Sarasota High Football Team Turns 350 Service Hours Into a $20,000 Win for Seniors

The Sarasota High football team has spent this season doing something most programs never put on a stat sheet: showing up for local seniors. Players and coaches logged more than 350 hours at the Senior Friendship Center of Sarasota, where they played games, made crafts, shared conversations, and spent time on the dance floor with residents. On Friday, Urban Edge Mentorship Inc., the nonprofit founded by legendary coach Urban Meyer, honored the team with an award and a $20,000 check before the Sailors’ game against Parrish Community High School. The amount was double what the program originally established for teams meeting the required service level. Urban Edge president Mitchel Ruzek said Sarasota High didn’t simply meet the challenge, they embraced it. That recognition grew out of the Urban Edge Mentorship Series, a donor-funded, five-night lecture program built on five pillars: leadership, conflict resolution, communication, fiscal literacy, and career and college preparation. More than 100 local youth, coaches, and supporters from schools including Booker High, IMG Academy, Riverview High, Cardinal Mooney, and Sarasota High participated in the 2025–2026 series. For a region where so many residents are retirees and snowbirds, the connection between young athletes and older neighbors feels especially meaningful. The team’s effort is a reminder that service can build relationships across generations while strengthening the community we all share. What local organization would you like to see high school teams support next? Let us know.