2025 Annual Luncheon: Literacy Matters

About Our Guest Speaker, John Annis

John Annis is the Senior Vice President of Collaboration and Impact for the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, where he is part of a team committed to promoting meaningful changes in the areas of education, humanitarian causes, arts and culture, the environment and medical research.

Previously, John worked at the Community Foundation of Sarasota County as Senior Vice President for Community Investment, the Collins Center for Public Policy where he was the Vice President of Public Policy, and the Herald-Tribune Media Group where he was the Director of Customer Services and a member of the executive team and editorial board. The majority of John’s professional experience comes from more than 24 years on active duty in the United States Marine Corps, retiring as a Sergeant Major.

John is passionate about creating intergenerational cycles of opportunity for children and their families. Because of his work in this area, he was named Aspen Institute Ascend Fellow in 2015. Ascend Fellows work across sectors to advance economic security, educational success and health and well-being. Locally, he continues to be a champion of Two-Generation Initiatives, such as the Suncoast Campaign for

Grade-Level Reading, and is a Sarasota Magazine Unity Award winner.

Please join us on February 28th as John speaks about his many varied experiences, both professionally and as a Dad and Papa, and the importance of literacy throughout them all.