Sarasota Military Officers Foundation
Benefiting Our Community
...Twenty Years and Growing
Last year marked the twentieth anniversary of the Sarasota Military Officers Foundation, Inc., honored to be serving our community of over 88,000 Veterans and 40,000 Sarasota County school students. Our Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, established by the Military Officers Association of Sarasota to support community outreach programs throughout the greater Sarasota & Manatee region. We are an all-volunteer Veteran’s organization and, as such, are very frugal with our donors’ contributions. Other than regulatory fees, postage and printing costs, your donations are used to support our programs. We focus our efforts in six areas:- Awarding educational and vocational merit-based scholarships to qualified, high-achieving high school seniors;
- Providing Veteran educational financial aid to returning Veterans to attend local educational institutions;
- Sponsoring the American Flag Initiative, a 10-lesson curriculum to educate our elementary school children on the origin, history and meaning of the American Flag.
- Supporting the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) programs and the maintenance of their training facilities;
- Sending care packages to deployed troops under the Support Our Troops Program (SOT)
- Sponsoring patriotic, educational and inspirational public events for our community and Veterans.
Learn About our Foundation in more detail.
- Much of our success can be attributed to the relationships we have formed with our strategic partners, which are listed and linked below;
| Donate by Mail | Donate Online |
- Foundation Donations
- Foundation Sponsorships
- Our Chapter is over 325 members strong, the third largest in Florida. Your sponsorship will be recognized on both the Military Officers Association of Sarasota and the Sarasota Military Officers Foundation’s web site, recognized at our monthly luncheons at the Bird Key Yacht Club and in our monthly newsletter The Sarasota Breeze. Our community events are widely publicized through social and print media, as well as local radio and television.
Our next major event is Celebrating The Stars & Stripes on President’s Day February 17th, 2020 at Patriot Plaza, Sarasota National Cemetery. The Pops Orchestra and Vane Scott will once again perform for our community free of charge. Sponsors are recognized in the concert programs that are attended by thousands in our community, as supporting the community initiatives and honoring our local Veterans. With over 70,000 Veterans and their families living in our community, this is truly a unique and yearlong opportunity to promote your company or association.SPONSOR CATEGORIES
All contributions are appreciated.Founding $5,000 Patriot $2,500 Minuteman $1,000 Contributor $ 100 < $1,000 Donor <$100
OUR SPONSORS TO DATE
We wish to thank the sponsors who have already committed to sponsor Celebrating The Stars & Stripes event on President's Day 2020. We are truly grateful to those who support our Veterans and community.
Patriot
Veteran Air Conditioning & Heating
Minutemen
Tidewell Hospice
The Pops Orchestra
Freeman Design Group
Contributor
US Tent
Become a friend and sponsor. Join us in supporting local Veteran activities and attending upcoming events and concerts with VIP seating. We look forward to meeting you and providing more information on how you can make a difference.Contact
Troy C. Scott, COL USAR (Ret)
MOAS President
entscott41@gmail.com Claire Power
Director & Chair, Scholarship Committee CPower@SarasotaMOF.org
- SCHOLARSHIP AWARD PROGRAM CRITERIA
The Foundation's scholarship program, was established in 1998. Over the years the program has grown and evolved to address the award recipients' needs. Our present program addresses the needs of high school seniors enrolled in the JROTC program and those deserving to be recognized for their outstanding academic accomplishments. Scholarships are being awarded to graduating seniors at Booker High School, Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School, Pine View School, Riverview High School, Sarasota High School, Sarasota Military Academy and Suncoast Polytechnic High School.
Our high school scholarships have helped students from all walks of life with their college needs. Scholarship winners have been students bound for the Service Academies, rural and urban students, abandoned children, students living with friends and young women trying to break the bonds of poverty.
JROTC APPLICATION MERIT APPLICATION
Scholarship winners will be advised in writing of their award. The awards letter will instruct the recipient as to the requirement to furnish the Scholarship Committee chair proof of enrollment (not an acceptance letter) from the college, university or technical school they will be attending. When these documents have been received the check will be issued and presented at the Scholarship Awards Luncheon at Michael’s On East,1212 East Avenue South, Sarasota, FL 34239 on Friday, May 22nd beginning at 11:30 AM. or, if unable to attend, mailed to the winner at his or her home of record. If the scholarship winner has not complied with this requirement by January 31st of the following year, the award will be forfeited. Completed applications must be submitted to the Scholarship Committee chair no later than:
DEADLINE: Because of the COVID-19 school closings our scholarship deadline for 2020 has been extended from March 31, 2020 at 12 noon to April 21,2020 at 12 noon. Please continue to use the attached applications (above).
