Each year, the Southwest Florida Estate Planning Council invites a local organization to provide a meaningful update about issues affecting our community and programs making a positive impact. This annual event is known as our "Charity Night." On October 13th, we look forward to learning more about The Bay, and all they are doing in our community!
Founding CEO A.G. Lafley joins us to share the story about how The Bay was formed, today's programs and special places, and its mission in our community today - and tomorrow - to serve as One Park for All.
Charity Night with The Bay
Tuesday, October 13, 2026
5:15 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. - Happy Hour
6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. - Remarks from A.G. Lafley
7:00 p.m. - Sunset Exploration (Guests will have the opportunity to walk the gardens and explore the bay)
Location: Sarasota Garden Club
1131 Boulevard of the Arts, Sarasota, FL 34236
We look forward to gathering at the Sarasota Garden Club, a gorgeous 1960 mid-century Sarasota School of Architecture building with its floor-to-ceiling windows, an outdoor patio and pristine botanical gardens.
Registration Deadline: Thursday, October 8
This program is free for SWFEPC members, with guests of members encouraged to attend! Members are welcome to include their guests when registering. Guest Fee: $50
About The Bay
The Bay is a signature public park along Sarasota Bay. Designed to be “One Park for All,” The Bay is open and accessible, free and welcoming to the full and rich diversity of the community, now and for generations to come.
The Bay conserves, preserves, restores and transforms 53 acres of precious city-owned land along Sarasota Bay from what was mostly parking lot into a blue and green oasis – providing a sustainable bayfront gathering place for the community to experience and enjoy a wide range of park uses, free programs and events.
The first 10-acre phase of the park opened in October 2022. Design and development of Phase 2, the next 14-acre $65 million development, is fully funded and underway with expected completion in 2027. The completed park in total will cost an estimated $200 million and will take approximately 8-10 years to complete over four or more phases.
Guiding Principles:
- One Park for All: Enables community aspirations to become everyday realities. Free and welcoming, open and accessible to the full and rich diversity of the community, now and for generations to come.
- Transformation: A living learning laboratory that is transforming a parking lot into a signature public park along Sarasota Bay.
- Blue & Green Oasis: Conserves, preserves, restores and transforms 53 acres of precious city-owned land along Sarasota Bay into a blue and green oasis, beginning with the first & best use of the land and water.
- Sustainable in Every Way: Great parks help make great cities. A park that is financially feasible, operationally doable, and environmentally sustainable – built and operated to last for generations to come.
- A Gathering Place: What will you do at The Bay today? There’s something for everyone to enjoy. The Bay is an enlivened destination encouraging people to come together, to share with family and friends, to enjoy being with nature and to experience new and favorite activities.
- A Community of Partnerships: A community of partnerships enables The Bay to be “One Park for All.” Thanks to the countless citizens, groups, partners, foundations, businesses, government and others who contribute their time and talents, hard work and hard-earned money to help ensure the aspirations of the community are realized every day at The Bay.
The Bay Park Conservancy
The Bay Park Conservancy (BPC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit responsible for designing and implementing the Master Plan approved by the Sarasota City Commission to conserve, preserve, restore and transform 53 acres of precious city-owned land along Sarasota Bay into a blue and green oasis – providing a sustainable bayfront gathering place for the community to experience and enjoy a wide range of park uses, free programs and events. The BPC entered into a long-term partnership with the City to help fund, develop, operate, maintain and program the park for the benefit of the community now, and for generations to come.
About Our Speaker: A.G. Lafley
A.G. Lafley is a business mentor, author, philanthropist, nonprofit leader, and former Chairman and CEO of Procter & Gamble (P&G), where he served for 13 years.
A graduate of Hamilton College and Harvard Business School, Lafley is known for his expertise in leadership, strategy, and innovation. He is the co-author of Playing to Win and The Game Changer and has written extensively for the Harvard Business Review.
In recent years, Lafley has focused more of his leadership on small businesses, nonprofits, philanthropy, and public-private partnerships that advance civic goals.
