WORDS: Shannon Evans
PHOTOS: School District of Manatee County
Curiosity is the wick in the candle of learning. —William Arthur Ward
If you‘re a parent, you‘re probably used to your kids asking all kinds of questions. Why is the sky blue? How do airplanes stay in the air? What is the internet? Or that classic question that suddenly makes you wish you had paid more attention …
WORDS: Shannon Evans
PHOTOS: Katelyn Disbro
Taking care of young children is serious work, even if it mostly looks like (messy) play. With kids around, there’s often playdough on the floor, paint spattered across the table, and after snack time, crumbs everywhere. But somewhere in the middle of all that noise and motion, children are learning. And the people leading those classrooms carry a big responsibility, helping these kids build …
WORDS & PHOTOS: Wendy Dewhurst
Children with undetected vision problems often struggle academically, athletically, and personally.
While you let that sink in, meet Dr. Michael and Sarah Mackie, with Eye Center Inc., and the founders of The Vision Foundation.
Michael is a native of Manatee County, and both his parents were educators in the Manatee School District. Both Michael and Sarah were very active in the community throughout their young …
WORDS & PHOTOS: Wendy Dewhurst
For over 80 years, Janet and Dean Mixon operated Mixon Fruit Farms off 27th Street East in Bradenton. But after the citrus greening disease and rising insurance costs, the Mixons made the difficult decision to put the property up for sale. That decision began with conversations with the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners, and in 2025, they voted to purchase 39 acres of the …
PHOTOS: Melissa Parker, SDMC Communications Department
Dr. Laurie Breslin is closing out her first school year as superintendent with a clear sense of purpose. In this conversation with NEXTGEN Family Magazine, she talks about her own journey into education, what she looks for in strong schools, and why preparing students for what comes after graduation remains central to the work ahead.
NG: You‘ve shared that you didn‘…
WORDS: Shannon Evans
PHOTOS: Suncoast Credit Union Foundation
When was the last time you held a penny? As a child, thrilled to spot that flash of copper on the ground? Or maybe you were sorting through a handful of change from a cashier (and remembered why you usually use a card). Perhaps you dropped the pennies into a tip jar, glad not to weigh down your wallet.
Pennies don‘…
WORDS & PHOTOS: Wendy Dewhurst
What began over 85 years ago as an organization to boost morale and promote Spanish heritage is now a thriving society of generous members raising funds, spirits, and fellowship for our entire community.
The Hernando de Soto Historical Society (HDHS) brings together a dedicated group of volunteers from across our community. Through more than 20 committees, members contribute hundreds of hours to plan and produce …
WORDS: Shannon Evans
PHOTOS: Wendy Dewhurst
Karen Corbin’s journey into Bradenton’s nonprofit world started with a knock on the door. A neighbor had smelled a possible gas leak outside Karen’s house. They got talking, and Karen explained her current situation. She’d recently moved to Florida from Connecticut and was looking for work.
She’d met the right neighbor. The woman worked for the Selby Foundation in Sarasota and offered to help …
WORDS: Nemours KidsHealth
A home filled with reading material is a good way to help kids become excited readers. What kind of books? Ask your kids about their interests. If they’re too young to tell you, ask your local librarian for suggestions about age-appropriate books.
You also can visit Nemours Children’s Reading BrightStart! to find book suggestions for children from birth to age 5.
Here are some other tips:
Keep …
WORDS: Shannon Evans
PHOTOS: Wendy Dewhurst
Oysters Rock Hospitality is known for its delicious seafood and coastal vibes, but there’s something else on the menu here. The company’s nonprofit arm, Shuckin’ Good Cause, is serving up a large helping hand by supporting children, hospitality workers, and the wider community.
“Shuckin’ Good Cause comes from the same spirit John and Amanda Horne built their first restaurant on,” says Executive Director Pamela …
WORDS: Shannon Evans
PHOTOS: Wendy Dewhurst & Cox Chevrolet
Most people can remember their first car, that moment they sat in the driver’s seat, and their world widened. I can go…anywhere. In 1926, that sense of possibility was still new. The Model T era had just ended, and the idea of owning a car was shifting from luxury to something within reach.
A hundred years on, people still chase …
WORDS & PHOTOS: Wendy Dewhurst
Our future is bound to our oceans.
The ocean supplies most of the oxygen we breathe, much of the food we eat, and the critical resources that underpin ecosystems and economies. Now, oceans worldwide face unprecedented challenges, creating an even higher demand for research to help sustain tomorrow’s oceans.
But Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium—a longtime champion of ocean science and education—is rising to meet …
WORDS: Shannon Evans
PHOTOS: Junior League of Manatee County
This is a story about a volunteer force that knows how to get stuff done. If there’s a project that needs to be completed, they’ll show up with supplies before most people have even finished planning it out. This is the Junior League of Manatee County (JLMC)—a training ground for women who know their efforts matter.
JLMC is a nonprofit volunteer …
WORDS: Shannon Evans
PHOTOS: Wendy Dewhurst & Florida Studio Theatre
You know who are experts in turning ordinary things into the extraordinary? Children. Walk with them into their little worlds, and you’ll find a puddle has become an ocean. That cardboard box has become a rocket. The living room carpet is now lava.
Florida Studio Theatre’s (FST) Write a Play program takes the sparks of imagination that only kids have …
WORDS & PHOTOS: Wendy Dewhurst
If you believe that everything happens for a reason, then it’s clear that for the past 11 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County’s (BGCMC) CEO, Dawn Stanhope, is exactly where she is meant to be.
“We did not have Boys & Clubs where I grew up, so I was not part of the organization as a kid and wasn’t familiar with it as …