If you have any further questions please e mail Claire Power, Chairman of the Scholarship Fund at bcpower@comcast.net.
The high school program provides deserving local youth a financial jump-start on their post high school education. For the purposes of the scholarship program, post high school education is defined as enrollment in an accredited college, university or technical school (online programs do not qualify for the scholarship). In 2014 the Foundation Board of Directors approved a scholarship program for honorably discharged returning veterans attending accredited local colleges and technical schools. These veterans scholarships are needs based and are awarded in coordination with local education institutions financial aid offices.- One (1) each JROTC scholarship for a senior at Booker, Riverview, Sarasota and Sarasota Military Academy and Venice High School;
- Eight (8) merit scholarships open to any senior in schools located in the greater Sarasota area. These scholarships consist of four (4) merit scholarships underwritten by the Foundation and four (4) underwritten by the William E. Schmidt Foundation. A senior member of the school’s academic department must endorse the school's scholarship applications; and
- Should a JROTC scholarship or a Foundation merit scholarship not be utilized due to non-submission, non-selection or ineligibility of the nominee, the scholarship money may be reallocated by the Scholarship Committee.
1. An applicant must have a minimum of 3.0 GPA;
2. If a student has taken the SAT’s, he or she must have a Minimum SAT score of 1,000 (out of a maximum of 1600) to apply for a Sarasota Military Officers Scholarship. Any student submitting an ACT score must have a minimum score of 22 (out of a maximum of 36);
3. Super Score - A student may create a Super Score;
4. Complete the Application in full; and
5. Attach copies of all documents enumerated on the bottom of page 4 of the application. This will include Official Signed transcripts.
The Scholarship Committee chair will visit each area high school to advertise and promote the program. In addition, letters will be sent to each school guidance counselor and Senior Army Instructor (SAI) to focus their attention on the opportunities available to their students.
REMEMBER: Completed applications must be submitted to the Scholarship Committee chair no later than 12:00 PM, April 21st for this year, 2020.
- The MOAS Support Our Troops (SOT) Program has been indefinitely suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We have been in contact with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) afloat and the Task Forces in Afghanistan regarding delivery of SOT Boxes to them, and they requested all shipments to halt until further notice.
Please view this site after Memorial Day to see of we will resume operations.
Thank you for your support.
Ron Wozniak
LtCol USMCR Retired
SOT Chairman RonWozniak13@gmail.com
Mobile: 941-779-5448
The Foundation sponsors the Support Our Troops Initiative (SOT), which sends care packages to our troops serving in combat areas and other units in austere environments worldwide. Most of the country is unaware that we have over 150,000 troops deployed overseas, 45,000 of which are attached to the U.S. Central Command’s [CENTCOM] area of responsibility. The CENTCOM region includes 20 countries, stretching from Northeast Africa across the Middle East to Central and South Asia. Our troops are separated from their home and families, often for 6 months to a year. Nothing is more welcome that a package from home, recognizing and appreciating the sacrifice they are making for us. Our Foundation has sent over 50,000 boxes to our troops! We know they appreciate our efforts from the numerous letters of appreciation we receive, some of which are posted below. Throughout the year, we pass out SOT boxes in our community at events, especially the Sarasota Memorial Day and Veterans Day Parades and to our sister Veteran organizations.
AMERICAN FLAG INITIATIVE
An Elementary School Education Program
In partnership with The Patterson Foundation, the Sarasota County School Board, and numerous other organizations, our Foundation introduced the American Flag Initiative in October 2013 to educate the community’s children; the public; and the greater Sarasota/Manatee business community on the origin, history, and meaning of the American Flag; the importance of patriotism and respect for the flag; as well as the proper protocols for the flag’s display and retirement. With our Chapter’s support, the Sarasota County educators developed an Academic Curriculum consisting of ten (10) fifty-minute lessons of classroom instruction for 4th grade students to be taught by their teachers and a visiting instructional team consisting of a retired/former military officer; a JROTC Cadet from our local high school; and a Senior Level Scout from the Girl Scouts. This program has subsequently been replicated in other communities throughout Florida and the United States. Our Foundation publishes, OLD GLORY, a guide to displaying and honoring our Nation’s flag. We also organize old and damaged flag collections throughout the Sarasota and Manatee
counties for appropriate disposal.
