February 2026 News

BOARD CHAIR CORNER | Jeff Toale

Happy Valentine’s Day! 

We want to share a heartfelt thank you to all our supporters for 2025 and hope that you will continue your generous giving of time, talents, and treasures with the foundation in 2026! 

To share the love we have for our community, we are holding a raffle for a “date night” package that includes a $150 gift card to Ocean Prime Sarasota, two tickets to Florida Studio Theatre, and a bottle of premium champagne. Tickets are $20. Please click on this link to buy your raffle tickets now! There is a limited number of tickets and sales conclude February 8. Good luck!

Also in February will be our first event of the year, Polo with the Pros! We are extremely pleased to have Williams Parker Attorneys at Law and Northern Trust as our major sponsors again this year! February 8, 2026 will be an exhilarating and captivating afternoon with a polo match at the Sarasota Polo Club. Starting with a champagne toast, a delicious luncheon will be served all afternoon while you enjoy the speed, skill, and elegance of polo as the professional players take to the field. In addition, we will be recognizing and honoring the Junior Humanitarian of the Year! So come and join us, tickets are limited, click here to order yours! And while buying your event ticket, add a raffle ticket or two!

Please explore all the upcoming events the foundation will be hosting and mark your calendars to attend. 

This month The Board Walk features Keith Pandeloglou. Keith is currently the foundation’s VP and also serves as human resources chair. He will be stepping into the board chair position in June of this year. He brings a great deal of experience to the table and we look forward to having him take the reins. Please read his article and get to know him. 

The foundation thanks the Builders Give Back builders with heart felt appreciation for their support and encouragement. Please see the article and we look forward to yet another great year with the builders! 

Our Community Business Partner that is featured this month is CoworkLWR. This main street business is owned by our board member Keith Pandeloglou, please read about the beneficial services they offer to our business community.

And our featured third quarter Grant Recipient is Neuro Challenge Foundation for Parkinson’s. Please read about the great work they are doing in our community. 

Let’s Open the Door… on this upcoming exciting year of events and activities to help achieve our vision and mission! Join us and share of your time, talents, and treasures! 

Jeff Toale

Chair of the Board

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Polo with the Pros
Sunday, February 8, 2026

Read more.

Recognition and Refreshments
Thursday, March 3, 2026

Read more.

Casino Night at Gold Coast
Thursday, April 2, 2026

Read more.

 

Golf Tournament at Calusa Country Club
Friday, May 8, 2026

Read more.

The Soirée at the Ranch 2026

TBD

Events are posted on our website as details become available. 

FEBRUARY VALENTINE RAFFLE

Valentine’s Day is coming up fast and we have a great raffle to help you win over your loved one! The winning ticket receives $150 at Ocean Prime restaurant in Sarasota, two tickets to any Florida Studio Theatre production in 2026, plus a bottle of premium champagne! 

You may buy tickets online and you do not have to be present to win. Winner will be notified if not present at the Polo with the Pros event where the winning ticket will be drawn on February 8. 

JUNIOR HUMANITARIAN AWARD WINNER

The Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation established the Junior Humanitarian Award in 2023 in the same light as the Humanitarian of the Year Award started over 20 years ago by C. John A. Clarke and bears his name. The Junior Humanitarian Award honors a youth who embodies the spirit of philanthropy in their daily lives. Tom Bergerat is our winner this year and he definitely portrays this spirit! 

Tom was born in France and moved to the United States in 2017 from Canada. Despite learning English as a second language, he is a standout student who is taking all honors and AP courses. He is hoping to study at Princeton University. 

A student at Out-of-Door Academy in Lakewood Ranch, Tom is co-leader of the school’s Advanced Chamber Orchestra, where he performed at the Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation’s Soirée in November 2025, and volunteers in many other organizations on and off campus. Tom has received multiple district and state accolades as an actor, musician, and theater director. He has studied piano for over 10 years and plays on the soccer team. 

Tom said, “Giving back to your community does not have to be something huge like curing cancer, but small things that make someone else happy at the end of their day, can go a very long way. To me, giving back to your community is genuinely being there to help anyone who needs it.”

THE BOARD WALK - KEITH PANDELOGLOU

This month we feature Keith Pandeloglou, currently the foundation’s vice president and HR committee chair. Keith brings a great deal of experience with Lakewood Ranch as he is the executive director of LWR Community Activities. Please read about Keith and get to know him! 

As Lakewood Ranch continues to grow, I’ve been reflecting a lot on the role that community plays in both business and life. That’s why I’m honored that this July I’ll be serving as the incoming chair of the Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation.

The foundation plays a vital role in supporting programs and initiatives that strengthen our community through philanthropy, volunteerism, and meaningful local partnerships. I’ve had the privilege of working alongside an incredible group of board members who care deeply about the future of Lakewood Ranch, and I’m excited to help guide the foundation’s work in this next chapter.

