LWRWC Visits the Opera via Zoom

On Wednesday, February 10, 2021,  LWRWC members participated in a General Meeting via Zoom with Carlos Vicente, Sarasota Opera’s Director of Marketing. Carlos gave the members an inside look at the fascinating and illustrious history of this iconic institution.

Carlos shared why Sarasota Opera is truly a wonderful place as he took the club on a virtual timeline, complete with musical videos, of Sarasota Opera’s past 62 seasons including the Sarasota Youth Opera, the Steinwachs Artists Residences, and the Sarasota Opera Costume Studio initiative.

Carlos began his presentation with a vignette of an operatic toast. In 1958, Sarasota residents got a delightful taste of opera with a performance of Mozart’s “The Abduction from the Seraglio” by members of the New York City Opera, conducted by Julius Rudel. It was presented in the newly opened Asolo Theatre on the grounds of Sarasota’s Ringling Museum of Art. This marked the start of what would evolve into the Sarasota Opera, whose roots go back to 1960 and the debut of the Turnau Opera Players who presented their first season in the historic 320 seat Asolo Theater.

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LWRWC Donates Over $65,000 to Charity

Traditionally, LWRWC holds its annual business meeting in January of the new year. The agenda includes introducing the new executive board, announcing the 2021 program, and presenting the club’s adopted charities with checks from the previous year’s philanthropic efforts.

Virtual Meeting in 2021

On Thursday, January 14, LWRWC held a virtual meeting via Zoom to celebrate donating $65,100 in “cash and in-kind” to HOPE Family Services, Solve Maternity Homes, SMART (Sarasota Manatee Association for Riding Therapy), and Children’s Guardian Fund (CGF). The donations marked the culmination of an innovative year in charity fundraising led by LWRWC Philanthropy Co-chairs, Eileen Buzzard and Trish Newman.

Each charity gave a presentation highlighting how LWRWC’s generosity made a difference! Moving video clips and presentations by courageous speakers, shared how the support received from these charities improved lives.

The Executive Directors of the LWRWC Adopted Charities, Laurel Lynch (HOPE), Peggy Kerwin (Solve), Rebecca Blitz (SMART), Svetlana Kaminsky (CGF) and Kristin Poolman (CGF Program Director) expressed their appreciation to the Women’s Club for stepping forward when so many supporters are pulling back during the pandemic. They collectively thanked LWRWC for making a real difference in the lives of the people they serve.

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