The Patterson Foundation Commits $500,000 to the Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund for 2026 Hurricane Season
The funding will support long-term disaster recovery needs throughout Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee and Sarasota counties
As the 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season begins, The Patterson Foundation is strengthening our region’s resilience by committing $500,000 to the Community Foundation of Sarasota County’s Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund. The funding will support ongoing and future long-term recovery and resilience efforts in areas of Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee and Sarasota counties impacted by hurricanes and other disasters.
The Community Foundation established the Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund in 2022 in response to Hurricane Ian’s catastrophic impact. All contributions to the Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund are dedicated to long-term recovery efforts. These needs are identified in the months following an event such as a hurricane, after initial emergency response and short-term relief efforts have concluded.
“Preparedness is more than having supplies on hand or a plan for when a storm approaches — it also means ensuring our region has resources at the ready to cover the needs that emerge long after the winds and waters subside,” said Debra Jacobs, president and CEO of The Patterson Foundation. “The Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund has proven to be a powerful vehicle for strengthening long-term recovery across our region. With this investment, The Patterson Foundation is strengthening our collective capacity to navigate inevitable future storms with resilience.”
The Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund is specifically focused on supporting vital community resources in Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee and Sarasota counties to improve individual, family and community resiliency while helping people rebuild their lives beyond initial reconstruction. This includes mental and behavioral health, legal services, case management, children and youth services, as well as efforts identified by Long Term Recovery Groups within each county such as rebuilding and repairing homes, and replacing damaged furniture and appliances, all of which make homes safe and livable. The Fund directs contributions to local nonprofit organizations supporting long-term, long-range recovery programs to sustain human service agencies in our region, as well as efforts to rebuild stronger, more resilient communities.
“As this year’s Atlantic hurricane season gets underway, we all hope that it will be quiet and unremarkable, but we also know that now is the time to prepare for the next storm,” said Jessica Muroff, president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. “The Patterson Foundation’s generous gift to the Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund will assist the many residents who are still struggling with the aftermath of previous hurricanes and help our community become more resilient against future threats. We are beyond grateful for their support for this important initiative.”
The Patterson Foundation supports the Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund through direct contributions and donation-match opportunities to incentivize community giving. Since its inception, the Fund has become a vital resource for the region. The Fund has raised more than $10.7 million since 2022, including more than $4 million in total support from The Patterson Foundation.
Although disasters throughout the world are growing in size, frequency and severity, research shows that disaster-related support is currently declining. This is amid a growing need for philanthropy to fill the gap that federal- and state-level changes have left in the nation’s response and recovery structure, especially with regard to long-term recovery. When disaster strikes, a majority of donations are made within the first week when media coverage is high, with most only going toward immediate relief, leaving a critical gap in long-term recovery efforts. While funding for reconstruction and recovery has increased over the years, it still accounts for only 12.7 percent of disaster funding, with immediate response and relief continuing to dominate donations according to the Center for Disaster Philanthropy’s 2025 State of Disaster Philanthropy Report.
In addition to long-term recovery, the Community Foundation meets immediate relief needs of individuals and families in our region through its Season of Sharing initiative. A trusted, time-tested safety net, Season of Sharing covers expenses related to housing, utilities, transportation and childcare to help avoid compounding financial setbacks that can be the result of a missed payment.
Donations to the Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund or Season of Sharing can be made online at www.cfsarasota.org/donors/support-our-community#donate or by sending a check (payable to Community Foundation of Sarasota County) to Attn: Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund or Season of Sharing, 2635 Fruitville Road, Sarasota, FL 34237. All donations are tax-deductible.
For more information about the Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund or Season of Sharing, please visit CFSarasota.org.
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About The Patterson Foundation
The Patterson Foundation is a fully endowed charitable entity strengthening people, organizations, and communities in ways that foster wide participation around shared quality-of-life aspirations. For more information, please visit thepattersonfoundation.org.About the Community Foundation of Sarasota County
The Community Foundation of Sarasota County is a public charity founded in 1979 by the Southwest Florida Estate Planning Council as a resource for caring individuals and the causes they support, enabling them to make a charitable impact on the community. With assets of $605 million in more than 1,600 charitable funds, the Community Foundation awarded grants and scholarships totaling $44.7 million last year in the areas of education, the arts, health and human services, civic engagement, animal welfare and the environment. Since its founding, the Community Foundation has been able to grant more than $542 million to nonprofits in our community thanks to the generosity of charitable individuals, families and businesses. For more information, visit cfsarasota.org or call 941-955-3000.