CONNECT, COLLABORATE & COME TOGETHER: BE THE ONE!

To celebrate and promote local nonprofits, Sharky's on the Pier and Fins at Sharky’s are hosting the Second Giving Challenge Fair! The Giving Challenge is an exciting 24-hour giving event presented by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County supporting local nonprofits. From Tuesday, April 26th at noon to Wednesday, April 27th at noon, donors can go online to www.givingchallenge.org/ to make a secure donation and help their favorite organization receive special matching dollars and grant incentives. The Patterson Foundation will provide a 1:1 match for all donations - up to $100 per donor, per organization.

On Tuesday, April 26th, visit Sharky's on the Pier & Fins between 12 and 7 PM to visit 20 amazing local non-profits and learn about what each organization does for our community.

The 2018 event raised over $18,300 – making the total amount with the match over $36,600 donated to local non-profits!

“Our goal with hosting The Giving Challenge Fair is to help community members facilitate a one-on-one personal connection to many of the amazing non-profits in our area. Since Sharky’s on the Pier, Fins and the Venice Fishing Pier is a well-known and central location in the community, we felt that it is a perfect place to showcase some of the great local charities at a time where somebody’s donation can double,” said Justin Pachota, President of Venice Pier Group.

To further assist nonprofits in the Giving Challenge, Sharky's and Fins are offering additional incentives for donors who contribute at the event, which include:

- A free dessert to anyone who donates $100.
- Free lunch for 2 people at Sharky’s for anyone who makes 5 - $100 donations (total donation of $500).
- Free dinner for two people at Fins for anyone who makes 10 - $100 donations (total donation of $1,000).
- Each $100+ donation also gets entered into a chance drawing to win a big prize.
 
*These incentives qualify for any donor that gives to any nonprofit participating in the Giving Challenge Fair on Tuesday, April 26th at Sharky’s and Fins. Limit to one chance per person for chance drawing. Proof of donation is required.

Currently, nonprofits participating in the Giving Challenge Fair include:


- Agape Flights
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Suncoast
- Children First
- Friends of Sarasota County Parks
- Friends of the Legacy Trail
- Habitat for Humanity South Sarasota County, Inc.
- Laurel Civic 
- Loveland Center
- Our Mother’s House
- Sertoma
- Suncoast Humane Society
- The Twig
- The WareHouse of Venice
- Venice Area Beatification Inc. (VABI)
- Venice Art Center
- Venice Challenger Baseball
- Venice Christian School 
- Venice High School Baseball
- Venice Symphony
- Venice YMCA

We look forward to seeing you there!