2025 Champions for Children

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This signature fundraising event will honor the remarkable legacy of Charles and Margery Barancik, who were passionate supporters of the Clubs’ mission. Their impact was personal and profound, investing deeply in the potential of young people – especially those facing life's greatest challenges. The Baranciks’ vision lives on through the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, which has touched the lives of thousands of Club members since its founding in 2015.

Our 2025 Champions for Children gala will be held at The Ora, a beautiful new venue that marks an exciting evolution for this event, traditionally held at the Lee Wetherington Boys & Girls Club.

The evening will feature a reception, a delicious three-course dinner catered by Michael’s on East, live and silent auctions, and inspiring performances by Boys & Girls Club members. The gala attire is cocktail, with black tie optional for those who wish to elevate their look.

All proceeds from Champions for Children will ensure youth across Sarasota and DeSoto Counties have access to award-winning programs that foster academic success, strong character and leadership, healthy lifestyles, and career readiness. Please join us for a night of inspiring stories and impact.

About Charles and Margery Barancik

Charles and Margery Barancik held a steadfast belief that a child’s potential is defined by their promise, not their circumstances.

This deeply held conviction inspired them to establish the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, a private family foundation devoted to creating meaningful, lasting change in education, humanitarian causes, arts and culture, the environment, and medical research in Sarasota and beyond.

Charles (“Chuck”), a Chicago native, earned a B.S. in Business Administration from Northwestern University. He began his career as a Certified Public Accountant with Miller Cooper & Co., then transitioned into private industry in 1956. Over the next 30 years, he acquired and operated manufacturing companies across various industries—including bakeries, fire prevention, and office furniture—most notably through the family’s holdings in Justrite Manufacturing Company, Mayline Company, and Hamilton Industries. A savvy businessman with a keen eye for opportunity, Chuck believed deeply in using his success to give back.

Margery (“Margie”) earned her B.A. in Elementary Education from Smith College and an M.A. in Deaf Education from Columbia University. She taught children who were deaf and young adults with multiple handicaps, dedicating her early career to serving those with unique needs. After becoming a mother of three, she turned her focus to community service—quietly but powerfully investing in causes that uplifted others.

In 2014, Charles and Margery Barancik established the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, a private family foundation dedicated to creating bold initiatives and awarding grants that make a lasting impact. Known as humble, hands-on philanthropists, they quietly supported causes close to their hearts, planting deep roots in the community they had grown to love. Although never ones to seek the spotlight, Chuck and Margie eventually agreed—at the urging of friends and family—to share their philanthropic journey publicly, hoping to inspire others to give generously as well.

Since its inception, the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation has distributed more than $170 million in grants and initiatives. The foundation reflects Chuck and Margie’s shared values: that family and philanthropy are life’s most meaningful pursuits.

Those who knew them best remember them hand-in-hand, always smiling, active, and engaged—ever curious, ever caring. Until their passing in 2019, they worked side by side to build a better world—witnessing the growing impact of their philanthropy in the lives and communities they touched.

Building Brighter Futures: The Baranciks’ Enduring Impact on Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties

Charles and Margery Barancik believed deeply in the power of young people and demonstrated this through a lasting partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties (BGCSDC). Their transformative gift helped open the organization's fifth location, the Newtown Estates Park Boys & Girls Club, providing vital after-school and summer programs focused on leadership, career exploration, and mentorship.

They continued to support innovative initiatives, offering safe, enriching programming with meals and academic support. Their ongoing philanthropy also strengthened operations, funded scholarships, and expanded staffing. The Foundation’s most recent contribution is supporting the construction of the Roy McBean Boys & Girls Club, a new, state-of-the-art facility located on the Irving and Marilyn Naiditch Campus.

More than donors, Charles and Margery were passionate champions of BGCSDC’s mission, investing deeply in young people navigating difficult circumstances. Their support has helped create programs and opportunities that continue to empower youth to overcome barriers, build resilience, and develop into confident leaders.

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