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 Charlotte Graver (right) presenting Donna K. Dunio (left), Executive Director of ITNSarasota with Community Foundation Endowment and Operational Donation.

 SARASOTA, FL – March 2011

 ITNSarasota, a non-profit organization providing affordable, dignified transportation for seniors over 60 and visually impaired adults, received its first Top Ten Titan endowment gift from Charlotte Graver, one of Sarasota County’s caring individuals.  Mrs. Graver made the donation through her charitable fund at the Community Foundation of Sarasota County.  

A Top Ten Titan gift may be made by a major donor or a corporation, and may be used to create a new endowment fund or add to an existing endowment fund. “This endowment will have a huge impact on the lives of all of us who live and work in Sarasota County,” says Donna Dunio, Executive Director of ITNSarasota. By creating an endowment, Mrs. Graver has created a legacy to help us fulfill our vision of a day when all seniors who can no longer drive are able to live life to the fullest! Hopefully, others will want to contribute to Mrs. Graver’s endowment fund, or maybe even create their own.”

Ms. Graver also made a separate donation to ITNSarasota for operating expenses.  She said, “I’m selective about where I donate and I can assure you that ITNSarasota is providing a much needed and worthwhile service. I want to help ensure that ITNSarasota will be here for all future generations.”  Art Mahoney, ITNSarasota board chair said, “Mrs. Graver’s endowment is huge because ITN is more than a ‘good cause,’ it’s a necessary and innovative answer to enabling our seniors to regain the independence they “gave-up” when they stopped driving.” Mahoney added, “Seniors now have a safe, dignified transportation alternative that enables them to shop for their own groceries, go downtown or to the mall with friends, take in the arts in the evening, attend religious services, get to their medical appointments on time; to go wherever they want to go 24/7.”  

ITNSarasota is one of 18 affiliates in communities nationwide that replicates the successful nonprofit membership organization begun in Portland, Maine nearly 20 years ago by Katherine Freund, now founder and president of ITNAmerica. Freund is a national leader in senior transportation issues. ITNSarasota is one of the fastest growing non-profits in Sarasota County and needs volunteer driver numbers to catch-up with the needs of member riders. Fees cover about a third of the cost of providing the ride; the other 70 percent is covered through fundraising efforts. Volunteer support is essential. For more information on how YOU can become a Volunteer Driver for ITNSarasota, please call (941) 364-7530 or visit www.itnsarasota.org.

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SunTrust Bank Makes $15,000 Gold Leadership Gift to the Independent Transportation Network of Sarasota County

 SARASOTA, Fla. – February 2011

 

Pictured from left to right:  Margaret Callihan, Chairman, President, and CEO, SunTrust Bank Jamie Gephart, Assistant Vice President, Branch Manager Lakewood Walk, SunTrust Bank Melissa Zockine, Vice President, Charlotte County Area ManagerDonna K. Dunio, Executive Director and President, ITNSarasota Susan Nasworthy, Senior Vice President, Regional Sales and Marketing Manager, SunTrust Bank.

ITNSarasota, a non-profit organization providing affordable, individual, dignified

 transportation for seniors over 60 and visually impaired adults, received a 

$15,000 Gold Leadership Gift from SunTrust Bank. “This gift will have a huge

 impact on the lives of those who live and work in our community,” says Donna

 Dunio, Executive Director of ITN Sarasota. Adding, “ITN is more than a ‘good

 cause,’ it’s a necessary and innovative answer to enabling our seniors to regain

  some of the freedom they “gave-up” when they stopped driving.” ITN does

 substantially more than providing affordable rides for those who no longer drive. 

It’s helping to solve a critical public health issue. Seniors now have an alternative

to driving that preserves their freedom to buy their own groceries, shop downtown

or at the malls, enjoy the arts, get to their medical appointments on time, to go

wherever they want to go 24/7 while making our roads safer.

 SunTrust supports ITNSarasota not only through their monetary donation but also

 through their teammate volunteerism, outreach and support in the community. 

 “We are deeply appreciative to our new partners at SunTrust for all they have                                                                                   

done to help us promote and fulfill our mission” Art Mahoney, ITNSarasota board chair said.