My involvement with the foundation closely mirrors how I spend most of my professional time in LWR – helping to create a community where people feel connected, supported, and empowered to grow. Whether it’s through community events, entrepreneurship, service, or collaboration, I believe strong communities are built when people show up and invest in one another.

I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve and look forward to continuing to support the community that has supported me and my family for so many years.

–Keith Pandeloglou 

BUILDERS GIVE BACK

LWRCF wishes to acknowledge and express our appreciation with a “Happy Valentine’s Day of Love” for the builders of the program. The builders’ support has allowed the foundation to continue with our vision and mission and provide grants to well deserving nonprofit organizations in our community. This could not be accomplished without the support and encouragement of the members of this program.

Happy Valentine’s Day of Love, Builders!

COMMUNITY BUSINESS PARTNER: CoworkLWR

CoworkLWR is our featured Community Business Partner. Please read about this Main Street business owned by Keith Pandeloglou, who serves on the foundation’s board of directors and is incoming chair 2026. 

We’re excited to share that CoworkLWR has officially opened the doors to our new, expanded location – designed to better serve how our community actually works today.

CoworkLWR lobby

With nearly four times the space of our former office, the new location allows us to significantly increase availability across our most in-demand offerings: private offices and virtual offices.

Our private offices provide secure, turnkey workspaces ideal for entrepreneurs, remote teams, and professionals who need privacy without the overhead of a traditional lease. These offices are move-in ready and include access to shared amenities, meeting space, and high-speed connectivity. In fact, the Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation HQ is in the new CoworkLWR!

CoworkLWR large conference room

For those who value consistency and community, dedicated desks offer a permanent workstation in a professional environment, which is perfect for focused work with the flexibility to collaborate when needed.

We’ve also expanded our virtual office services to meet growing demand from local and remote businesses alike. Members enjoy a professional business address, secure mail handling, and optional access to meeting rooms and workspace without the need for a daily physical presence.

CoworkLWR small conference room

Whether you’re scaling a business, transitioning from home, or simply looking for a more professional setup, our new space was built to support your next phase.

Availability is now open, and interest is strong—reach out at 941-322-7199 or info@coworkfl.com to learn more or schedule a tour.

Let’s Open the Door… and learn more about how your business can become involved. Visit our website at LWRCF.org or email info@LWRCF.org.

GRANT RECIPIENTS

Neuro Challenge Foundation for Parkinson’s is our featured third quarter grant recipient this month. Please read about their mission, free programs, and services offered. They are doing so much great work and having a positive impact in the community.

A diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease impacts every member of a person’s family. It is estimated that 1.1 million people in the U.S. are living with Parkinson’s, with 90,000 diagnosed each year. At Neuro Challenge Foundation for Parkinson’s, we see daily the struggles that people face and the importance of readily available programs to help them manage this disease.

 

Our mission is to improve the quality of life of people with Parkinson’s and their caregivers by providing free programs and services. We cover six counties in southwest Florida, serving more than 3,500 people affected by Parkinson’s each year. We provide a wide range of educational programs, therapeutic activities, support groups, and more … all at no charge. We are committed to helping people navigate this journey with resources, support and hope.

Volunteers are at-the-ready to support staff and participants at The Parkinson’s Expo in 2025.

The free programs and services include:

Care advisors who offer personalized guidance and connections to community resources that ease the challenges of Parkinson’s.

Monthly educational, support and therapeutic programs provide opportunities for learning, connection, and support.

Parkinson’s education forums are local events where medical experts share insights on key Parkinson’s topics.

The Annual Parkinson’s Symposium is a major educational event with local Parkinson’s experts in partnership with Sarasota Memorial Health Care System.

The Parkinson’s Expo is the largest educational event of its kind in the country, bringing thousands together for a full day of education, engagement, and empowerment.

Participants try out urban poling at The Parkinson’s Expo in 2025.

Each year, more than 500 free programs are offered to the Parkinson’s community. Regardless of where families are on their journey, we ensure they never walk that path alone, supported with impactful essential programs and caring professionals committed to providing compassionate support every step of the way.

Thank you to Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation for their support so we can provide these resources and services to people with Parkinson’s and their families.

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The Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Division of Consumer Services by calling toll-free (800-435-7352) within the state or going to the department’s website www.FloridaConsumerHelp.com. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation by the state. Registration #CH66420.

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25th Anniversary $250,000 Goal

$100,000 Raised!

$250,000 40%

Celebrating 25 years of giving to our community. Please help the Foundation secure the next 25 years! Your donation increases grants to deserving nonprofits in our community!

Donate Now

25th Anniversary $250,000 Goal

$100,000 Raised!

$250,000 40%

Celebrating 25 years of giving to our community. Please help the Foundation secure the next 25 years! Your donation increases grants to deserving nonprofits in our community!

Donate Now
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