By Jay Heater Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation’s Kate Mulligan (left) and Keith Pandeloglou (right) present the 2026 C. John A. Clark Humanitarian of the Year Award to Maribeth Phillips Oct. 1 at the Lakewood Ranch Country Club. Photo by Jay Heater Maribeth Phillips didn’t take long in addressing the crowd at the Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation’s Soirée at the Ranch Oct. 1 at the Lakewood Ranch Country Club. Phillips, who has been the president and CEO of Meals on Wheels Plus Manatee since 2012, received the 2026 C. John A. Clarke Humanitarian of the Year award. Every waking hour since that time has been dedicated to feeding the hungry and serving homebound seniors. Meals on Wheels Plus delivered 3,550,000 pounds of food in 2025 along with 6,250 pounds of pet food. But after Phillips was called to the podium to a huge applause from a packed house, she was concise, simply thanking the Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation and executive director Kate Mulligan, who she said has “raised the bar” for that organization. She added that she told Mulligan that she had raised the ball before the foundation had selected her as Humanitarian of the Year, which drew laughs from those in attendance. Phillips said it was an honor to celebrate with her family and friends and noted that she was extremely proud to follow in the footsteps of the previous winners of the award. She now has her name inscribed on a plaque near the fountain at Main Street at Lakewood Ranch with the other honorees. Former Manatee County Commissioner Vanessa Baugh was at the event with her husband, Don. They were C. John A. Clarke Humanitarians of the Year in 2016. “The Humanitarian of the Year Award is the biggest honor you can earn in this community,” Don Baugh said. Vanessa Baugh was a Meals on Wheels Plus board member when she nominated Phillips to take over as CEO and president in 2012. “It’s her heart,” Baugh said of why she nominated her. “She is the real deal.” The Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation, which raised approximately $150,000 on the night, also presented other awards at its gala. Elizabeth Baran won an Extraordinary Community Impact Award along with Chris Williams and Hugh Shields. Baran has volunteered with area nonprofits for more than 20 years. She has been on the boards of the Bishop Museum, the Women’s Resource Center and Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee. Williams has spent more than a decade helping the Salvation Army and is active with the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance. Shields has been a champion of the community almost two decades with Gold Coast Eagle Distributing. He always has been willing to donate his time, his talents and his resources. “This is just about a love of community,” Baran said of her award. “I had a desire to help where there was a need. But I am very humbled.” Baran had worked with Phillips at Meals on Wheels Plus. She said it wasn’t a surprise to see Phillips earn the Humanitarian of the Year award. “My gosh, she is truly full of heart,” Baran said of Phillips. Also awarded was the 2026 Junior Humanitarian of the Year award, which went to The Out-of-Door Academy student Liza Friedman. Hanna Schulz and Isabella Garcia Uzcategui were Junior Humanitarian honorees. One of the surprises of the night was Out-of-Door Academy senior Tom Bergerat who entertained the crowd with his talent on the piano. Over the past 26 years, the foundation has awarded almost $2 million in grants and has supported 170 nonprofit organizations. Maribeth Phillips, the C. John Clarke Humanitarian of the Year, enjoyed her special night with her sister, Theresa Aquino. Photo by Jay Heater Kate Mulligan (left) and Keith Pandeloglou (right) celebrate with Extraordinary Community Impact Award winners Elizabeth Baran, Hugh Shields, and Chris Williams. Photo by Jay Heater Junior Humanitarian Honorees Isabella Garcia Uzcategui, Hanna Schulz and 2026 Junior Humanitarian of the Year Liza Friedman were honored during Soirée at the Ranch. Photo by Jay Heater Maribeth Phillips (second from left), the C. John Clarke Humanitarian of the Year, was joined at the event by her sister, Theresa Aquino, son-in-law Nick Shirley, and daughter, Ashley Shirley. Photo by Jay Heater The Out-of-Door Academy senior Tom Bergerat was a hit entertaining the Soirée at the Ranch crowd Oct. 1 at the Lakewood Ranch Country Club with his piano expertise. Photo by Jay Heater Former Manatee County Commissioner Vanessa Baugh and her husband, Donnie Baugh, were the Humanitarians of the Year in 2016. Photo by Jay Heater Tommy and Jaymie Klauber are regular contributors to the Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation, which benefits area nonprofits with grants. Photo by Jay Heater LWRCF volunteer Michelle Hornung and her husband, Tim Hornung, made their Sarasota Polo Club home available to host the “Private Chef Experience” with chef Tommy Klauber and Jaymie Klauber that was one of the live auction items. Photo by Jay Heater Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation Board Member Lorri Kidder joins Bonny Reiff-Smith before Soirée at the Ranch got rolling at the Lakewood Ranch Country Club Oct. 1. Photo by Jay Heater Karen Medford and Scott Ginn enjoyed the beauty of the Lakewood Ranch Country Club during the LWRCF’s Soirée at the Ranch. Photo by Jay Heater Jenny and Mike Schenk were enjoying their support of the Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation Oct. 1 at Lakewood Ranch Country Club. Photo by Jay Heater Lendy Chapman and Jenna Lank represented Blue Butterfly in supporting the Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation during the Soirée at the Ranch Oct. 1 at the Lakewood Ranch Country Club. Photo by Jay Heater Geoff Cowan served as the master of ceremonies and the auctioneer at Soirée at the Ranch Oct. 1 at the Lakewood Ranch Country Club. Photo by Jay Heater Tommy Klauber and Don Baugh were both big donors to the LWRCF’s Soirée at the Ranch Oct. 1 at the Lakewood Ranch Country Club. Photo by Jay Heater Humanitarian of the Year Maribeth Phillips