Lakewood Ranch Community Fund Expands with New Board and Committee Members

Online, March 22, 2012 (Newswire.com) - The Lakewood Ranch Community Fund, a philanthropic organization dedicated to enhancing life in and around Lakewood Ranch, announced the appointment of three new members to its Board of Directors: Julienne K. Smith, Owner and Broker of Property World-Smith Realty; Rick W. Fawley, AIA, NCARB, President of Fawley | Bryant; and Garrett B. Shinn, CPA, Senior Accountant at Shinn & Company, LLC. The Fund also announced the appointment of Dr. William L. Soscia, Cataract and Lens Replacement Surgeon at Center For Sight, to the Planned Giving Committee.

Julie Smith has been an active real estate broker in Wisconsin and Florida since 1979. After a successful tenure with Century 21, she formed her own company, Property World-Smith Realty, in 1985. She is a member of the National Association of Realtors, Sarasota Association of Realtors and Sarasota Commercial Association of Realtors. Julie was instrumental in creating the first Women's Giving Circle, the Lakewood Ranch Women's Charitable Fund, which serves as a model for a number of other subsequent funds.

Rick Fawley, AIA, NCARB, is a respected local architect known for his community service and prolific contributions to a number of business, education and non-profit organizations. He is a member of Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance, Sarasota Economic Development Corporation, City of Bradenton Downtown Redevelopment Steering Committee, Manatee County Economic Development, the Board of Directors of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, and the Manatee County Schools Foundation to name only a few of his affiliations.

Garrett Shinn, CPA, is a licensed Certified Public Accountant practicing in both tax and audit planning and consulting. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Dr. Soscia is a graduate from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He is a decorated Army officer, serving in the Persian Gulf War in Iraq. Dr. Soscia has extensive experience in cataract and lens replacement surgery with advanced premium intraocular lenses. He also is experienced in refractive procedures such as LASIK, CK and refractive lens exchange. Dr. Soscia serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor at LECOM, is Board Certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology, and is a member of the American Medical Association, Florida Medical Association, Manatee Medical Society, American Academy of Ophthalmology, and American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery.

About the Lakewood Ranch Community Fund
The Lakewood Ranch Community Fund was created as a charitable fund under the larger umbrella of the Manatee Community Foundation. Its mission is to enhance the quality of life in and near Lakewood Ranch by promoting philanthropy, connecting the charitable interests of donors with the on-going needs of the community, and granting funds. Some of the fund's 2011-2012 grant recipients include Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Suncoast, Cancer Support Community, Easter Seals Southwest Florida, Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee and Tidewell Hospice, to name just a few. For more information, visit LWRfund.org

Grapevine Communications is a full-service, award-winning advertising, marketing and public relations firm based in Sarasota, Florida, and serving clients nationwide. The firm was awarded the 2010 Frank G. Berlin, Sr., Small Business Award by the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce and donated over $148,000 in pro-bono services to area non-profits in 2011. For more information on Grapevine Communications, call 941-351-0024 or email [email protected].