Daniel E. Offutt, III
Charitable Trust
"By Supporting Wingspan, he is helping young people to learn and grow."
Dick Orenstein, Trustee
Daniel E. Offutt, III Charitalble Trust
Wingspan Productions was formed in the midst of the global pandemic to creatively address the extreme challenges the world is facing, particularly for young adults. The Daniel E. Offutt, III Charitable Trust provided a major founding grant to sustain Wingspan's educational efforts now and for years to come.
Daniel E. Offutt III died on November 24th, 2016, at age 85, leaving a legacy of visionary philanthropy with significant impact across education, the arts, faith-based organizations and more. “Dan was a project person and was always looking for ways to connect to his friends by sharing projects,” said Dick Orenstein, Trustee of the Charitable Trust. “He wanted to show people the pleasure of accomplishment, whether in building something, repairing something, or learning a new task. This joy of learning was an important basis of Dan’s life,
As Dan was nearing the end of his life, he expressed the pleasure of knowing that he would be changing lives through his trust, including helping young adults grow. As the Trustee of Dan’s estate, and knowing what I do of his life and the early, sad death of his father, I believe Dan would be pleased to know that by supporting Wingspan through his Charitable Trust, he is helping people to learn and grow.”
Roger Sandt
Roger is our major producer for Bridge to the Other Side. A devoted Roanoke College alumnus, Sandt is a Lifetime Distinguished Associate. The C. Homer Bast Track, named in honor of Sandt's former track coach, was dedicated in October 2006 and was made possible through a donation by Sandt. At the dedication, Sandt stated that Homer Bast helped students set high standards and that he gave a blueprint to be followed for life in which there was no room for mediocrity. Roger has supported many worthy endeavors across many disciplines. His generosity and kindness is truly extraordinary.
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Willa & Bob Bernhard
"Noticing a need in the community and then filling it."
Bob and Willa Bernhard focus on two main types of philanthropic outlets. They actively support big organizations like ACLU, Amnesty International, Planned Parenthood, and local hospitals. And they are equally passionate about noticing a need that no one else is filling—or hasn’t filled well—and then doing something about it.
Willa—a former psychologist, therapist, and educator in the Department of Psychiatry at Cornell University Medical School—has plenty of ways of giving to the community. She has been a supporter of the Women’s Resource Center of Sarasota County and belongs to the Florida Suncoast Division of the International Women’s Board, and has been an enthusiastic supporter of award-winning filmmaker KT Curran and her work with SOURCE Productions as well as her current work with Wingspan in educating young adults through theatre and films that tackle vital issues.
“Bob Bernhard’s a born problem solver who’s always dreaming up ways to overcome challenges in our community,” says John Annis in an article for Scene Magazine. “There aren’t many 91-year-olds who are so actively engaged with local issues and thinking about ways to make a difference.”
Here4Youth
"Now the work begins. It will take all of us to do it."
Wingspan is thrilled to be a recipient of a major grant from the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation and Gulf Coast Community Foundation who are convening stakeholders to chart a way forward towards the emotional health of our community. Their overall purpose is to identify short-term capacity building and longer-term systemic investments that can create a system of care that responds effectively to the mental health needs of all children, youth, and families in Sarasota County. Wingspan's new film initiative is directly focused on building mental and emotional health for young adults.