Manatees on Main

From the murals painted on the sides of apartments and work places to the statues spread picturesquely around the city, Sarasota loves her art and artists love Sarasota. Art as a tradition strengthens the unity of Sarasota, contributes to our economic vitality and improves our quality of life. Manatees on Main seeks to build on that tradition. Manatees on Main is a public art project that celebrates Downtown Sarasota and our special love of art.

Manatees on Main is a project being brought to Sarasota by a group of caring citizens who seek to help support and underserved community in Sarasota. SRQ Wellness Foundation, a 501c-3 corporation was founded in 2023 to offset the costs of providing IV nutrition to colostomy patients, cancer patients and anorexics and in some cases their care givers. For this population, traditional food intake is greatly hampered by their medical intake and the process of starving or literally wasting away is a tremendous threat to their lives. The downhill spiral caused by wasting often results in depression, hospitalizations, secondary infections and illnesses due to mal nutrition and all too often results in an early death for the patient. Simply put, IV nutrition reverses that outcome. IV vitamins are easily absorbed into the blood stream. In addition to the vitamins, the patients benefit from improved hydration which then allows their bodies to heal and hope to return to their world. SRQ Wellness Foundation currently supports six clients and has requests for support from 2 dozen more candidates – but they need funding to meet their demands. Hence, the birth of Manatees on Main. A fundraiser that speaks to the spirit of Sarasota.

How It Works

Manatees on Main is modeled after successful community art projects that began more than 20 years ago in downtown Chicago. Since then cows, horsts, turtles and even manatees have popped up for various exhibits in many cities, both large and small, all across Florida and the country. Using a design of either a full size “standing” manatee or “manatee and baby”, the manatees are cast in fiberglass. Each manatee will be mounted, screwed into, a removable 4 part cement base. The manatees weight 90 lbs and with the base attached at their display location they will weigh over 200 lbs. The base will bear a plaque acknowledging the generous contributions of each sponsor, artist and the cause for which the art exhibit is being used to raise funds. There will be both a title and a QR code that will take the viewer to our event page. On the event page, there will be hyper links to sponsor, artist and the non-profit SRQ Wellness Foundations business pages.

Area artists will submit design proposals for painting these life size manatees. The artists may choose a whimsical style, perhaps celebrate their own techniques, or they may work with manatee sponsors to come up with an idea that embraces both the sponsor’s vision and the artists talents. We will also be reaching out to the Booker High School art program and invite local students to submit ideas. With the richness of Ringling Art School here in Sarasota, we are also planning on partnering with their students. Selected artists will have their manatee delivered to their studios or another prime location to transform the blank fiberglass surface of the sculpture into an original work of art. The sculptures will be unveiled in early October 2024 and will be installed downtown in the local business area. The manatees will stay on Main Street through the holiday season. The festivities will end with a closing fundraising party where select manatees may be purchased for investors and art lovers alike.

Manatees Arrive On Main Street

Maps of the manatees will be created and distributed both online and available for printing and hard copy at local businesses. Visitors to Sarasota will be invited to follow the Parade of Manatees all around the downtown shopping district of Sarasota. While enjoying the art work, they will dine at local restaurants and shop in our wonderful stores. During the busy holiday season, local retailers and restaurants compete with on line vendors of merchandise and larger area shopping attractions, like The Mall at UTC. This exhibit, which we hope may become an annual event, will encourage day trippers and local residents alike to spend more time in our tropical city paradise.

Sponsors

Sponsors are people like you who want to be part of a unique project that supports our community, our downtown, local artists and SRQ Wellness Foundation. Being a Manatee Sponsor lets everyone know how much you care about the community. Sponsorship for each manatee is $6,000. That cost will cover the creation, delivery, costs associated with painting and clear coat auto finishing as well as storage, installation and breakdown costs. In addition, each check for $6,000 is fully tax deductable and $2,000 of each donation will go directly to helping SRQ Wellness Foundation meet the needs of a growing population of clients. Donors will also be given 8 VIP passes to the final party and will have many other perks of recognition throughout the event. (We are also happy to discuss Manatee “shares” for smaller contributions.)

The Manatees on Main Committee will review all artists applications and then select the designs best suited for the prevent. Once the artists have been selected by the committee, the sponsors will be invited to “draft” their artists at a Draft Day Selection Party. Each sponsor will receive a number at the artists draft, the sponsors will be put into a lottery and the fun will begin. The sooner your number is called, the more choices you will have to select from for your manatee project. Sponsors will select their artist on Draft Day which is currently schedule for lat June 2024.

