Michael A. Gilkey, Inc. Launches Website!

The Sarasota Landscape Architecture studio Michael A. Gilkey, Inc. is excited to announce the launch of their website! Designed by the innovative Atlanta firm Biscuit Studios, LLC, the website explores Gilkey's design philosophy and process, gives an overview of recent work, and introduces key personnel. The studio enjoys relationships with our community's finest architects, builders and designers, and welcomes the opportunity to illustrate how their design strategy may enhance your project.

Kangaroo was proud to coordinate web and graphic design for the site, as well as webmarketing and media relations for its launch.

Fashionable Fundraiser for Parkinson Research

The Neuro Challenge Foundation is proud to announce their First Annual Fundraiser and Fashion Show on March 5th, 2009 at 5:30 pm at The Met Fashion House and Day Spa on St. Armand’s Circle. All models will be Parkinson Disease patients or their caregivers.

The Neuro Challenge Foundation, led by Physician Advisor and Sarasota Neurologist Dean P. Sutherland, M.D., Ph.D., and Foundation President Doreen Sutherland, is dedicated to the fight against Parkinson Disease. The Foundation, operated entirely through volunteer time and charitable donations, maintains a full-service, state-of-the-art Parkinson Disease Center in Sarasota, Florida . At the Center, patients and families can receive free surgical and non-surgical treatments, counseling, health and fitness advice, home services and more. The Center offers a level of care that rivals major university medical centers. Patients seen at the Parkinson Disease Center have access to the latest information, medications, surgeries, diagnostic tests, rehabilitation services and alternative therapies. As a result, the reputation of the Center has grown by leaps and bounds, extending to the entire state of Florida and beyond.

Dave Anderson, a Sarasota resident who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s 14 years ago, thinks the free care plans, counseling services and patient-centered approach to care promoted by Neuro Challenge make him feel better about his life and his future. While a Parkinson diagnosis can be both devastating and challenging, a hopeful perspective can help to ease the burden. “The good news is a little hope goes a long way,” says Anderson. Neuro Challenge is dedicated to providing that hope for the 5,000 people diagnosed with Parkinson’s in the Sarasota/Manatee area.
The First Annual Fundraiser and Fashion Show will be hosted by Cause4Fashion, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness and funds in health, education, social welfare and children’s issues. Formerly Cure by Design, this group has raised millions of dollars for the American Cancer Society. On March 5th, Cause4Fashion will bring the show to Sarasota, in benefit for the Neuro Challenge Foundation. Tickets for the event are $25 and include cocktails and artistic fare from Chef Geoffrey Blythe of San Francisco. All proceeds will benefit the Foundation and their Parkinson Disease Center.

Kangaroo is honored to donate media relations and webmarketing for this important event.

Tribute & Book Signing with Carol Leonard

Florida Friends of Midwives was honored and thrilled to welcome midwife and activist Carol Leonard, co-founder of Midwives Alliance of North America, to Sarasota this weekend.

A tribute dinner was held at the Monterey Grill on Friday, February 6th. Providing fabulous music for the event were Radio-Free Carmela and the Transmitters, led by local doula, birth assistant, and childbirth educator Carmela Pedicini. Carol read excerpts from her nationally acclaimed novel Lady's Hands, Lion's Heart, A Midwife's Saga, while honoring the many midwives, doulas and childbirth educators in attendance.

Joining Carol Friday evening were her husband Tom (with whom she is building Bad Beaver Farm in Maine entirely out of salvaged materials), as well as her sister Wendy and mother Louise.Licensed Midwife Christina Holmes invited Carol to tour Birthways Family Birth Center the following morning, where she was very pleasantly surprised by a new baby, born there just hours before. Carol signed copies of Lady's Hands, Lion's Heart at Selby Library on Saturday, generously donating a portion of the proceeds to Florida Friends of Midwives. She read excerpts from the book, including the birth story of her son Milan, and the Halloween birth she attended in full stork costume. Attending the book signing all the way from Sweden was midwife Heidi Dahlborg, founder of Sarasota's Rosemary Birthing Home.
This event brought together most of our community's midwives, midwifery advocates, and midwives in training. Pictured here (from top left) are Tracy Topjun, CNM, Carol Leonard, NHCM, Heidi Dahlborg, LM, Harmony Miller, LM, Alina Vogelhut, LM, Becky Martin, original founder of Florida Friends of Midwives, Julie Martin, CPM, Cheryl Kindred, student midwife, Iris Dahlborg, and Mfon Ikpeinyang, student midwife. Unable to attend were Christina Holmes, LM, and Cathy Matthews, LM, who attended Friday's tribute dinner.