SARASOTA, Fla. – September 17, 2025 – In a powerful collaboration with the community, Boar’s Head Brand_® and its employees have proudly opened two sensory rooms at Emma E. Booker Elementary School, a Title I school in Sarasota. This much-needed project was initiated in response to a direct request from the school's administration, which identified a critical need for dedicated spaces to support students' sensory and motor development. Through combined fundraising efforts, the company and its employees raised the necessary funds and contributed their time and talent to bring this vision to life.

This project marks the latest endeavor in Boar’s Head’s decades-long commitment to supporting communities. Headquartered in Sarasota since 2001, the company has prioritized philanthropy and community engagement as core parts of its identity, investing in initiatives that uplift children, families, and neighborhoods both locally and across the country. Boar's Head’s commitment to the community includes actively supporting hunger relief organizations and other charitable, educational and health affiliations nationwide.

The rooms, now available to students, are designed to support a range of sensory and motor needs in a safe, engaging and inclusive environment. “Just this week, a second-grade student who was feeling overwhelmed visited the calming sensory room. After spending a few minutes engaging with the calming lights and quiet space, he smiled and said, ‘I feel better now. I’m ready to go back and try again.’ This simple but powerful moment shows the lasting impact these spaces will have on our students’ ability to regulate, refocus, and thrive. We are deeply grateful to Boar’s Head for investing in the well-being and success of our Tornadoes,"said Emma E. Booker Elementary Principal Marya Annicelli.

The project was brought to life through a collaborative effort between Boar's Head employees, school staff, and trained behaviorists. The two rooms were thoughtfully designed to serve complementary purposes: a calming, quiet sensory room and a motor room for physical movement.

“This was truly a labor of love,” said Amanda Eyer, Director of Internal Communications at Boar’s Head Brand. “Our employees didn’t just donate—they showed up with paintbrushes and tools. From assembling furniture to hand-painting trees and grass on the walls, they helped create environments that cultivate learning. We’re thrilled to contribute to the well-being and development of students right here in our hometown.”

To foster a sense of ownership, students will complete the ceiling tiles with their own painted handprints, transforming the space into something truly their own.

In a separate initiative to promote literacy and a love of learning, Boar’s Head Brand employees also fundraised in 2024 to provide a new book vending machine to Emma E. Booker Elementary, with the company providing a match. The company also provided five years' worth of books to stock the machine and a library makeover demonstrating its continued support for the school.