Formed in 2005, the Friends of the Sarasota County History Center (FOSCHC) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

Our mission is to assist the Sarasota County History Center through fundraising, programs, services and activities that promote and enhance the use and enjoyment of Sarasota County’s cultural and historical heritage.

As a non-profit organization, we are solely dependent upon donations and grants. We do not receive funding from the County, the City or the State.

Meet the Board of Friends of the Sarasota County History Center:

Kim Patton Manning, President

Kim Patton Manning has been in Sarasota since 1961. She is president of NewView Services, Inc. Previously she founded Patton Enterprises, Office Starters, Interview Screening Services and worked at Sears, American Bank and Hyatt Sarasota. She created the “1986 Sarasota Trivia Calendar;” and is working on a new Sarasota County Trivia project. Kim also served on the Steering Committee for Sarasota County’s Centennial celebration.

Betty Intagliata, Vice President

Past President Downtown Venice Association, instrumental in getting Venice named a "Florida Main Street City;" served on the Venice Historical Commission, Founder and first President of the Venice Area Historical Society, served on Sarasota County Historical Commission, chaired Historical Marker Committee, President of the Friends of the Sarasota County History Center; received the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation's Individual Distinguished Service Award in 2015 and the Lillian Burns Lifetime Achievement Award from the History & Preservation Coalition of Sarasota County in 2018

Kathryn Chesley, Secretary

A theater educator, playwright and trained actress with a love of history, Kathryn performs “Life and Times Portrayals” of 10 historic women. She is a member of the Sarasota Area Playwrights’ Society, Arts Alliance Playreaders, Friends of the History Center, Historical Society of Sarasota County, Venice Historical Society and is on the board of the Sarasota Historical Preservation Society. Kathryn is a national presenter with the National Women’s History Alliance. She is also a local tour guide for Discover Sarasota Tours.

Don Bayley, Treasurer

Board member Lemon Bay Historical Society, Englewood Museum, History and Preservation Coalition of Sarasota County, Friends of the Englewood Archives and Friends of the Sarasota History Center; Webmaster Sandwich (Cape Cod) Town Hall Preservation Trust and Sandwich Historical Commission; former board member Sandwich Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Services Board; worked for ABC News Radio as Technical Supervisor; edited and published: Sandwich 375 Years: Photos, Facts and Fables of Cape Cod's Oldest Town and Monty's Stories: Growing Up in a Small Florida Town

Dr. Frank Cassell, Past President

Historian and author, member of the Sarasota County Historical Commission and the History and Preservation Coalition of Sarasota County; retired history professor and university president; published books and articles on American history including Suncoast Empire and Creating Sarasota County

David Harper, Development

As an LPL Registered Principal at HPK Provident Advisors, David offers more than 20 years of financial planning experience. His specialties include financial planning, team oversight, wealth management and compliance. He has received multiple President’s Club Awards for helping our division reach rigorous service benchmarks and goals. David holds a B.A. in Religion with a minor in Greek (Pre-Seminary Tract) from Westminster College and an M.A. in Sociology (Family Systems Theory Tract) from Indiana University of PA and his background includes pastoral counseling and family systems theory, which drives his hands-on approach to financial advising. Outside of the office, David enjoys tennis, art, hiking and traveling.

Andrew Littaur, Development

"Before Sarasota, my Florida home now, I lived & worked in Europe, Asia and the US; 25 years bank management. Subsequently founded APT, a company in Europe engaged in HR. I was born in New York, secondary schooling in Washington, Connecticut at the Gunnery School and college in Beloit, Wisconsin, with a junior year in Switzerland at the Ecole des Hautes Etudes. My first job was as a government intern in Washington DC during the Johnson administration before getting an advanced degree at the Maxwell School at Syracuse University, which school nominated this late bloomer for a Fulbright post-graduate grant in Manila. There I completed a thesis on economic nationalism issues and I also taught international relations for almost a year.  Travel is a passion of mine. In the last couple of years, I vacationed in Ravello, Marbella, Saville, Taormina, Nantucket and Chania, and I have been in most European capitals."