This holiday season, three local nonprofit leaders share their hopes, wishes, and gifts they’d most love to receive—for themselves, their organizations, and the community they serve. Jennifer Fagenbaum, Executive Director of Family Promise of South Sarasota County and The Venice Chamber's 2025 Empowering Woman of the Year, helps families with children find housing stability and self-sufficiency. Kara Morgan, CEO of Venice MainStreet, is the city’s tireless advocate for preserving and energizing Historic Downtown Venice. And Bill Willson, president of Venice Area Beautification, Inc. (VABI), continues his 35-year mission to keep Venice beautiful and thriving.
Jennifer Fagenbaum, Executive Director
Family Promise of South Sarasota County
FamilyPromiseSSC.org
1. If you could receive one “gift” for yourself this holiday season as a nonprofit leader that would recharge or sustain you—what would it be?
Quiet time to reflect and recharge. Leading a nonprofit is deeply rewarding but also emotionally and mentally demanding. A few stress-free days, ideally spent fishing, would refill my cup and help me continue to pour into others.
2. What professional “gift” would make your work easier or more effective as you head into a new year?
A few extra hands in the form of long-term volunteers—as board or committee members, meal providers, or office angels—who share our passion for helping families. With more people to carry the load we could expand programs and reach even more families in need.
3. If your organization could unwrap one big holiday present, what would it be?
It would most definitely be more affordable housing units—keys in hand. Also, partnerships to help families achieve lasting stability.
4. What is your greatest wish for our community in the coming year?
That compassion continues to guide us. South Sarasota County is full of generous people, and I hope we keep lifting our neighbors and ensuring every child has a safe place to call home.
5. What personal New Year’s wish do you carry for yourself and those you serve?
Love, hope, and new beginnings—for the families we serve and for me. Each year brings a chance to heal, grow, and build a stronger future.
Kara Morgan, CEO
Venice MainStreet Inc.
VisitVeniceFL.org
1. If you could receive one “gift” for yourself this holiday season as a nonprofit leader — something that would recharge or sustain you—what would it be?
Definitely an art or cooking class. It’s been on my to-do list for a while to take my three staff members to throw pottery, paint, or cook a new dish together. I love creative, hands-on activities—they help me relax, center myself, and connect with others in a fun, low-pressure way.
2. What professional “gift” would make your work easier or more effective as you head into a new year?
A smart digital filing system! Something designed to save time, reduce clutter, and make information retrieval effortless—especially valuable for a busy nonprofit CEO juggling projects, grants, and endless correspondence.
3. If your organization could unwrap one big holiday present, what would you most hope to find inside?
Abundant Christmas spirit! For us, that means lights, garlands, and décor throughout downtown Venice. Turning Venice into a true Christmas destination is one of our big goals, and I believe we can get there. What we need most is for more people to embrace that vision and help make it happen.
4. Looking ahead, what is your greatest wish for your community in the coming year?
That would be a year without business interruptions. Venice deserves a period of stability, free from hurricanes, pandemics, and environmental disruptions like red tide. We need a little peace and normalcy to allow our community and local businesses to thrive.
5. And finally, what personal New Year’s wish do you carry for yourself and those you serve?
I hope the community joins in celebrating our city’s Centennial in 2026. It's an opportunity to come together, strengthen community bonds, and celebrate 100 years of Venice—one of the best places to live, work, and play.
Bill Willson, President
Venice Area Beautification, Inc.
Vabi.org
1. If you could receive one “gift” for yourself this holiday season as a nonprofit leader—something that would recharge or sustain you—what would it be?
After more than 35 years with VABI (Venice Area Beautification, Inc.), including several terms as president, I’d love the gift of everyone in Venice knowing what VABI does. Many don’t realize our first major project was the Venetian Waterway Park—funded, granted, and championed by VABI over many years. We also support the Bloom Team’s downtown flowers, Keep Venice Beautiful, the Urban Forest, the Public Art Committee murals, and more.
2. What professional “gift” would make your work easier or more effective as you head into a new year?
Corporate support and sponsorships are invaluable to our mission of beautifying Venice. Local businesses help with everything from tree and plant pricing to excavating services, and we’re deeply grateful. More partnerships like these would truly be a gift.
3. If your organization could unwrap one big holiday present, what would you most hope to find inside?
New business partners and volunteers to join our dedicated team—and a sustainable funding source to maintain our projects. This year we’re celebrating the grand opening of the Urban Forest, transforming an old rail line into a natural haven for birds, wildlife, and people. Thousands of trees and plants now thrive there, along with a frog habitat that supports scrub jays and migratory birds. The Urban Forest is a living legacy of beauty that will endure long after its creators are gone.
4. Looking ahead, what is your greatest wish for your community in the coming year?
A grander entrance to downtown from the bypass—perhaps turning the long-vacant corner of 41 and Venice Avenue into a landscaped connection with Ruscelletto Park. I’d also love to see a unified public art fund guided by a citizens committee. VABI would be eager to help.
5. What personal New Year’s wish do you carry for yourself and those you serve?
Health, happiness, and fulfillment for all our VABI volunteers—and for everyone serving in Venice’s nonprofits. As each thrives, our whole community flourishes.
I hope the community joins in celebrating our city’s Centennial in 2026. It's an opportunity to come together, strengthen bonds, and celebrate 100 years of Venice—one of the best places to live, work, and play.