Endowment Fund for the Arts
The Woman’s Exchange has established an Endowment Fund that is dedicated to providing scholarships to individuals pursuing careers in the arts and to providing grants to arts organizations. To be eligible for these funds, the individuals and organizations must be domiciled in Sarasota or Manatee County. The Fund is accepting contributions of marketable securities and cash. The Fund can be further perpetuated by your generous remembrance in your estate plans. We are a nonprofit tax-exempt organization as defined under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code.
Woman’s Exchange 49th Annual Arts AwardS
Through the hard work and efforts of 185 volunteers and staff, the Board of Directors of the Woman’s Exchange presented $150,000.00 in Grants and Scholarships to local arts organizations, college and graduating high school seniors from proceeds realized through the Woman’s Exchange Consignment Shop.
The organization’s 49th Annual Awards Ceremony was held at the Sarasota Opera House, Wednesday evening June 16th. Jeffery Kin, Artistic Director of the Players Theatre stirred emotions with his address to the large gathering in attendance. Four recipients performed during the evening’s festivities. Jake Bier, attending the College of Sante Fe and majoring in Music, performed a self-penned retrospective song titled “On the Ground” about the important things in life that remain constant in an ever-changing world.
A special performance by longtime friends and no strangers to the stage of the Sarasota Opera, Adelaide Boedecker, University of Florida, majoring in Vocal Performance and Arts Management joined Reba Evans, University of Miami, majoring in Vocal Performance and graced the crowd with their interpretation of "Barcarolle" from Offenbach's opera "The Tales of Hoffmann”. Both ladies have appeared on stage at the Sarasota Opera several times and their reunion performance sparked a standing ovation. This is the fourth Woman’s Exchange scholarship for both Addie and Reba. Recipient Jonathan Dendy accompanied the duet on the piano.
Following the presentation of Grants and Scholarships, Gabriella (Gabi) Guinta a graduating Senor of Saint Stephens Episcopal School closed the ceremony on an upbeat note performing the timeless classic “It’s Only a Paper Moon”. Gabi was accompanied by her mother, Melodie Dickerson, Choral and Vocal Director at the State College of Florida.
With State budget cuts impacting local arts organizations, the Board of Directors of the Woman’s Exchange made every effort to maximize grant amounts to all accepted applicants. Fifteen local organizations were recognized with Grants this year to be applied to various projects each organization is undertaking. Recipients of this year’s Grants are Art Center Sarasota, Asolo Theatre, Inc., Banyan Theater Company, Inc., Florida Studio Theatre, Inc., Gocio Elementary School, Jazz Juvenocracy, Inc., Key Chorale, Inc., La Musica di Asolo, Inc., Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Inc., Sarasota Orchestra, Sarasota Pops Orchestra, Sarasota Senior Theater, The Hermitage Artist Retreat, Inc., The Players, Inc. and the Van Wezel Foundation, Inc.
27 College students were recipients of Woman’s Exchange scholarships this year: Ashleigh Adamec, Sante Fe College, Dance and Ballet; Claire Albiez, New College of Florida, Art History; Lauren Bakst, Hollins University, Dance; Jake Bier, College of Sante Fe, Music; Adelaide Boedecker, University of Florida, Music in Vocal Performance and Arts Management; Amberose Courville, Florida Gulf Coast University, Art; Tylor Delgado, University of Central Florida, Music Performance; Jonathan Dendy, Berklee College of Music, Professional Music and Vocal Performance; Mathew Dendy, University of South Florida, Violin Performance; Reba Evans, University of Miami, Vocal Performance; Lillian Gottwald, Ringling College of Art and Design, Fine Arts; Shelly Hagerman, Smith College, Music and Performance; Kirk Hughes, Ringling College of Art and Design, Fine Art; Katy Knowles, Marymount Manhattan College, Musical Theatre and Stage Management; Evan Lovejoy, University of South Florida, Fine Arts; May-Elise Martinsen, Wellesley College, Music; Scott McWhinnie, Ringling College of Art and Design, Computer Animation; Emily Miller, Berklee College of Music, Vocalist, Music; Greg Murphy, Maryland Institute College of Arts, Illustration; Amanda Newman, Cornell College, Theater and Art; Jennifer Nugent, Ringling College of Art and Design; Tsadok Porter, Univesity of South Florida, Theatre Performance; Karissa Ratzenboeck, Florida State University, Violin Performance; Nicole Riccardo, Florida State University, Music Performance; Undine Shorey, Ringling College of Art and Design, Advertising Design; Marla Sweitzer, Centre College, Studio Art Painting and Drawing and Max Weinstein, Berklee College of Music, Drum Set Performance.
Twelve scholarships were awarded to area high school students including Victoria Anthony, Booker High; Kiley Arbo, Manatee High; Kristen Bernier, Booker High; Amanda Chappel, Venice High; Kaitlyn Cipriani, Venice High; Gabriella Guinta, Saint Stephens Episcopal School; Britani McCracken, Venice High; Maritza Olvera, Southeast High; Joshua Parenti, Sarasota High; Mona Pirnot, Booker High; Raechel Ramirez, Sarasota High and Natalie Schuh, Sarasota High.
The Woman’s Exchange is a non-profit organization generating funds for annual awards and scholarships through its popular consignment shop. This year’s awards are part of over $7,250,000.00 dollars awarded since 1962.