Plymouth Harbor Celebrates Team Members and Their Families with $97,000 in Scholarships

SARASOTA, FL – 07/21/26 – Recently, the Plymouth Harbor Foundation awarded 22 scholarships totaling more than $97,000 at its annual Scholarship Reception. The awards honored 14 Plymouth Harbor team members and 8 of their children for their academic achievements.

Since the Plymouth Harbor Foundation’s inception in 2013, residents of Plymouth Harbor and community donors have generously contributed over $605,500, supporting 192 scholarships to reinvest in team members and their children.

This year’s awardees will pursue a diverse range of educational endeavors, including health science administration, radiology, environmental studies, engineering, graphic design, and more. The keynote speaker at the Scholarship Reception was Mike Bennett, former Manatee County Supervisor of Elections and a Plymouth Harbor resident, who delivered a thoughtful speech of encouragement to the awardees. “Keep chasing your dreams with courage and your curiosity with confidence. Your future is full of possibilities and today’s scholarship is here to help you reach those dreams,” Bennett said.

“This is one of my favorite times of the year,” said Jeff Weatherhead, President and CEO of Plymouth Harbor. “Every year, our residents go above and beyond for our employees — and helping make their career dreams come true is just one of the many ways they show their appreciation. It’s a relationship unlike anything I’ve seen before.”

One of this year’s awards, the Bernard and Mildred Doyle Charitable Trust Scholarship, administered by Northern Trust, provides $10,000 per year to one recipient and can be renewed for up to three additional years. This year’s recipient was Meliq Abdullah, who will attend Warner University to pursue a degree in exercise science. Meliq Abdullah is the son of Plymouth Harbor team member Tariq Abdullah, who also received a scholarship this year. The Bernard and Mildred Doyle Charitable Trust Scholarship is named for longtime Plymouth Harbor residents Bernard and Mildred Doyle, who lived there for 20 years until their deaths in 1997.

In addition to the 22 scholarships, the Plymouth Harbor Foundation contributed $25,000 to support the participation of 29 Plymouth Harbor supervisors in the Supervisory Council Leadership Training Program — another way the Foundation has invested in its team members’ growth and education.

For more information about the Plymouth Harbor Foundation and how to donate, visit www.plymouthharbor.org/about-us/philanthropy/ or call (941) 361-7398.

Scholarship Recipients:

• Justin Leathers, Plymouth Harbor Foundation Scholarship
• Brodeli Villalobos, Plymouth Harbor Foundation Scholarship
• Tariq Abdullah, Plymouth Harbor Foundation Scholarship
• Meliq Abdullah, Bernard and Mildred Doyle Charitable Trust Scholarship
• Shannon Moriarty, Plymouth Harbor Foundation Scholarship
• Sebastian Daga, Veronica Holak Barton Scholarship
• Anabela Buenano, Dr. Herb and Maija Kaufman Scholarship
• Charlene Camel, Mattson Family Scholarship
• Amanda Collier, Ruth Kreindler Scholarship and the Elaine and Arthur Sandler Endowed Scholarship
• Ranaisha Crawford, Residents Association Scholarship and the Tom and Sallie Luebbe Scholarship
• Cireya Deveaux, Residents Association Scholarship, Ruth Kreindler Scholarship, and the Elsa Price Memorial Nursing Scholarship
• Abigail Freas, Sam Seager Scholarship and the Dr. Herb and Maija Kaufman Scholarship
• Bella Garcia, Esther and Jorgen Jensen Scholarship and the Thomas W. and Marcia F. Ward Scholarship
• Moises Pina Gomez, James Arnsby Culinary & Hospitality Scholarship
• Valeria Howard, Dr. Herb and Maija Kaufman Scholarship and the Darlene J. and Richard P. Carroll M.D. Scholarship
• Anna Jin, Dr. Herb and Maija Kaufman Scholarship
• Makayla Lima, Sanders-Koenig Residents Association Scholarship and the Dr. Herb and Maija Kaufman Scholarship
• Garrett May, Residents Association Scholarship and the Veronica Holak Barton Scholarship
• Kim Pestana, Residents Association Scholarship
• Loren Sanchez, Roger and Eleanor Weiss Scholarship and the Dr. Herb and Maija Kaufman Scholarship
• Candice Villafana, Marge Melun and Ky Thompson Scholarship and the Esther and Jorgen Jensen Scholarship
• Morgan Roy, Collinsworth Scholarship, Residents Association Scholarship, Mattson Family Scholarship, Charlene Sessions Scholarship
• Sergi Susha, Dr. Herb and Maija Kaufman Scholarship

About Plymouth Harbor: Plymouth Harbor on Sarasota Bay is a nonprofit Life Plan Community located on the scenic shores of Sarasota’s Coon Key. Established in 1966, it is home to more than 300 residents in independent living, assisted living, and memory care. Known for its iconic 25-story tower, the tallest residential building in Sarasota, Plymouth Harbor offers a vibrant, resort-style lifestyle supported by a continuum of care, exceptional amenities, and a strong commitment to wellness, hospitality, and community. With a reputation for excellence and innovation in senior living, Plymouth Harbor continues to set the standard for retirement living on Florida’s Gulf Coast.

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Sasha Madrid

Communications Coordinator