Table sponsorships and individual tickets are still available for Bank of America Brunch on the Bay, the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee’s signature fundraising event for student scholarships. This year’s Brunch is scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 3, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the USFSM campus, 8350 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota.
Brunch on the Bay showcases USFSM’s role as a local university that provides a high-quality, convenient and affordable education for students who become valued members of the workforce and vibrant contributors to the Sarasota-Manatee community.
It’s why Bank of America has signed on as this year’s title sponsor.
“We understand the value higher education has in building stronger, more sustainable communities,” said Mike McCoy, Sarasota-Manatee market president for Bank of America. “Through our ongoing partnership with USFSM, we are connecting people to the workforce development opportunities they need to achieve economic mobility and helping provide this region with the resources it needs to thrive.”
Sponsorships and individual tickets are available now. Individual tickets are available for $225, and sponsorship levels range from $2,500 for a half table to $25,000, which covers slightly more than four years of tuition and includes two VIP tables. For tickets or more information, visit usfsm.edu/giving/brunch-on-the-bay/purchase-sponsorships-and-tickets.aspx or call (941) 359-4603.
Since its inception 26 years ago, Brunch has provided more than 1,800 scholarships to USFSM students, most of whom are from Sarasota and Manatee counties. In many cases, these scholarships help students, who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford the cost of education, earn their degrees.
“What USF has done well is they’ve adapted to the local environment,” Pete Petersen, a USFSM alum, Brunch co-chair and CEO of Sarasota-based Dealers United, said. “They’ve adapted to local business needs, and to student needs as well, and they’ve done a really good job making sure we’re connecting students to our local businesses and forming a tighter community. As a business, the biggest challenge we have is access to talent, and USF grads tend to stay here longer. They’re invested in the community and that makes a difference.”
USFSM students say the scholarships they’ve received from Brunch have enabled them to achieve their educational and career goals.
“Both of my parents have had medical issues in the past year so it’s been really hard on us. I couldn’t have paid my tuition without these scholarships,” said Jennifer Serafino, a senior set to graduate in December. “The Brunch on the Bay scholarship gave me a chance for a better and brighter future. It helped me to take charge of my education. USFSM has significantly changed my life. It’s shaped me into who I am.”
Brunch is also making a difference by connecting donors with students.
“Oftentimes, donors don’t get see the impact of their donation, but at Brunch on the Bay, donors are able to meet students who have been helped through scholarships,” said Spring 2019 Outstanding Graduate Lukas Oest, who now heads global marketing at Bradenton-based Florida Worldwide Citrus. “The scholarship made a difference in my own life. Specifically, it helped in my final semester when I was wasn’t sure how I would pay for tuition to finish up and graduate. The scholarship really came through, and now I hope someday to do the same for another USFSM student by contributing to Brunch.”
Visit usfsm.edu/giving/brunch-on-the-bay/index.aspx for more about Brunch on the Bay.
Visit usfsm.edu to learn more about the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee.
About USF Sarasota-Manatee (USFSM)
USF Sarasota-Manatee is a regional campus of the University of South Florida System, offering the prestige of a nationally ranked research university with the convenience of a hometown location, including classes in Manatee and Sarasota counties and online. USFSM is ideal for those interested in pursuing a baccalaureate or master’s degree, professional certification, or continuing education credit in a small, personal setting with distinguished faculty and a dynamic curriculum of more than 40 academic programs. Website: www.usfsm.edu.
About Bank of America
At Bank of America, we’re guided by a common purpose to help make financial lives better, through the power of every connection. We’re delivering on this through responsible growth with a focus on our environmental, social and governance (ESG) leadership. ESG is embedded across our eight lines of business and reflects how we help fuel the global economy, build trust and credibility, and represent a company that people want to work for, invest in and do business with. It’s demonstrated in the inclusive and supportive workplace we create for our employees, the responsible products and services we offer our clients, and the impact we make around the world in helping local economies thrive. An important part of this work is forming strong partnerships with nonprofits and advocacy groups, such as community, consumer and environmental organizations, to bring together our collective networks and expertise to achieve greater impact. Learn more at about.bankofamerica.com, and connect with us on Twitter at @BofA_News.