ALSO Youth has launched a new scholarship designed to help young people pursue opportunities that traditional academic scholarships may not cover.
The Honorable Rick De Furia Enrichment Scholarship will provide one eligible ALSO Youth participant with up to $1,500 for an enrichment opportunity that might otherwise be financially out of reach. The scholarship is open to LGBTQ+ young people ages 10 to 24 who live in Sarasota or Manatee County and regularly participate in ALSO Youth programming.
Possible uses include music or art lessons, creative writing workshops, leadership development, professional certifications, career exploration and other experiences that support personal growth and skill development. Scholarship funds are paid toward the approved opportunity rather than directly to the recipient or family.
ALSO Youth Executive Director Annie Berkness recently appeared with Linda Carson on ABC7 WWSB-TV’s Suncoast View to introduce the scholarship, which honors the late Frederick Rick De Furia. De Furia served on the Sarasota County bench from 1981 to 1986 before leaving to study acting at the FSU/Asolo Conservatory. He later returned to the judiciary in 2003 as a judge in Florida’s 12th Judicial Circuit, serving Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties until retiring in 2013. His community involvement included efforts benefiting children, Teen Court and civic education.
The scholarship was established through an anonymous gift and is intended to continue De Furia’s legacy of supporting opportunities for young people. ALSO Youth plans to select one Rick De Furia Scholar annually.
ALSO Youth’s Manatee County roots
ALSO Youth traces its history to 1992, when volunteers in the Sarasota area organized in response to concerns about high suicide rates among gay and lesbian teenagers. Working with organizations including PFLAG, Planned Parenthood and YMCA Youth and Family Services, the founders initially established a youth support group and later expanded into educator training and other community services.
Its presence in Manatee County grew significantly through Prism Youth Initiative, which began serving LGBTQ+ youth in Manatee County in 2010. ALSO Youth and Prism finalized a merger in late 2020, creating one organization serving young people across both Sarasota and Manatee counties.
The Manatee Center later became especially important following Hurricane Milton in October 2024, when ALSO Youth lost its longtime Sarasota center. Operations shifted to the Manatee location for about 10 months while the organization also used community partner locations for programs. A new Sarasota center opened in 2025, while the Manatee Center continued serving the Bradenton area.
Today, ALSO Youth provides programs including peer support, community enrichment, scholarships and free counseling for LGBTQ+ youth ages 10 to 24, along with services and resources for families, friends and the broader community. The organization maintains locations in both Sarasota and Bradenton.
Applications for the inaugural Honorable Rick De Furia Enrichment Scholarship are open through Oct. 24, 2026.
More information and application materials are available through ALSO Youth’s scholarship page.