University

Brunch on the Bay Provides Scholarship Funding for Local Students

By Rich Shopes | USF Sarasota-Manatee campus

When Jennifer Eubanks Decided to Return to college after working for 20 years as an executive in retail, she was faced with many uncertainties. As a wife and mother of a young child, Jennifer was concerned about how she and her husband would afford the cost of tuition and manage other expenses, yet she felt like the time was right to finally pursue her bachelor’s degree.

“I was a non-traditional student who went back to school at age 37,” she says. “After my father passed away while I was still in middle school, my mom worked hard to send my brother to college. I decided to go straight to work after high school in order to save for college and I started my retail career. I quickly grew within the company, and I kept saying ‘I’m going to go back to school and earn my degree someday.’”

Nearly 20 years passed before Eubanks’ dream became a reality, and she certainly made the most of her opportunity at the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus, graduating Summa Cum Laude in April with a bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in business. She also was enrolled in the Judy Genshaft Honors College, where she wrote a thesis on childhood food insecurity in Sarasota and Manatee counties.

“I hope my English major and business minor will enable me to grow in my current field, and that my experiences in the honors program will also help me to focus my volunteer work in serving children and families in our community,” Eubanks says. “I feel there were many opportunities that I may have missed, or I was held back from, because I didn’t have those (degree) requirements.

“Achieving a bachelor’s degree was instrumental in helping me to grow, and scholarships have been an important part of my success. I couldn’t be where I am today without them. Being able to take the stress of the financial burden away and truly being able to focus on my studies made all the difference in the world.”

During the past 26 years, the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus has hosted one of the region’s premier social events, Brunch on the Bay, raising scholarships funds for nearly 1,900 students, most of whom are from the Sarasota-Manatee region and remain in the community to live and work. Thanks to the generosity of Brunch on the Bay scholarship donors, students have earned college degrees and now give their time and talent back to the Sarasota and Manatee communities.

The 27th Brunch on the Bay will be held on Sunday, Nov. 7, at the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus. Guests will enjoy cuisine from leading local restaurants and caterers.

“We are very pleased that USF Federal Credit Union will be the title sponsor of Brunch on the Bay for the next three years, and Elizabeth Moore has agreed to serve as chairperson of the 2021 event,” says USF Sarasota-Manatee Regional Chancellor Karen Holbrook. “We are thrilled to partner with an organization that consistently supports students and the communities in which they do business, and it’s an honor to have Elizabeth Moore leading our planning team.”

“It is an honor and privilege to give back to the university through these scholarships,” says USF Federal Credit Union CEO and President Richard J. Skaggs. “After all, supporting the educational advancement of future leaders is one of the best investments we could make.”

Moore has established herself as a prominent community leader since moving to the Suncoast from Massachusetts, where she helped run her family’s catering business. As a philanthropist and environmentalist, she serves on several local boards, and immerses herself in supporting a variety of important local and global causes. She has a special passion for arts and culture and providing opportunities for others.

“I have attended Brunch on the Bay as a guest the past five years and loved it. There’s a young, vibrant energy going on here,” Moore says. “Workforce development in any community is vitally important to boost the economy. USF trains students to become outstanding professionals in our community and supports critical issues that impact our growth and future.

“Our local restaurants and caterers are remarkable supporters of this event as well,” she adds. “In the midst of the pandemic, when many restaurants were struggling to keep their doors open, they agreed to support Brunch on the Bay. Supporting student scholarships is an important cause, and we are so grateful for their commitment.”

Brunch on the Bay is presented by Mary Kenealy Events. To learn more about the event and how you can support student scholarships, please visit the Brunch on the Bay website or call Pam at 941-359-4603.