Support the Children's Garden during the 2026 Giving Challenge!
The 2026 Giving Challenge takes place on April 15th and 16th from noon to noon.
For one day only, your gift to The Children’s Garden can have twice the impact.
During the Giving Challenge hosted by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, donations between $25 and $100 will be matched dollar-for-dollar thanks to The Patterson Foundation.
Your support helps protect 2 acres of creative nature play where all children can explore, imagine, create, and grow.
For one day only, your gift to The Children’s Garden can have twice the impact.
During the Giving Challenge hosted by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, donations between $25 and $100 will be matched dollar-for-dollar thanks to The Patterson Foundation.
Your support helps protect 2 acres of creative nature play where all children can explore, imagine, create, and grow.
Join us for a free Community Day at the Sarasota Children’s Garden!
Help us kick off the Giving Challenge with a day of play, exploration, and connection on April 15th, from 10 AM to 3 PM. We’ll have activities throughout the Garden, including a scavenger hunt where you can explore the space while learning more about the Garden’s story, mission, and the work that keeps it going. This is a free, all-ages event and a great way to experience the Garden, whether it’s your first visit or a place you already love. Come spend the day with us and be part of what helps this space grow!
Help us kick off the Giving Challenge with a day of play, exploration, and connection on April 15th, from 10 AM to 3 PM. We’ll have activities throughout the Garden, including a scavenger hunt where you can explore the space while learning more about the Garden’s story, mission, and the work that keeps it going. This is a free, all-ages event and a great way to experience the Garden, whether it’s your first visit or a place you already love. Come spend the day with us and be part of what helps this space grow!
Fortifying the Magic
A Sanctuary for Childhood in an Ever-Changing Florida
For two decades, the Sarasota Children’s Garden has been a 2.5 acre stage for imagination. We aren’t a corporate backed park; we are a whimsical, independent nonprofit that runs on passion and potting soil. We’ve seen a whole generation of "Garden Kids" grow up and return as "Garden Parents," and we want to continue that legacy.
The Reality: Sun, Rain, and the Rigors of High-Energy Play
Operating a handmade, outdoor sanctuary in Florida is a beautiful, constant challenge. Between the relentless sun, the humidity, and the enthusiastic energy from thousands of young explorers every year, our "good bones" are being tested like never before.
While we’ve always been experts at patching and painting, the sheer volume of visitors and the intensity of modern outdoor play means our foundations need more than just a touch up. They need to be fortified. We are moving from "maintenance" to "sustainability" to ensure the Children's Garden remains a safe, rugged, and magical refuge.
Our 2026 Giving Challenge Goal: Deep Roots and Growing Programs
Your support this year goes directly toward keeping the Garden open, active, and resilient. We are raising funds to:
Be the One to Keep the Magic Growing
We don’t want to change who we are. We want to be the same quirky, independent refuge we’ve always been, just stronger. Your donation is a direct investment in the survival of this space and the programs that bring it to life.
Help us move from "weathering the elements" to "nurturing the future." Help us keep the Garden growing for another generation.
A Sanctuary for Childhood in an Ever-Changing Florida
For two decades, the Sarasota Children’s Garden has been a 2.5 acre stage for imagination. We aren’t a corporate backed park; we are a whimsical, independent nonprofit that runs on passion and potting soil. We’ve seen a whole generation of "Garden Kids" grow up and return as "Garden Parents," and we want to continue that legacy.
The Reality: Sun, Rain, and the Rigors of High-Energy Play
Operating a handmade, outdoor sanctuary in Florida is a beautiful, constant challenge. Between the relentless sun, the humidity, and the enthusiastic energy from thousands of young explorers every year, our "good bones" are being tested like never before.
While we’ve always been experts at patching and painting, the sheer volume of visitors and the intensity of modern outdoor play means our foundations need more than just a touch up. They need to be fortified. We are moving from "maintenance" to "sustainability" to ensure the Children's Garden remains a safe, rugged, and magical refuge.
Our 2026 Giving Challenge Goal: Deep Roots and Growing Programs
Your support this year goes directly toward keeping the Garden open, active, and resilient. We are raising funds to:
- Fortify the Physical Space: Investing in structural restoration and durable, "kid proof" artistry that can withstand the Florida elements and the wilder play patterns of today’s children.
- Fuel Art and Nature Programming: Sustaining our weekly family programs where children connect with the natural world through hands on art, storytelling, and garden education.
- Preserve the "Secret Garden" Experience: Upgrading our infrastructure to handle more families while keeping the authentic, "Old Florida" feel that makes us a sanctuary from the digital world.
Be the One to Keep the Magic Growing
We don’t want to change who we are. We want to be the same quirky, independent refuge we’ve always been, just stronger. Your donation is a direct investment in the survival of this space and the programs that bring it to life.
Help us move from "weathering the elements" to "nurturing the future." Help us keep the Garden growing for another generation.
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