Big Top Dreams Foundation: Cultivating Sarasota’s Next Generation of Contractors
The Big Top Dreams Foundation is a new organization here in Sarasota with a huge focus on cultivating the next generation of talented contractors to serve this community. That is a mission I care about for a lot of reasons, so I sat down with Heather Hawley, one of the founding members, to learn about where it came from, what they are building, and how you can get involved. Here is our full conversation.
What Big Top Dreams Actually Does
In Heather’s words, Big Top Dreams is a nonprofit that gives grants to at-risk youth and underprivileged young adults so they can go to trade school. That alone would be worth supporting, but what makes it different is what comes with the money. The foundation wraps services around those grants, including a mentorship program, so a young person is not simply handed tuition and left to figure out the rest.
The trades they support are the ones this region genuinely needs: electrical, plumbing, welding, HVAC, carpentry, automotive, construction management, and more. Support can extend to certifications, tools, and help getting placed once the training is done.
Where the Idea Came From
The origin story is a dual one, and I found both halves compelling.
The first half belongs to Niles Garden, the founder, who many people around here know from the circus world. Heather explained that he came to her wanting to build a legacy outside of the circus, something that really spoke to him, and he started kicking around the idea of the trades.
The second half is Heather’s own. That idea landed at a critical moment in her life, because her son, now 18, had come to her and told her he did not want to go to a traditional four-year college. She was honest on camera that it was hard for her to come to terms with at first, and that what she ran into was a stigma. The more she talked with him, the more she realized the trades were a genuinely good path, not just for his future but for his mental health.
The Stigma Worth Breaking
This is the part of our conversation I keep thinking about. As Heather put it, a lot of kids do not thrive in a four-year college. They end up struggling to focus, getting into trouble, or dropping out, and then they get left by the wayside. That is exactly what the foundation is trying to battle: taking the stigma away from trade school and teaching young people to become future leaders in this county.
I told her I was not a traditional four-year school guy myself, and I think exposure is a huge piece of it. You can watch a contractor’s van drive down the street without any idea what that career actually involves or where it can lead. Having successful business owners show young people what that path really looks like could change the trajectory for a kid who is still trying to find their way.
Who They Serve, and What Comes Next
Right now the focus is on the Sarasota and Manatee County area. Once they feel they have a good grasp on it here, Heather said the long-term plan is to expand to everywhere the circus stops across the United States. Starting local and proving it out first strikes me as exactly the right instinct.
How You Can Get Involved
There are two main ways, and both matter.
Donate. The foundation is always looking for donations, and that is what puts grants in the hands of these students.
Give your time. This one is a direct ask to the trades. They are looking for successful business owners in HVAC, electrical, contracting, and CAD to donate their time, work with these young people, and teach them not just the trade but the business behind it. If you run a shop in this area, you are exactly who they need.
You can apply for a grant or apply for the mentorship program directly at BigTopDreamsFoundation.org, whether you are a student looking for support or a professional who wants to mentor.
The Annual Gala, and Yes, I Am Emceeing
They have their annual gala coming up on November 14th, and I am proud to say I will be the emcee for the evening. Skyway Motorspace is hosting and has been kind enough to give the foundation the entire facility at no cost because they believe in the work being done.
Tickets and the sponsorship packet are both on the website. They are actively looking for sponsors to come on board, so if you or your business have been looking for a local cause worth backing, this is a good one. Come have a great evening and help these kids at the same time.
Why a Realtor Cares About This
Being in real estate, I will tell you plainly that we are often struggling to find good contractors. So if we are cultivating those people right here in town, and they stay here and continue to serve this community, that is a win for everybody.
Heather made the point even better than I did. When you ask trade business owners what their number one issue is, the answer is finding good employees. Under this model, those same owners donate, mentor, and get invested in these young people. When a student finishes the program, who do you think they want to go work for? It becomes cyclical, and everyone benefits.
I see the other end of this every day. Good builders and skilled trades are what keep quality high across the Gulf Coast, something that came up when I talked with an architect about building a custom home in Sarasota and with the team at Lee Wetherington Homes. A stronger local talent pipeline shows up in the homes my clients buy.
Get Involved
Whether you want to give your time, write a check, sponsor a table, or you are one of those young people like I was who is not looking at a four-year school and wants a real career path, go take a look at BigTopDreamsFoundation.org. Grab tickets for the gala while you are there, and I will see you in November.
Thanks again to Heather for her time. If you like seeing what is happening around town, I have plenty more conversations with local owners and organizations on my video page, and my honest take on this community is in four years of living in Sarasota. And if a move to the area is on your mind, reach out any time.