We hope that you enjoyed had an opportunity to attend our "Celebration of the Stars & Stripes" on Flag Day, June 2015, and on June 2016 at Sarasota's Patriot Plaza. Our next celebration will take place on President's Day Monday, February 17, 2020, also at Patriot Plaza at the Sarasota National Cemetery.
Meet Our 4th Grade "Old Glory" Graduates!! Watch Our American Flag Video!! Folding Our Flag Our American Flag Protocol Initiative has four major components:- An Academic Curriculum consisting of ten (10) 50-minute lessons of in-classroom instruction for 4th grade students that will be presented by their assigned teachers and a visiting instructional team consisting of a MOAA member, JROTC Cadets from either Sarasota Military Academy, Sarasota, Booker, Riverview, Venice or North Port High Schools, and Senior Level Scouts from the Girl Scouts of Gulf-coast Florida;
- The opportunity for teachers and/or school principals to request that a veteran organization color guard conduct a formal retreat ceremony on school grounds to demonstrate respect, patriotism and proper flag protocol;
- An extensive outreach program to area businesses and civic organizations consisting of both hard copy and electronic media outlining the proper use and display of the American Flag;
- And finally, the conduct of an Annual American Flag Collection and Retirement Ceremony for old and/or damaged flags that will be widely advertised and open to the general public.
Certificate of Completion Old Glory brochure American Flag Protocol Curriculum Lessons
everal years ago, we initiated our Veterans Educational Financial Aid Program for honorably discharged and returning Veterans attending accredited local colleges and technical schools. These Veterans’ aid awards are needs-based and are awarded in coordination with local education institutions’ financial aid offices. This year we anticipate awarding $10,000 in need- based awards, which include such items as transportation to and from college, course books, supplies and lab equipment. Items not covered by the GI Bill. Funds are currently allocated to USF Sarasota-Manatee, the State College of Florida Manatee-Sarasota, the Manatee Technical College and the Manatee Technical College - West. Specific award criteria have been developed by our Scholarship Committee and administered by our Veteran Financial Aid Committee and the respective college/university financial aid office. The awards are administered by each individual college/university.
In addition to our Foundation donation activities and the Patterson Foundation’s Giving Challenge, these veteran awards are underwritten by a grant from the William E. Schmidt Foundation, established by Veteran and philanthropist, Bill Schmidt, Capt USAF (Retired), a decorated WWII pilot. We have also formed a long-term strategic partnership with the community-based Pops Orchestra for Bradenton & Sarasota. Past events have included free concerts at Patriot Plaza, at the Sarasota National Cemetery, and most recently veteran concerts at the Riverview Arts Centre and the Neel Performing Arts Center from which The Pops Orchestra generously contributes 100% of their profits to our Foundation, earmarked for our Veterans educational assistance.
Our Educational Partners
State College of Florida Manatee-Sarasota
University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee
Manatee Technical College - East
Manatee Technical College - West
Southeaster Guide Dogs
MOAA Foundation [Heritage Society Member] JROTC Support
The Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps
The Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) is a federal program sponsored by the United States Armed Forces in high schools and some middle schools across the United States and United States military bases across the world. The program was originally created as part of the National Defense Act of 1916 and later expanded under the 1964 ROTC Vitalization Act. The purpose of JROTC is "to instill in students in secondary educational institutions the values of citizenship, service to the United States, personal responsibility and a sense of accomplishment. Additional objectives are established by the service departments of the Department of Defense. The Department of the Army has declared those objectives for each cadet to be:
The Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) is a federal program sponsored by the United States Armed Forces in high schools and some middle schools across the United States and United States military bases across the world. The program was originally created as part of the National Defense Act of 1916 and later expanded under the 1964 ROTC Vitalization Act. The purpose of JROTC is "to instill in students in secondary educational institutions the values of citizenship, service to the United States, personal responsibility and a sense of accomplishment. Additional objectives are established by the service departments of the Department of Defense. The Department of the Army has declared those objectives for each cadet to be:
- Developing citizenship and patriotism
- Developing self-reliance and responsiveness to all authority
- Improving the ability to communicate well both orally and in writing.
- Developing an appreciation of the importance of physical fitness.
- Increasing a respect for the role of the U.S. Armed Forces in support of national objectives.
- Developing a knowledge of team building skills and basic military skills.
- Taking 1-3 years of the course grants cadets the ability to rank higher if they pursue a military career.
- Booker High School
- Venice High School
- Riverview High School
- Sarasota Military Academy
- Sarasota High School
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