Sarasota County School Board Member Tom Edwards Joins 13 Distinguished National Leaders Committed to Building a More Connected Community

SARASOTA, Fla. – Oct. 14, 2025 – Tom Edwards, a Sarasota County School Board Member and executive director of Project Pride, has joined the Boxser Diversity Initiative (BDI) Advisory Board. He becomes one of 14 national leaders helping guide BDI's work to promote inclusion and connection across the Sarasota-Manatee region.

Elected to the Sarasota County School Board in 2020 and re-elected in 2024, Edwards has been recognized for his leadership on behalf of students,

educators and public education. He brings to BDI a career spanning entrepreneurship, civic engagement and nonprofit leadership.

As executive director of Project Pride, Edwards has led the orgaization's new focus on community impact programming. Before his election to the School Board, he co-founded and operated two successful New York businesses and spent more than a decade advocating for small businesses in the New York State Assembly.

A passionate advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion, Edwards also co-founded the Newtown Rowing Initiative, a program that introduces the sport of rowing to the local Title I students in partnership with Sarasota Crew. He serves on the board of the Sarasota Scullers and competes nationally as a masters rower.

"Tom's commitment to education and to building a more inclusive community mirrors BDI's mission," said Julie Matus, executive director of the Boxser Diversity Initiative. "We're honored to welcome him to our Advisory Board."

Dan Boxser, co-founder and board chair of BDI, added: "Tom embodies the leadership, empathy and vision that our organization strives to champion. His record of service in education and his deep ties to this community make him an invaluable addition to our team as we continue expanding our impact across Sarasota and Manatee counties."

Founded by Dan and Litten Boxser in 2008, the Boxser Diversity Initiative fosters understanding among diverse communities through education, storytelling and cultural programming. BDI's events bring scholars, thought leaders and changemakers to the region to address the social issues of our time and inspire dialogue across Southwest Florida.