Friends of Sanford, Inc. is a 501(c)3 unit of the City of Sanford formed to allow the public to have a voice in Sanford’s growth. Some actions of the organization might be to:

• Develop, maintain, improve, expand, erect, enhance, support, preserve, fund, encourage, and sustain public parks operated and owned by the City for the benefit of its users and the general public;

• Aid, encourage, and advise in the maintenance and operation of the recreational facilities;

• Acquire, hold, improve, preserve, develop, and restore facilities and real estate for recreational, historical, or charitable purpose use by the general public;

• Commission, develop, install, secure, and fund art works and art pieces, to include, monuments, murals, sculpture, decorative, or educational pieces, works, or elements to improve public spaces;

• Restore, renovate, build, develop, rehabilitate, improve, and revitalize historic buildings, structures, and facilities for public use;

• Solicit and receive gifts, grants, subscriptions, devises, or bequests of real or personal property, from public or private sources, in order to carry out the purposes of this corporation; and hold, sell, dispose of, invest or reinvest such funds or properties in any manner as the corporation may deem appropriate for achieving the purposes of the corporation; and maintain revolving funds for purposes of carrying out the activities set forth herein;

• Support, encourage, fund, develop, improve, enhance facilities and programs to benefit the homeless and disadvantaged residents of the area; and

• Provide, develop, maintain and enhance shelters, feeding, clothing, and other activities or programs to support the homeless and disadvantaged residents of the area.

Membership

The Friends of Sanford, Inc. is comprised of seven board members representing the interests of Sanford. The following will comprise the board:

(1) Mayor of Sanford
Currently: Rebecca Wyhof Salmon

(2) Sanford City Council Member
Currently: Jimmy Haire and Linda Rhodes

(1) Finance Director, City of Sanford
Currently: Beth Kelly

(1) CEO, Sanford Area Growth Alliance (or designee)
Currently: Jimmy Randolph

(1) President, Lee County Arts Council
Currently: Victoria Naegele

(1) Citizen at Large
Currently: Chet Mann

The first project of the Friends of Sanford is the renovation of the Sanford Depot. Learn more about the project here.