BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Brian Hersh
President
Rachael Feldman
Vice President
Kevin Vale
Vice President
Marina Parkin
Treasurer
Alisha Byrne
Secretary
Danielle Sobolewski
Teacher Liaison
Sarah Checcone
Patricia Dore
Talia Famiglio
Eric Fenton
Jidane Gharma
Rebecca Abrahamson
Megan Micale
Charlotte Osterman
Dara Spiro
Montana Taplinger
Melissa Whitehurst
Hilary Yunis
Jennifer Nzeza
Principal, Southside Elementary
ex offico
MISSION
The Southside School Foundation for the Arts ensures cultural and enrichment learning opportunities to all Southside students at every grade level. Learning through and about ALL the arts in an elementary setting is an essential part of a complete education.
WHO WE ARE & WHAT WE DO
ALL THE ARTS FOR ALL THE KIDS
As our mission states, learning through and about ALL the arts in an elementary setting is an essential part of a complete education. SSFA does this through reaching out to Southside families and our extended community to raise the funds needed in order to provide a complete arts education for the 700+ students that annually attend Southside Elementary School.
How do we do this? Fundraising! Our major fundraising activities are our annual Sponsorship Partners. Benefits from those Sponsorship packages include: the school car line, Webber Street and U.S. 41 sign sales; an evening adult-only spring event; and our spring theatrical production featuring Southside Elementary students performing at Booker High School through our exciting new partnership with their VPA program. We also have an amazing “friendraiser” with our Fall Family Movie Night.
These activities/events provide funds for the dance program instructor, while the school district provides the funding for the music, visual art and drama teachers. SSFA also funds the spring production and manages the audience interfacing side of the production, as well as meets needs the District can't for the Arts teachers' supplies, equipment, instruments, etc.
The SSFA is recognized by the IRS as a tax exempt 501c(3) organization, and is classified as a public charity under
section 170 (b) (1) (A) (vi) of the IRS code and pursuant to Chapter 212 of Florida Statutes. Contributions to SSFA are
tax deductible. Our board of directors is comprised of the principal of Southside Elementary, Jennifer Nzeza (ex
officio), and parents of current Southside Elementary Students- many of whom are professionals in our greater Sarasota community. The need for volunteers, committee chairs and board members is always there and we welcome all who would like to participate