 With keeping SunTrust’s mission to “help people and institutions prosper” in mind, Margaret

 Callihan, regional President, Chairman and CEO, states “‘Live Solid. Bank Solid’ is exemplified

 by the SunTrust team throughout the communities we serve.  We believe that Solid gives back, and

 our teammates do it all the time.  We see the ITN vision and look forward to working to assure that

 ITN gets as much support as possible and we think that working together we can make a

 significant difference in our community! ”

 SunTrust Banks, Inc., headquartered in Atlanta, is one of the nation’s largest banking

 organizations, serving a broad range of consumer, commercial, corporate and institutional clients.

 As of December 31, 2010, SunTrust had total assets of $172.9 billion and total deposits of $123.0

 billion. The Company operates an extensive branch and ATM network throughout the high-growth

 Southeast and Mid-Atlantic states and a full array of technology-based, 24-hour delivery channels.

 The Company also serves clients in selected markets nationally. Its primary businesses include

 deposit, credit, trust and investment services. Through various subsidiaries the Company provides

 mortgage banking, insurance, brokerage, investment management, equipment leasing and

 investment banking services. SunTrust’s Internet address is www.suntrust.com.   

 ITNSarasota is one of 18 affiliates in communities nationwide that replicates the successful

 nonprofit membership organization begun in Portland, Maine nearly 20 years ago by Katherine

 Freund.  Freund, now founder and president of ITNAmerica, is a national leader in senior

 transportation issues. ITNSarasota is the fastest growing non-profit in Sarasota County and needs

 volunteer driver numbers to catch-up with the needs of member riders. The fees cover about a

 third of the cost of providing the ride, the other 70% by fundraising. Volunteer support is essential.

 For more information on how YOU can become a Volunteer Driver for ITNSarasota, please call (941) 364-7530 or visit www.itnsarasota.org.

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We are pleased to announce that ITNSarasota joined the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce and we were welcomed with a Ribbon Cutting to celebrate out first year of providing services.

 

From Left to Right:

Thomas Welsh Jr., Sue Ellen Addicott, Chris Pinckney, Arthur Mahoney Jr., Doug Heinlen, Rose Chapman, Nora Patterson, Donna Dunio, Scott Carpenter,  Mary Erickson, Teresa K. Bowman, and Marilyn Harwell.

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If you belong to a group – civic, religious, business, whatever – and need a speaker, our Executive Director at  ITNSarasota would love to help! We can talk about the ITN concept in general, share a little on ridership or on volunteer driving, or on opportunities for businesses to get involved (or all of these). Please call or email me and we’ll see if we can arrange something. And speaking of volunteer driving, we need you! Our daily ride load is increasing, so please talk to your friends and ask them to consider what all our volunteers say is a wonderful experience.  And thank you to those of you who’ve already referred volunteer drivers.

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You may have retired from driving, but you still have all the same appointments, social engagements and errands to run. If you have a car just sitting in your driveway, costing you money in insurance, registration, and upkeep, make it work for you by trading it to ITNSarasota for an equal value in rides.

We will send a representative to your home to help you set a price for your vehicle. Once you are satisfied, your ITN CarTrade funds your Personal Transportation Account ™ for rides—wherever you want or need to go. ITNSarasota will then collect your vehicle.

If you are not a member of ITNSarasota or are interested in donating a vehicle rather than trading it for credits, we accept car donations and provide receipts so that you can claim your tax deduction. Please call us at 941-364-7530 to get the process rolling.

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Thank you to the Community Foundation of Sarasota County for choosing ITNSarasota as one of their grantees featured in a Community Foundation front page article in the Sarasota Herald Tribune; and for sharing our ITNSarasota story as one of their website features.

 

 Pictured: On her way to an appointment, member rider Sharon Steele walks arm-in-arm under an umbrella with volunteer driver Phil Dunio .

 Photo Credit: Sarasota -Herald Tribune Staff Photo, Dan Wagner

Letter from The Executive Director: Donna Dunio

 Dear Friends of ITNSarasota,

The past 10 months at ITNSarasota have been filled with excitement, growth, new beginnings and hundreds of amazingly caring individuals!  ITNSarasota began providing rides the last week of January 2010 with 6 rides; In August we passed the 1000 rides milestone, thanks to our incredible volunteer drivers and our very busy member riders; just last month we provided 245 rides!

What else has ITNSarasota been up to between January and November? We celebrated our First Rides Open House at the Community Foundation with some very special celebrity volunteer drivers: Nora Patterson, County Commissioner (and ITNSarasota board member), Judy Gallagher, Celebrity Chef and ABC 7 Culinary Director and Cliff Roles, Radio Personality.

