Better Together, a nonprofit dedicated to families and children, recently honored its Sarasota-area volunteers, supporters and community partners who have made a significant impact on the organization and its mission.
As a privately funded, volunteer-driven nonprofit, Better Together relies on the support of donors, community partners and volunteers to provide its services to families across the state. Each year, Better Together hosts a series of Doing Good Together receptions in all six of its regions to honor and showcase the efforts of these individuals and organizations. Each honoree receives a specialized award, in the style of a prized baseball card, recognizing the recipient’s impact with Better Together.
Better Together recognized several honorees during the reception held Sept. 9 at Marina Jack in Sarasota. Honorees include:
- Host Family of the Year was presented to Katherine and Tyler Petersen. Ten children have benefited from the Petersens’ unwavering yes to hosting. As a mentor and host mom, Katherine also builds enduring relationships with the families she serves, and the whole family embraces the mission with love and Christlike hospitality.
- Community Partner of the Year was presented to Sarasota Sunrise Rotary Club. The men and women of this rotary have a heart for families. From making Christmas brighter to giving children the dignity of choosing their own back-to-school essentials, the organization shows up with joy, generosity and love.
- Church Partner of the Year was presented to City Life Church. In the span of a year, this small but mighty church has served more than 100 families by connecting job seekers to opportunities and hope.
- Department of Children and Families Partner of the Year was presented to Deadre Jones. As DCF supervisor, she is a true champion for families. In addition to referring appropriate cases to Better Together, she welcomes the nonprofit alongside her team and even gives her own time to serve in the field.
- Mentor of the Year was presented to Elodie Prudence. Despite a busy dental practice, she makes time for families, going above and beyond to help parents navigate challenges. She wraps around them with faith and love, prays with them, listens and encourages them.
- Super Volunteer of the Year was presented to Pastor Kyle Geymann. Whether he’s delivering appliances to families in need, equipping young people to serve or showing up for a dad in need of mentorship, his example reminds us all what it looks like to love our neighbors like Jesus.
- Staff Appreciation Award was presented to Jennifer Kaplon, partnership manager for Better Together. Whether she’s working with her team or working with partners and families, she embodies the culture of Better Together, putting love and dignity first.
“Our Better Together team is so grateful for the donors, volunteers, partners and advocates who stand in the gap and support us in fulfilling our mission,” said Megan Rose, CEO of Better Together. “These groups and individuals are the reason we are able to transform lives and help our community flourish. It was an honor to recognize them for their generosity and unwavering support this year.”
This year’s Sarasota Doing Good Together reception was sponsored by Aqua Plumbing and PDS Architecture.
Better Together works to prevent the need for foster care by building strong families and communities. When a parent needs support – due to homelessness, a medical emergency, or other crisis – Better Together volunteer host families provide a safe, loving home for the children short term, while staff and mentors empower the parents to secure employment, housing and other needs. Because job loss is at the root of most family crises, the Better Together workforce program provides opportunities for all job seekers through relational job fairs and volunteer job coaches.
To date, Better Together has served more than 15,000 children, and 98% of children served through mentoring and hosting remain out of foster care. The nonprofit has also connected more than 45,600 job seekers to employment opportunities through church-based job fairs across 24 states.
Better Together is always seeking additional volunteers and community partners to join its efforts to build stronger families. To learn more about how to become a donor, partner or volunteer, visit BetterTogetherUS.org.
ABOUT BETTER TOGETHER
Better Together is a nonprofit organization that helps parents going through a hard time keep their kids out of foster care, find work and address the root causes of their struggle so that they can reunite as a family with the tools and support system to thrive. A privately funded and professionally supported organization, Better Together is made up of volunteers who believe helping people help themselves is the best way to restore dignity and bring families together. Through the Better Families program, families are offered a preventive alternative to foster care while they get the help they need. To date, the program has kept 98% of children served out of foster care. The Better Jobs program was created to address the 76% of families that come to Better Together because of economic hardship tied to unemployment. In addition to community job fairs, the program offers job seekers coaching, guidance, support and encouragement through local church partners. For more information, visit BetterTogetherUS.org.
