SARASOTA COUNTY- Charles and Margery Barancik, philanthropists well known for working to improve the lives of children… died at 91 and 83 years old.
“Chuck’s big, big thing,” Annis said. “Was we want to make a difference, and clearly they’ve done that already.”
Charles married his wife Margery in 1960, and after making their fortune acquiring and operating manufacturing companies. They started a foundation investing more than $50 million in local non-profits in the foundations first five years.
“They liked to be under the radar,” Annis said. “And keep a low profile, and didn’t ever want it to be about the Barancik’s they wanted it to be about the work that was being accomplished, and I think Chuck over the last year, I’ve watched him watch the pride in the impacts of the grants they’ve given the impact it’s having.”
For organizations like All Faith’s Food Bank… it wasn’t just the grants, but the strategic vision they brought.
“The impact on so many lives here in Sarasota,” Sandra Frank said. “The deep concern that Chuck had for Children, the creative ways that he and his family and that foundation went about investing in challenges.”
At Girl’s Inc. they helped install the County’s largest solar array and created mental health programs for the children.
“And not only were they investing in projects,” Angie Stringer said. “But they got to know the kids, and when I would see them they would always ask about certain kids.”
And what people will miss most about the Baranciks… is his ability to make everyone feel like family.
“There was a little tease in him,” Frank said. “And a little twinkle in that eye, and when he knew he got you, you would see that twinkle. He was just a pleasure to know because it was that kind heart.”
“They go back to Chicago for part of the year,” Annis said. “And he called one morning and said is everyone going to be at the foundation, and I said of course we’ll be here if you need us, and they wanted us to be at the Foundation so that they could come by and give us all hugs before they go back to Chicago.”
And they plan to continue making everyone feel like family, in Chuck and Margie’s memory.
