, a project of the Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch, works to raise elementary reading levels by supporting comprehension, critical thinking, and a love of reading. Serving Title I schools in Manatee County, the program brings volunteers into classrooms to read with students, build relationships, and ensure every child takes books home to start their own library.
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Through its Monthly Reading Program and Weekly Kindergarten Program, Books for Kids provides consistent mentorship and individualized attention. Each year, students receive multiple books to keep, strengthening both literacy skills and confidence.
With the support of wine fest funding, the program has expanded to serve more than 4,000 children, engage over 180 volunteers, and distribute more than 150,000 books — creating lasting impact one reader at a time.
“The wine fest funds have enabled the Books For Kids Program to develop the Weekly Kindergarten Program and the Monthly Program where over 4000 children are being helped and over 150,000 Books have been distributed.” Ted Lindenberg, Director – Books For Kids – Promoting Literacy
The Twig Cares supports children in foster care by meeting their needs in practical, life-affirming ways. Across Florida, more than 20,000 children are in foster care after experiencing abuse, neglect, or abandonment, often entering new homes with little more than the clothes they are wearing.
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The Twig Boutique in Bradenton provides a safe, welcoming place where children can shop for free for essential clothing and personal items. More than a boutique, it offers dignity, encouragement, and hope during a time of great uncertainty. Each month, approximately 200 children, from newborns through teens, are served through this location.
“The LWR Rotary grant strengthens our ability to meet the tangible needs of children in foster care with consistency and purpose.” Nicole Britton, Executive Director, The Twig Cares, Inc.
The People and Purpose Behind the Festival
Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch brings together local leaders committed to service, connection, and meaningful community change. Members meet regularly to stay closely connected to local needs and to take action where it matters most.
As part of Rotary’s global network of more than 1.5 million members worldwide, the club helps turn compassion into action through local, district, and international initiatives. Together, Rotarians invest time, leadership, and resources to address real-world challenges across Rotary’s seven areas of focus.
Supported Organizations & Initiatives
These organizations represent the breadth and depth of impact made possible through the generosity of our community.