Big Dreams Through Small Steps Releases Inaugural Annual Impact Report Highlighting Community Connections and Family Safety
Big Dreams Through Small Steps has released its inaugural Annual Impact Report, marking a milestone year for the nonprofit as it formalizes its role as a community connector, program leader, and trusted source of public service information across Manatee County and the greater Suncoast region.
Founded on the mission of empowering families and building stronger communities by connecting needs to solutions one small step at a time, the organization’s first impact report outlines measurable progress made throughout 2025. The report reflects a year focused on family safety, inclusive initiatives, youth leadership development, and strengthening access to resources through partnerships and collaboration.
A cornerstone of the organization’s work is AQUAlibrium, its drowning-prevention and water-safety initiative. During the year, the program provided swim scholarships to dozens of children, delivered hundreds of swim lessons, and helped most participating children advance to new skill levels. The program emphasized water confidence, self-rescue skills, and safety awareness, with a strong focus on serving young children and families facing financial or systemic barriers.
The report also highlights progress made through Bridge Abilities, an inclusion-focused initiative that increases awareness and access to mobility equipment for families with special needs. In its inaugural year, Bridge Abilities expanded community advocacy efforts and established a collaboration with Goodwill Manasota to support donation drop-off and warehousing needs, strengthening operational capacity for future growth.
Beyond direct programming, Big Dreams Through Small Steps operates Pulse of Manatee, a centralized community news and public service platform. In 2025, Pulse of Manatee published hundreds of nonprofit-focused and public service articles, experienced steady growth in readership, and joined the Community Organizations Active in Disaster network, supporting post-disaster communication and public safety messaging.
The inaugural report also documents growing community trust, with invitations to collaborate with regional coalitions, advisory boards, schools, and redevelopment efforts. In addition, organizational leadership supported youth and business development by engaging with Future Business Leaders of America and contributing expertise to student competitions and leadership activities.
Looking ahead, the report outlines priorities for expanding drowning prevention efforts, growing inclusive partnerships, strengthening community communications, and continuing to connect families with solutions that improve quality of life. The inaugural impact report positions Big Dreams Through Small Steps for continued growth while underscoring its commitment to turning collaboration into action for children, families, and the broader community.
