Funding will strengthen workforce readiness and help students prepare for future career opportunities.
CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. — November 2, 2026 — Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast has received a $60,000 grant from the Charlotte Impact NOW! Initiative, a partnership between Gulf Coast Community Foundation and the Elsa and Peter Soderberg Charitable Foundation to support its program focused on the Charlotte County Beyond School Walls. This funding will enhance the Charlotte County Beyond School Walls initiative, ensuring greater opportunities for students.
Beyond School Walls connects students in Charlotte County and across the Sun Coast with workplace mentors and career experiences that help them explore future opportunities, develop professional skills, and envision pathways to success beyond the classroom.
The grant will support program and operational expenses, including transportation to workplace mentoring experiences, student meals on BSW days, and interview- and work-ready clothing for participating youth. Through restricted gift cards, students will receive assistance purchasing professional attire to help them prepare for interviews and future employment opportunities.
“Expanding learning beyond the classroom helps students explore their interests and see new possibilities for their futures,” said Erin Minor, Vice President, Community Leadership for Gulf Coast Community Foundation. “Through collaborative partnerships like Impact NOW! alongside dedicated dreamers like Elsa and Peter Soderberg, more young people in Charlotte and DeSoto counties can benefit from opportunities that help turn potential into purpose.”
By helping address practical barriers to participation and professional preparation, this investment will strengthen the Beyond School Walls experience for Charlotte County students as they build confidence, expand their understanding of career options, and prepare for their futures.
“We are grateful to Gulf Coast Community Foundation and the Elsa and Peter Soderberg Charitable Foundation for investing in the potential of young people in Charlotte County,” said Kamala Martinez, President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast. “This support helps ensure students have access to meaningful workplace mentoring experiences and the resources they need to take their next steps toward a successful future.”
Under the leadership of Christa Hollenbeck, Director of Impact at Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast, the organization is operating seven Beyond School Walls programs in Charlotte County this school year, serving 80 students through workplace mentoring and career exploration experiences. Mrs. Hollenbeck organizes and implements these programs, coordinating opportunities that connect students with professionals and introduce them to potential career pathways. The $60,000 grant will help strengthen these programs by supporting operational expenses, transportation, student meals on program days, and assistance with purchasing interview- and work-ready clothing.
The impact of mentoring across Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast is reflected in the outcomes achieved during the 2025–26 fiscal year, when the organization served more than 1,800 youth across its ten-county footprint. 99% of youth successfully graduated or advanced to the next grade level, while 100% of graduating seniors transitioned to postsecondary education, military service, or employment.
These outcomes were made possible through the dedication of nearly 1,900 volunteers who contributed an estimated 265,000 hours of service. With mentoring relationships lasting an average of more than two years, BBBS Sun Coast continues to create consistent, meaningful connections that help young people prepare for successful futures. Explore these results and more in our FY 2025–26 Impact Report.
About Impact NOW!
Gulf Coast Community Foundation (Gulf Coast) and the Elsa & Peter Soderberg Charitable Foundation’s (EPSCF) Impact NOW! initiative is a collaboration to strengthen philanthropic partnerships and community impact in Charlotte and DeSoto counties. Grounded in principles of purpose, impact, intentionality and community resilience, the program aims to grow regional infrastructure and foster long-term change.
Since 1995, Gulf Coast Community Foundation has driven bold philanthropy and collaborative leadership to address our region’s greatest challenges, investing over $650 million in health and human services, education, economic development, arts, and the environment.
The Elsa & Peter Soderberg Charitable Foundation, founded in 2012, practices venture philanthropy focused on strategic, high impact grantmaking. With a strong emphasis on women’s and children’s health and well-being, EPSCF leverages decades of experience in healthcare and consumer products to uplift communities through catalytic partnerships.
About BBBS of the Sun Coast:
Since 1968, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast has helped young people realize their full potential through professionally supported, one-to-one mentoring relationships. By connecting youth with caring adult mentors, the organization empowers them to build confidence, achieve educational success, and develop the skills needed to thrive in school, work, and life. Now the 10th largest Big Brothers Big Sisters agency in the nation, the organization continues to expand its reach and impact as one of the leading youth mentoring organizations in the country. In recognition of its continued growth and impact, the organization received the 2025 Growth Award from Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. Learn more or get involved at bbbssun.org.
Media Contacts
Vinnie Mascarenhas, VP Marketing & Communications
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast
941-488-4009
vmascarenhas@bbbssun.org