Organizations Filed Purposes:
PRODUCTION OF COMMUNITY FESTIVAL IN CONNECTION WITH THE STAGING AND REENACTMENT OF HISTORICAL EVENTS
THE HERNANDO DESOTO HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC. IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION OF 176 CONQUISTADORS (ACTIVE VOLUNTEER MEMBERS) WHO CELEBRATE THE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF SPANISH EXPLORER HERNANDO DESOTO'S LANDING NEAR THE MOUTH OF THE MANATEE RIVER IN MAY 1539. WITH HIS 600 CONQUISTADORS, DESOTO CLAIMED POSSESSION OF LA FLORIDA ON BEHALF OF THE SPANISH CROWN AND THEN BEGAN HIS LENGTHY EXPLORATION OF WHAT IS NOW THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES. ALONG WITH ITS MEMBERSHIP, WHICH INCLUDES MANY CIVIC, GOVERNMENTAL AND BUSINESS LEADERS, THE SOCIETY SERVES IN A VARIETY OF COMMUNITY-ORIENTED ROLES. THE SOCIETY PRODUCES ONE OF THE LARGEST ENTERTAINMENT EVENTS IN MANATEE COUNTY ON AN ANNUAL BASIS INCLUDING A SEAFOOD FESTIVAL, HOMEMADE BOATING RACE, FISHING TOURNAMENT, A MUSICAL AND FASHION SHOW, A FORMAL-DRESS BALL AND DAYTIME AND EVENING PARADES. THE SOCIETY SUPPORTS VARIOUS LOCAL CHARITIES INCLUDING LIGHTHOUSE OF MANASOTA, ADOPT-A-FAMILY, TOYS FOR TOTS, KEEP MANATEE BEAUTIFUL, THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF MANATEE COUNTY AND OTHERS. THE SOCIETY PROVIDES PUBLIC EDUCATION ON FLORIDA'S SPANISH HERITAGE THROUGH CREWE VISITS TO LOCAL SCHOOLS AND RETIREMENT HOMES. THE SOCIETY FINANCIALLY SUPPORTS A SISTER ORGANIZATION, THE COUNQUISTADOR HISTORICAL FOUNDATION, WHICH DONATES TO OTHER COMMUNITY CHARITIES, PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, FUNDS SCHOLARSHIPS AND MAINTAINS A HISTORICAL MUSEUM IN DOWNTOWN BRADENTON. THE SOCIETY'S PREMIER SERIES OF EVENTS, COLLECTIVELY CALLED THE DESOTO HERITAGE FESTIVAL, RECEIVES CONSIDERABLE MEDIA ATTENTION, AS DO THE VARIOUS EVENT SPONSORS. OUR DUES PAYING MEMBERS DONATE COUNTLESS HOURS OF THEIR TIME PREPARING FOR THE FESTIVAL; SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THEIR LOVE FOR THE COMMUNITY. THE SOCIETY IS ENTERING ITS 76TH YEAR OF PRODUCING THE DESOTO HERITAGE FESTIVAL.
Executives Listed on Filing
Total Salary includes financial earnings, benefits, and all related organization earnings listed on tax filing
| Name | Title | Hours Per Week | Total Salary |
|---|
| Gary Kortzendorf | TREASURER | 2 | $0 |
| Jeff Rogers | PRESIDENT - | 4 | $0 |
| Tom Murphy | PRESIDENT | 10 | $0 |
| Eleni Sokos | SECRETARY | 2 | $0 |
Data for this page was sourced from XML published by IRS (
public 990 form dataset) from:
https://s3.amazonaws.com/irs-form-990/201723199349311357_public.xml