We're Marching On!

2026 Stride to Thrive Success! 

Thanks to Grace Community Church and all our generous sponsors, donors, and volunteers, our 2026 Stride to Thrive was a great success!

Despite threatening skies, the clouds parted, the crowd showed up, and together we raised over $22,000 at our inaugural 5K 💙👟

It was a true celebration of community, with something for everyone—music by DJ Mike, a vibrant vendor village, bounce houses, face painting, delicious food trucks, a silent auction, and our one-of-a-kind handcrafted Suncoast STARS awards for race winners. The highlight of the morning was watching our Suncoast STARS Dance Team perform their latest routine, bringing their joy and energy to the event. ✨

The funds raised at this event help us advance our mission of empowering adults with developmental disabilities so they can live with purpose, confidence, and connection. We’re so grateful to all who make that possible!

🌟 It’s never too early to start planning for next year!If you’re interested in sponsoring our 2027 Stride to Thrive, please contact info@suncoaststars.org.

 💙 Why the 2026 Giving Challenge Matters💙

We have laughter every day at Suncoast STARS; that’s the sound of hearts that are full. It’s what happens when confidence grows, friendships deepen and a sense of purpose is experienced. We are growing an extraordinary community and the work we do here matters deeply to our STARS and to their parents and families who have peace of mind knowing their loved one is safe and happy. 

Come be a part of the extraordinary and help grow our community by joining us for the 2026 Giving Challenge on April 15–16! 

✨ Here’s how you can get involved:

• Give: Visit GivingChallenge.org on April 15–16 and make a donation to Suncoast STARS Community, Inc. (All gifts must be made before 12:00 PM on April 16.)• Share: Spread the word! Tell your friends and family what you love about Suncoast STARS and post on social media to encourage others to give.

💡 Double your impact: Thanks to The Patterson Foundation, every donation will be matched 1:1 (up to $100 per donor, per nonprofit) when given online during the Challenge.

Join us in dismantling misconceptions about adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities and help us advance our life-giving mission! ✨

Help our teachers bring lessons to life with a Smart Board in the classroom! Your $2,500 gift provides interactive tools that inspire, engage, and empower our STARS.

Interested in sponsoring? Email us at info@suncoaststars.org to make a lasting impact!

What your Generosity Makes Possible

Our STARS celebrated the Winter Olympics in a truly special way.

One highlight was meeting Paralympian Augusto “Goose” Perez, a decorated wheelchair curler and former Team USA skip in the 2010 Winter Paralympics. Goose shared inspiring stories about how losing a limb never held him back from competing at an elite level. He also explained the accommodations and adaptations that make high-level competition possible for Paralympic athletes. His message left a lasting impact on the Stars, reminding everyone that challenges don’t have to stand in the way of living life fully.

The excitement continued as our STARS hosted their own Winter Olympics, competing in fun and creative events like curling, snowball skiing, and arctic bowling. After some friendly competition, Team Italy took home gold, with Team USA earning silver! 🥇🥈

Moments like these are made possible because of your support. Through experiences like this, our STARS are building confidence, discovering new passions, and creating lasting memories—all while growing in independence and having fun along the way. Thank you for helping make it all possible!

Looking for ways to get involved?

Schedule a Tour and come see for yourself the life-giving work of Suncoast STARS Community 

Contact us at 941.282.7425 or info@suncoaststars.org

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