We had our Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, we moved to new larger offices at the Arts Council of Sarasota County and  we had a very special “Thank You” luncheon for our treasured Volunteer Drivers, also at the Community Foundation. By the way, if you’d like to know more about how to become a volunteer driver, please call Ben Petro, Operations Manager at 941-364-7530.  It is the most fun you’ll ever have volunteering!

Speaking of ways in which you can help us help others, we are holding our first ever Annual Campaign and we could use your help and support. The fee for each ride we provide covers less than 30% of the cost of the ride making it necessary for us to raise the balance from caring individuals like you! The more rides we give, the more expenses we have! All gifts, large and small are vitally important and truly appreciated. 

We’ve also had the opportunity to recognize and honor some very caring and dedicated people and organizations during our first months of service. Most of you know ITN’s Ben Petro. The featured story on the front page gives you an idea of just how loving and committed Ben is to our ITN Mission.

Another ITNSarasota star, volunteer driver Diane Gouger was nominated for “Volunteer Driver of the Year” and we nominated The Community Foundation of Sarasota County, which has helped ITNSarasota and our community in countless ways, for National Philanthropy Day’s “Foundation of the Year” award. Ben, Diane and the Community Foundation will always be ITNSarasota’s outstanding “winners.”

These are just a few of the winning partnerships that are enabling ITNSarasota to provide area seniors and adults with visual impairment dignified, affordable, arm-in-arm, door-through-door transportation when they need it. ITN enables our member riders to have the freedom and independence to grocery shop for themselves, to enjoy friends and family get-togethers, to go to the theater, to make and keep their doctor’s appointment or just to go downtown or to the mall to window shop!

We are extremely thankful for our caring volunteers, our incredible member riders, our small, hardworking staff, and you, our ITN community partners, who understand that all of us have a stake in helping to ensure that seniors and adults with visual impairment have the opportunity to lead active and independent lives, even when they no longer drive.

ITNSarasota imagines a day when all seniors and adults with visual impairment will have access to transportation when they want it. With your support we will continue to work toward that vision.

Thank you!

 Donna K. Dunio

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Thomas R. Cramer Named to ITNSarasota Board of Directors; Will Serve as Treasurer and Finance Chair

SARASOTA, Fla. – December 9, 2010

 ITNSarasota, a non-profit organization providing seniors over 60 and visually impaired adults their independence through dignified, affordable transportation services, announces the appointment of Thomas R. Cramer, C.P.A. to the ITNSarasota Board of Directors. Cramer will serve as ITN’s Treasurer and Finance Chair.

Cramer, Vice President of Suplee & Shea, P.A., graduated from Florida State University and became a Certified Public Accountant in 1985. He concentrates on financial accounting and audits. He is responsible for supervising all compilations, reviews and audit engagements. Cramer also serves on the America Red Cross board and various professional organizations. He and his wife, Joan Marie, long-time Sarasota residents, have one daughter.

ITNSarasota is one of 18 affiliates in communities nationwide that replicates the successful, nonprofit membership organization begun in Portland, Maine nearly 20 years ago by Katherine Freund.  Freund, now founder and president of ITNAmerica, is a national leader in senior transportation issues. ITNSarasota is the fastest growing non-profit in Sarasota County and needs volunteer driver numbers to catch-up with the needs of member riders.

 For more information on how YOU can become a Volunteer Driver for ITNSarasota, please call (941) 364-7530 or visit www.itnsarasota.org

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ITNSarasota Employee Wins National Award!

Sarasota (11/3/10) – ITNSarasota^™, a community based non-profit agency providing affordable dignified transportation for seniors and adults with visual impairment announced that Ben Petro, Operations Manger for ITNSarasota, has won the “Karl Durgin Award for Excellence in Operations” for his service and dedication to the ITN mission. The award is given by ITNAmerica in loving memory of Karl Durgin, ITNPortland and ITNAmerica staff member. “The award represents the positive attitude, sense of humor and compassion epitomized by Durgin”, Donna Dunio, ITNSarasota executive director said. Adding that, “Ben is the ideal person to receive this national award! He has earned the respect and affection of every member rider, their families, our volunteers and his colleagues.”

 

ITNSarasota is the fastest growing of the 18 nation-wide affiliates that currently make-up ITNAmerica and according to Katherine Freund, President and founder of ITNAmerica, “it wasn’t even a contest; Ben Petro won hands-down!”  Petro is responsible for customer service, volunteer coordination, the ITNRides software system, dispatching and marketing. He is a graduate of Ursinus College in Pennsylvania and resides in Sarasota.