Boys & Girls Clubs’ 2026 Champions for Children Gala to Honor Louis and Gloria Flanzer in Sarasota
One of the Sarasota area’s signature evenings supporting local youth returns this fall as Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties presents its 2026 Champions for Children Gala on Saturday, November 21, at The Ora in Sarasota.
The annual fundraiser will begin at 6 p.m. at The Ora, 578 McIntosh Road in Sarasota, with a reception followed by a three-course dinner catered by Michael’s On East. Guests can also expect auctions, raffles and special performances featuring Boys & Girls Club members. Cocktail attire is appropriate, with black tie optional.
Presented by the Annette J. Hagens Memorial Foundation, this year’s gala will celebrate the extraordinary philanthropic legacy of Louis and Gloria Flanzer, whose charitable work has had a lasting impact on children, families and nonprofit organizations throughout Florida’s Suncoast.
A Night That Directly Supports Local Children and Teens
Champions for Children is much more than a formal evening out.
Proceeds from the gala will help Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties provide programs designed to prepare children and teenagers for success in school, work and life. The organization focuses on four major areas: academic success, character and leadership development, healthy lifestyles, and career readiness.
For families who rely on the Clubs, those programs provide children with safe places to spend time outside of school, connect with trusted adult mentors, develop new skills and begin thinking seriously about their futures.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties has been serving young people in the region since 1970. Its mission is to enable young people—particularly those who need support most—to reach their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens.
That work has also earned strong marks for financial accountability. Charity Navigator currently gives Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties a 99% score and Four-Star Charity designation, its highest overall rating category.
Honoring Louis and Gloria Flanzer
The 2026 gala will place a special spotlight on Louis and Gloria Flanzer and the philanthropic vision that continues in their names today.
Originally from New York, the Flanzers discovered Sarasota during a business trip in the 1970s and eventually spent much of the final 35 years of their lives on Longboat Key. They became deeply connected to the region and devoted considerable resources to improving the quality of life for people throughout the Suncoast.
They ultimately left their estate to the Louis and Gloria Flanzer Philanthropic Trust, asking its trustees to concentrate much of its charitable work in the Greater Suncoast region.
Today, the Trust supports organizations working in social services, social welfare, K-12 education and healthcare in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte and DeSoto counties. The Trust reports that its contribution matching program has been extended through 2026 and that more than $35 million has been sent to local agencies through the initiative.
The Flanzers’ Lasting Impact in Arcadia
One of the clearest examples of that legacy can be found in DeSoto County.
The Louis and Gloria Flanzer Philanthropic Trust provided the lead contribution that helped create the Louis and Gloria Flanzer Boys & Girls Club in Arcadia. The investment helped transform the campus into a permanent, expanded Club where children and teens have access to educational, recreational and youth-development programs.
In September 2023, more than 100 guests attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating completion of a 10,000-square-foot addition to the Club on the Smith Brown Campus. The expanded facility was designed to significantly increase youth-development opportunities available to young people in DeSoto County.
For the Boys & Girls Clubs, that investment was about far more than constructing a building. It created a permanent place where young people can form relationships with mentors and peers, receive academic support, explore career opportunities and participate in programs aimed at helping them develop confidence and leadership skills.
The 2026 Champions for Children Gala will celebrate that legacy while helping ensure another generation of young people receives those same opportunities.
Champions for Children Gala Details
- What: 2026 Champions for Children Gala
- When: Saturday, November 21, 2026
- Time: 6 p.m.
- Where: The Ora, 578 McIntosh Road, Sarasota, FL 34232
- Dinner: Three-course dinner catered by Michael’s On East
- Attire: Cocktail attire; black tie optional
- Benefiting: Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties youth programs
The organization’s media release lists individual tickets at $500, with sponsorship opportunities also available. Because availability and sponsorship levels can change as the gala approaches, prospective guests should use the official event page for the latest ticket information.
The Suncoast Post previously covered the organization’s 2025 Champions for Children Gala; that earlier story provides additional context on the annual fundraiser’s role in supporting local youth.
Helpful Links
- 2026 Champions for Children Gala — tickets, sponsorships and event information
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties
- Louis and Gloria Flanzer Philanthropic Trust
- Charity Navigator rating for Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties
For additional information, Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties can be reached at 941-366-3911.
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