Meet Ed and Susan Maier! Ed and Susan Maier became Friends of the Van Wezel Foundation when they moved to the Gulf Coast nine years ago and have supported the arts in our community ever since. Both Ed and Susan have a love for Broadway musicals – Phantom of the

Moms are special. They sing to us, nurture us and empower us to be our best. Just in time for Mother’s Day, you can use the arts to create a unique gift for that special someone in your life by clicking here and making a homemade gift or card. Don’t

SARASOTA, May 6, 2020 – Cheryl Mendelson, CEO of the Van Wezel Foundation, has been appointed to the Gulf Coast CEO Forum, an organization comprised of a select group of leaders, presidents and CEOs from the business and nonprofit sectors. “I’m honored to join this prestigious group at such a

Inspiring People to Hang On An interview with Van Wezel Foundation CEO, Cheryl Mendelson. By Sylvia Whitman, SCENE Magazine. April 30, 2020 Isolated at home and forced to pause, Americans are thinking, evaluating, and prioritizing, Mendelson says. They see musicians stepping onto porches and playing their violins, singers performing in

During the 2020 Giving Challenge from noon – noon April 28 – 29, you could be the one to help us fulfill our mission and create even more indelible learning experiences for children. The arts bring communities together. Now more than ever, it’s important for donors to invest in the

Free online activities are now available. Local arts, education and philanthropic organizations have come together to create the Suncoast Arts REACH Task Force, a team of leading arts education specialists, to curate and share arts-based remote learning content for students, parents, teachers and caregivers. With remote learning a necessity due

The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall just announced its 2020-21 Broadway/Classical/Dance Season featuring 12 award-winning Broadway musicals, including six thrilling Sarasota Premieres! As a valued member of our Friends Society, you can experience the joys of the performing arts with year-round privileges, including: – Concierge ticketing – Premium seating options

Meet Joan Lieberman! Joan is originally from Milwaukee, WI and currently resides on Longboat Key. Joan is a huge football fan (Go Packers!), has a passion for the performing arts and loves a good Broadway musical or comedic performance. In fact, The Jersey Boys is one of her favorites. She

Many children throughout our neighborhoods are impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Schools are closed. Visits with friends and family are limited. Extended family members are asked to step in to inspire our children to learn. At a time when the future is unknown, one thing is clear – we need

The 2020 Giving Challenge is here! The Giving Challenge is a 24-hour fundraising event that brings together more than 700 local nonprofit organizations, including the Van Wezel Foundation, with passionate donors and community members to support causes and issues they care about while creating transformative impact. The Van Wezel Foundation’s