Parenting Matters announced today that Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation will match up to $25,000 in gifts made during the Gift from the Heart Paddle Raise at the 10th Annual Sangarita Showdown. The match means every dollar pledged that evening goes twice as far for children and families in Manatee and Sarasota counties.
The 10th Annual Sangarita Showdown takes place Friday, Nov. 13, 2026, from 7 to 10 p.m. in Veterans Hall at the Manatee County Fairgrounds, 1402 14th Ave. W., Palmetto. Local restaurants and bars will compete for Best Sangria, Best Margarita, and Best Bites on the Suncoast, with winners chosen by guests. The evening also features live music, raffles, and silent and live auctions. Attendees must be 21 or older.
The Gift from the Heart Paddle Raise is the evening’s signature giving moment. Parenting Matters encourages guests to arrive knowing about the match and ready to raise their paddles.
Whether a guest raises a paddle for $50, $500, $1,000, or $5,000, the match lets that gift go twice as far. Examples of what those dollars make possible:
• $25 provides emergency food, clothing, diapers, or safety items for a family.
• $50 provides five Musical Motion classes for a child.
• $1,000 provides a full month of intensive parenting education and wraparound support for a family.
“Ten years of the Sangarita Showdown is something worth celebrating. Underneath the cocktails, competition, auction items, dancing and laughter is a community choosing to invest in children and families,” said Rebekah Prieto, Director of Development and Marketing at Parenting Matters. “Thanks to Barancik Foundation, our goal is simple: do not leave a single matching dollar on the table.”
Can’t attend? You can still help meet the match
Supporters who cannot attend on Nov. 13 can raise a “virtual paddle” and be part of the match from wherever they are. To take part, contact Rebekah Prieto at RPrieto@ParentingMattersFL.org. Community members can also help by volunteering with event setup and throughout the evening.
The Sangarita Showdown began in 2016 and is presented by the Division 8 Exchange Clubs. The 2025 event drew nearly 400 guests and raised more than $105,000 after expenses. Tables are selling quickly, and the 10th anniversary event is expected to sell out. Tickets are available on Eventbrite, and more information is at SangaritaShowdown.com.
The Gift from the Heart Paddle Raise is made possible in part by support from the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation.
About Parenting Matters
Parenting Matters is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to advancing the lives of children, together with their parents. Since 1994, it has strengthened families in Manatee and Sarasota counties through evidence-based parenting education and support, including in-home services, community groups, classes, and workshops. Most programs are offered at little or no cost, often with free childcare. In 2025, Parenting Matters served 926 parents, impacted 1,294 children, and held 429 community classes and workshops. Learn more at ParentingMatters.org.
About Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation
The Charles and Margery Barancik family has long believed in the power of philanthropy to shape our world and enrich the lives of all people. It was the expression of this belief that led them in 2014 to establish Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation—a private, family foundation located in Sarasota, Florida. Barancik Foundation creates initiatives and awards grants in Sarasota and beyond in the areas of education, humanitarian causes, arts and culture, the environment, and medical research. For more information, visit http://www.barancikfoundation.org.