Our Social Media Team will raise awareness for the upcoming event by creating an online presence as soon as the manatees start rolling into Sarasota. Imagine having a manatee that you helped bring to life standing proudly in front of your business or workplace. All donors will receive a recognition plaque ready to display to show off your tremendous support for all things Sarasota.

Once delivered, the manatees will be displayed throughout the city according to an agreed upon map. At the end of the event, the sponsor may elect to keep their manatee or they may offer it to go to donation and to be sold at the final party.

Being A Sponsor Has Its Benefits

The Manatee on Main marketing and public relations campaign will get consumers on the streets, coverage on the news, coverage in local magazines and TV, e-marketing, and a virtual presence through social media postings. Through the use of hashtags, #manateesonmain and #sarasotamanatees, both committee members and the public alike will keep this event alive during the months of November and December 2024.

Compare funning a magazine or social media ad to the sponsorship investment in Manatees on Main. Your business will benefitr for years through your association with a positive community project. The local economy, hotels, restaurants and shops will also benefit from increase traffic when people visit Sarasota.

Sponsors will receive:

Extensive recognition through both digital and in person platforms
Marketing rights to use Manatees on Main and your manatee in your own promotional efforts
Manatees on Main plaque commemorating you as the sponsor, your artist with a full color picture of the finished product in its location during the event.
8 VIP Tickets to the Final Party to be held in early January 2025
FB/IG and social medial recognition
Logo/Listing on custom final party photo booth, final party invitation & recognition, links from the Manatees on Main website to your business and event recognition.

As an Inaugural Sponsor, you will be able to tap into this generosity for years to come. Each year, when the manatees return, your manatee will takes its place in the community. This amazing PR gift will not only last for a single season but we plan to bring it out every year – so you will reap the benefits for years to come. Your support of the inaugural Manatees on Main secures your position in Sarasota history and supports the local business district that makes this city such a great success.

About The Foundation

Success Stories

Sponsorship Options:

$6,000 Manatee Lover (Your choice of Mother and Baby or Single Manatee)

Your organization will OWN your manatee and can continue to use it all year long in any marketing or promotional efforts.
As a member of our INAUGURAL CLASS of manatees, you will be part of each sequential year's promotions and have your information shared for years to come.
Extensive recognition through both digital and in person platforms
Marketing rights to use Manatees on Main and your manatee in your own promotional efforts
Manatees on Main plaque commemorating you as the sponsor, your artist with a full color picture of the finished product in its location during the event.
8 VIP Tickets to the Final Party to be held in early January 2025
FB/IG and social medial recognition
Logo/Listing on custom final party photo booth, final party invitation & recognition, links from the Manatees on Main website to your business and event recognition.

$3,000 Manatee Share (you may partner with another donor or you will be assigned another share donor.)

$2,000 Manatee Share (you may partner with other donors or you will be assigned 2 additional donors.)

Share donors do not work directly with an artists but will get to choose from the artists approved submissions. Share donors do not own their manatee, it will go to auction at the final party. However, the manatee will be brought back every year so your annual regocnition as a member of the INAUGURAL CLASS will be promoted.

Extensive recognition through both digital and in person platforms
Marketing rights to use Manatees on Main and your manatee in your own promotional efforts
Manatees on Main plaque commemorating you as the sponsor, your artist with a full color picture of the finished product in its location during the event.
8 VIP Tickets to the Final Party to be held in early January 2025
FB/IG and social medial recognition
Logo/Listing on custom final party photo booth, final party invitation & recognition, links from the Manatees on Main website to your business and event recognition.

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Can't sponsor a manatee but wish to make a tax-deductible donation to SRQ Wellness Foundation? Choose an amount that you'd like to give digitally or by check.

PAYMENT OPTIONS

Please use our digital donation payment form to select a sponsorship level or send a check payable to SRQ Wellness Foundation (1473 Main Street Sarasota FL 34236). If you would prefer to pay by credit card using the link above there will be an additional 3% processing fee added to your donation.

Manatees On Main - Sponsorship

By Katherine Hermes

Manatees On Main - Sponsorship

A public art exhibit in Sarasota, Florida in November & December 2024.