Sarasota businesses that want to put their community investment where it creates documented, local impact have two distinct opportunities this fall through SRQ Vets — a veteran-led nonprofit serving veterans and their families across Sarasota and Manatee counties. The 2nd Annual Clays Classic and the Inaugural Hibachi for Heroes are not generic charity events. They are relationship-building platforms that put corporate sponsors directly inside a community of veterans, veteran families, and Sarasota civic leaders who remember who showed up.
The Business Case for Sponsoring Both Events
Why Fall Is the Right Time to Commit
Most corporate giving concentrates around Veterans Day in November. The businesses that stand out in the Sarasota veteran community are the ones whose names appear at events throughout the year — not just when the calendar makes it easy. Sponsoring both the Clays Classic and Hibachi for Heroes gives your business two high-visibility moments in the veteran community before the end-of-year giving season begins, building the kind of compounding brand presence that a single check in November cannot replicate.
SRQ Vets sponsorships of a qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit may also be structured as fully deductible business expenses when advertising and recognition benefits are included. Consult your CPA for the structure that works best for your situation.
Event 1: 2nd Annual Clays Classic
The 2nd Annual Clays Classic brings together seasoned shooters and first-timers alike for a full day of sporting clays, exceptional hospitality, raffle prizes, and meaningful moments honoring Sarasota veterans. Every shot supports a veteran — and every sponsor puts their brand in front of a room full of community leaders, business owners, and veterans who are paying attention to who made the day possible.
Whether your team has never touched a clay target or competes regularly, the format is designed to be welcoming, competitive, and memorable. The camaraderie built on a sporting clays course is exactly the kind of environment where business relationships and community partnerships are formed and sustained.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Event | SRQ Vets 2nd Annual Clays Classic |
| Format | Sporting clays, raffle prizes, hospitality, veteran recognition |
| Register | clays.srqvets.org |
| More Information | srqvets.org/events/2nd-annual-clays-classic |
Event 2: Inaugural Hibachi for Heroes
Hibachi for Heroes is a fundraising dinner unlike anything else on the Sarasota event calendar. Set under the oak trees at the Suncoast Community Church, this inaugural evening brings the community together for an interactive hibachi sunset dinner experience — skilled chefs, fresh ingredients, live cooking entertainment, cocktails, raffle prizes, and a silent auction, all in service of the veterans SRQ Vets serves year-round.
For corporate sponsors, Hibachi for Heroes is a high-quality hospitality environment that puts your brand in a setting that feels personal and meaningful rather than transactional. Proceeds benefit SRQ Vets' direct veteran assistance programs — vehicle donations, mobility ramp installation, utility support, and financial education — across Sarasota and Manatee counties.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | Saturday, November 7, 2026 |
| Time | 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM EDT |
| Location | The Oak Grove @ Suncoast Community Church, 8000 Hawkins Rd, Sarasota, FL 34241 |
| Get Tickets | Reserve your seat now |
| More Information | srqvets.org/hibachi-for-heroes |
What Sponsors Actually Receive
SRQ Vets sponsorships are structured partnerships with defined benefits — not one-way donations. Sponsors at both events receive brand visibility in front of a veteran community audience, recognition across SRQ Vets digital and event channels, and authentic association with a mission that resonates broadly across Sarasota and Manatee counties.
Beyond event visibility, corporate sponsors become part of the peer network that veteran entrepreneurs and veteran-adjacent businesses actively reference when making purchasing and referral decisions. In a military-connected community like Sarasota, that network loyalty compounds over time in ways that standard advertising cannot replicate.
To explore current sponsorship tiers and benefits for both events, visit the SRQ Vets sponsorship page. For the full picture of how SRQ Vets serves veterans across the Suncoast, the SRQ Vets resource hub is the starting point.
Where Your Sponsorship Goes
Every dollar raised at both events funds SRQ Vets' direct veteran assistance programs — the practical, immediate support that keeps veterans in Sarasota and Manatee counties housed, mobile, and stable while VA claims and benefit decisions work through the system. That includes vehicle repairs and donations, mobility ramp installation, utility assistance, and financial education for veterans who cannot wait for a government timeline.
This is local money staying local. No national overhead. No layers between your sponsorship and the veteran it reaches.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is SRQ Vets and who does it serve?
SRQ Vets is a veteran-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving veterans and their families in Sarasota and Manatee counties. Programs include vehicle donation and direct placement, auto repairs, mobility ramp installation, utility assistance, and financial education. SRQ Vets does not receive ongoing government funding — all programs are sustained by community donations, sponsorships, and fundraising events like the Clays Classic and Hibachi for Heroes.
Can my business sponsor both the Clays Classic and Hibachi for Heroes?
Yes. Sponsoring both events gives your business two high-visibility moments in the Sarasota veteran community before year-end, with recognition across both event audiences and SRQ Vets digital channels. Contact SRQ Vets directly at info@srqvets.org or 941-777-8387 to discuss multi-event sponsorship options, or visit srqvets.org/become-a-sponsor to review current tiers.
Is a corporate sponsorship of SRQ Vets tax-deductible?
Sponsorships structured with advertising or recognition benefits — logo placement, event visibility, digital recognition — may be fully deductible as ordinary business expenses rather than charitable donations. The right structure depends on your specific arrangement. SRQ Vets is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Consult your CPA to determine the most advantageous treatment for your sponsorship.
Do I need to be an experienced shooter to participate in the Clays Classic?
No. The 2nd Annual Clays Classic is designed to welcome both seasoned shooters and first-timers. The format, hospitality, and course are built to be accessible and enjoyable regardless of experience level. It is as much a community and networking event as it is a shooting competition.
The Sarasota veteran community notices who shows up — not just in November, but throughout the year. Both events this fall are an opportunity to be part of something that matters before the calendar makes it convenient.
Become a SRQ Vets Sponsor Register for Clays Classic Get Hibachi for Heroes Tickets