The Circle Connection


September 2022

There is something to be said about collective strength and power of successful, impactful, and philanthropic women that is quite special.


It is hard to believe that The Lake Club Women’s Giving Circle was established in 2014 and is still going strong! Our membership increased from 30 to 120 during a worldwide pandemic and The Circle did not anticipate this growth.


I am incredibly grateful for the amazing talent and dedication of your leadership team. During the past 6 months your leadership team has worked tireless hours and persevered to implement the foundation, the infrastructure and to ensure the sustainability of The Circle.  To date the balance of  Fund 1 is  $100,000 and Fund 2 $12,000.  


The leadership team continues to be committed to working diligently in creating TLC Women’s Giving Circle as one of the strongest and recognized women’s giving circles in our community.


I am honored to be in your presence and thankful to each of you for embarking on this philanthropic journey in giving your time, talent and financial resources to enhance the lives of women, children and families in our community.


I am so very excited to welcome you to the first edition of the TLC Women’s Giving Circle newsletter, The Circle Connection.  The hope is that this newsletter will deliver and become a regular source of information about our events, projects, organizational developments, call to action, accomplishments and most importantly to celebrate you.


I encourage each of you to get involved.  We continue to seek leadership and talent.  If there is a special passion you have…reach out.  If there is a special gift or talent you want to share….reach out.  If there is a unique opportunity that should be highlighted...reach out. This is YOUR CIRCLE....Together we are better!


With sincere gratitude,

Barbara Najmy

Founder & Chair


You Do Not Want To Miss This

Save The Date

The First Annual Fall 

Membership Meeting & Social

Join us for our first membership meeting & social. This is a wonderful opportunity to share some empowering time together! Find out all that is happening with TLC Women's Giving Circle, meet your leadership team, learn how to get involved and how to elevate individuals and impact lives. 


We welcome all residents who are not members to join and learn about TLC Women's Giving Circle. 


Mark your calendar.


Saturday, October 15

10:30am - 1:30pm

Place: The Lake Club Grande Clubhouse

Details Coming Soon

Let's Get Together! Whether you are new to the     community or a vintage resident?


It's time to get together and enjoy some hopefully Fall weather! Please join us for what is not your average "chip & dip" Happy Hour at Sofia's on Main Street, October 3rd from 5-7pm! Reconnect, meet some new neighbors! Come enjoy craft cocktails while nibbling on a mind-blowing charcuterie board, parmesan wheel, rigatoni Pomodoro, calamari, desserts and more. Special treats for your handsome fella so be sure to bring him along.


Be the one to win a limited-edition Knobs Creek Bourbon (15yr collector’s item) along with an entire basket for the guys, Fall festival basket, something special for your pet, a no 2 Buck Chuck wine basket and more! 


Come join us and help raise a little money and put smiles on so many faces.


Cheers! 

Julie Swan

Chair & The Fundraising Committee

Click Here To Purchase Tickets

Coffee Klatch

Meet & Greet

Do you have new neighbors or do you know a resident that is not a member of TLC Women's Giving Circle?


The Membership Committee invites you to bring your new neighbors or a non-member and join The Coffee Klatch for coffee, bites and engaging conversation about The Circle and how to enhance the lives within our community.


Date: Friday, November 18th

Time: 11:00am

Place: Josephine Coco's Home

     16408 Clearlake Drive

RSVP to Josephine Coco

Join The Fun

Turkey Trot

The Lake Club Turkey Trot is back for its 3rd annual event on November 24th, 2022! This is an exclusive community event for residents and guests of The Lake Club and this year consists of a 1 mile, 5k and a new 10k trot for participants. The event goal $10,000.  The money raised from this event will go to support The Food Bank of Manatee County.


We have raised over  $10,000 and on our way to $15,000!


Way to Go Fundraising Committee &

TLC Women' Giving Circle


For more information regarding sponsorship opportunities click here. 

Register Here

Making A Difference


Thank you to Julie Swan, the Outreach committee and to all the ladies that came out to support the 'Sneakin Back to School' event. TLC Women's Giving Circle collected and donated over 350 pairs of shoes to Twigg on July 21. There are over 1,000 kids in foster care in Sarasota and Manatee Counties. It is such an amazing feeling to know that we were able put smiles on so many children's faces and give them the confidence they deserve as they put their best foot forward this school year.


Twigg has recognized TLC Women's Giving Circle as a Joy Sponsor. And our own Joy Stone is a regular volunteer at the Bradenton retail shop.

Read More

Wow! What a fantastic outreach event on August 31st with Embracing Our Differences. We labeled close to 3000 books that will be delivered to elementary students. The two books titled “Bucket Filling From A to Z” and “Have You Filled a Bucket Today?” will be read to over 400 classrooms here in Manatee and Sarasota Counties on national reading day, November 15th.


Thank you Diane Cohen for organizing this beautiful afternoon and to the Outreach committee and the ladies who came out to make a difference in our community!


Sarah Wertheimer, Executive director for Embracing Our Differences, stated that she has never had a volunteer group like ours that showed such efficiency and organization! 

Volunteers are needed on November 15th for Bucket Fillers Reading Day in 400 kindergarten – 3rd grade classrooms. For more information or to register for this event please click here.

Helping Hands Opportunity


Children's Home Society has a need for some helping hands with Manatee Elementary Partnership Schools. Food will be dropped at the schools and volunteers are needed to help organize the food pantry. Click here to email Liz Calasans

Together We Are Better

Dear Ladies,


The Outreach Committee aims to give "hands on" help, uplift and support those who are in need of certain services aligning with our mission.

  

"supporting organizations that address the physical, emotional and educational needs of women, children and families in Sarasota and Manatee counties."


Below is the list of organizations that The Circle has supported or is in the process of evaluating for hand on projects:


The Twig - - - Embracing Our Differences

Boys & Girls Club - - - Take Stock in Children

SPARCC - - - Safe Children Coalition

Selah Freedom - - - Hope Family Services

Supporting School Attendance SAS

Manatee County Food Bank


We want to hear from you. Please provide us your recommendations on organizations that would benefit from a hands-on projects. Reply by October 3rd with the following information: 


Name of Organization

Contact Person

Contact Number & Email

Scope of Project


The women of the Lake Club Giving Circle have a generous history of philanthropy…not only monetary, but more importantly contributions of time and talent to causes that continue to benefit and improve the quality of life in our community. We thank you for your recommendations.


Deborah Callahan-Stratton

Liz Calasans

Chairs & The Outreach Committee

Email Liz Calasans

The Leadership Team





The Board


Chair - Barbara Najmy

Vice Chair - Jennifer Alokeh

Acting Secretary -

Ruth Harshman

Treasurer - Lauren Hirsch

Committee Chairs


Communications - Barbara Najmy

Jennifer Alokeh

Finance - Lauren Hirsch

Terry Martinez

Fundraising - Julie Swan

Grants - Nancy Lepain

Governance - Barbara Najmy

Membership - Sheila Lau Machutta       

 Josephine Coco

Outreach - Deborah Callahan-Stratton

Elizabeth Calasans

Acting Social Media - Fran Berg

Committee Roster
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