Nate Jacobs and Dr. Henry Porter. Photography by Rod Millington.
See gallery from SCLO Share the Light Luncheon.
That dynamic duo of event emcees - Scott Anderson and E-Man - delighted nearly 200 guests at the 19th annual Second Chance Last Opportunity (SCLO() Share the Light Luncheon at Michael's On East.
Seen at the event were Hank Battie, Carol Buchanan, Audrey Coleman, Pam McCurdy, Gloria Moss and Marian Moss, Henry Porter II, Tsadok Porter, Hillary Steele, Joel Swallow, Barbara Zdravecky, David Goldman, Kim Cornetet, Linda Knox, Nate Jacobs, Julie Leech and Amy Lovejoy, among others.
Guests could purchase handbags (filled with $400-plus of surprises) for $125 or raffle tickets, take part in a one-item live auction, or make a contribution, with Gulf Coast Community Foundation offering a $2,500 match - all of which added to SCLO coffers.
"I am so glad we can celebrate providing another year of programs and services in Sarasota County," said Executive Director April Glasco.
Her remarks were followed by a stirring performance by three of the founding members of the West Coast Black Theatre Troupe - Nate Jacobs, Henry Porter and Tsadok Porter. They sang three songs from the troupe's first show, the "Cotton Club Cabaret" - "Hit me with the High Note," "A-Train," and, in a touching moment, "Unforgettable," sung in tribute to SCLO volunteer Amy Lovejoy.
A flustered Lovejoy responded, "It's not about me. It's about SCLO. I'm a behind the scenes person - so I'm going back behind the scenes."
The dience then heard from SCLO alumni Towanda Seymour. "I was a recovering addict with no self esteem and no skills for getting a job," she said. "At SCLO, I started gaining insights on how to be a stronger person, a better person. pril treated me like her daughter. She was always just a phone call away. I'm the backbone of my family now, and I love that," she said. "Thank you for sticking with me. Thank you for turning my life around."
April Glasco, in what was a surprise to event planners, then retook the stage, saying, "I came out of an abusive relationship. It wasn't about my family. Wasn't about my friends. It was about me learning what I needed to do to turn my life around. I now have my master's degree and have four beautiful daughters who watched me struggle, saw the abuse. Today, I love helping and teaching young people that they don't have to go through that - that they are better than that. I got my second chance. So now, this is what I do."
Three of April's four daughters - Shaquess Mapps, Sherrin Mapps and Sianda Mapps - were on hand for the event and Shaquess sang a gospel song, as her proud mother looked on.
Also speaking were Joel Swallow from the Mayor's Feed the Hungry campaign and Dr. Henry Porter who introduced Nate Jacobs and the other founding members of WBTT.
