Anna Maria Oyster Bar Partners with Easterseals Academy to Empower Students with Disabilities

In a commendable initiative to support students with disabilities, Anna Maria Oyster Bar's University Town Center (UTC) location has partnered with Easterseals Academy High School. Through this collaboration, many students from the academy gain valuable work experience by working at the restaurant once a week. This opportunity provides practical job skills and fosters community integration and personal development for the students.

Easterseals Academy is dedicated to serving students up to age 22 who face developmental, physical, learning, and mild behavioral disabilities, as well as autism. The academy offers a holistic approach to education, tailoring academic goals to individual strengths and needs. Programs include personalized instruction plans, enrichment activities, community-based instruction, transition planning, vocational training, life skills training, and job coaching.

The partnership with Anna Maria Oyster Bar aligns with the restaurant's longstanding commitment to community support and education. Owners John and Amanda Horne have been deeply involved in various philanthropic endeavors across the Suncoast region. Notably, they co-founded the "Dive Into Reading" program in 2017, aiming to improve children's reading abilities and life skills. This summer reading initiative has expanded to multiple locations, serving hundreds of students with the help of volunteer mentors.

Additionally, the Hornes established the Horne & Moon Scholarship Fund, which has raised nearly $600,000 to support adults returning to higher education at institutions such as State College of Florida, University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee, and Manatee Technical College. Their dedication to education and community service has earned them numerous accolades, including the National Restaurant Association Education Foundation's Restaurant Neighbor Award and the Leadership Florida Impact Award for "Dive Into Reading."

Through their partnership with Easterseals Academy, Anna Maria Oyster Bar continues to exemplify its commitment to making #AbilitiesShine across the Suncoast, providing meaningful employment opportunities that can be life-changing for individuals with disabilities.