January 14, 2020

Community Foundation Awards $155,000 to Five Local Nonprofits for Education, Service to Vulnerable Individuals and Families in Indian River County

(Vero Beach, Fla.  – January 13, 2020) Indian River Community Foundation recently awarded grants totaling $155,000 to nonprofit charitable organizations serving Indian River County. The grants were reviewed by a Grants Committee comprised of volunteers Scott Alexander, Dale Jacobs, Mike McManus, Sandy Rolf and Larry Salustro and awarded from the Community Enrichment Fund.

The two largest grants from this most recent cycle was awarded for $50,000 to serve families and single men transitioning from homelessness.  One $50,000 grant will go to the Hope for Families Center, and the other $50,000 grant will go to Camp Haven.

Hope for Families is presented with $50,000 check from IRCF's Community Enrichment Fund.
(From Left): Indian River Community Foundation CEO Jeff Pickering, Hope for Families Board President Bill Cooney, CEO and Executive Director Diana Grossi, and Board Members Dick Tompkins and Bruce Albro. (Photo: Maureen Nicolace)

“This grant will support our programs that aim to reduce family homelessness in Indian River County,” said Hope for Families Board Chairman Dr. William “Bill” Cooney. “Over the past several years, funding from the Community Foundation has helped tremendously with our efforts to become better at what we do.”

The $50,000 grant to Camp Haven will be used to help support construction of a new multi-purpose building for the organization’s residential campus.  According to Chuck Bradley, Executive Director, “Camp Haven is the only local facility dedicated to helping single homeless men with transitional housing while they work to break the cycle of homelessness.  This support will make a real difference.”

Ballet Vero Beach is presented with $25,000 check from IRCF's Community Enrichment Fund.
Front: Representing Ballet Vero Beach- Kelly Ward, Alan Edelstein, Stacey Lewis, Camilo A. Rodriguez, Adam Schnell, with Indian River Community Foundation CEO Jeff Pickering. Back: Dancers Cameron Miller, Anna Swenson, Katie van der Mars, Anders Southerland, Katherine Eppink, Rachel Smith, and Wyatt Payne. (Photo: Maureen Nicolace)

Other grants awarded from this most recent cycle include the following:

Economic Opportunities Council is presented with $15,000 check from IRCF's Community Enrichment Fund.
(From Left): Headstart Director Franklin Johnson III, Economic Opportunities Council Executive Director Angela Davis, and Indian River Community Foundation CEO Jeff Pickering. (Photo Maureen Nicolace)

While most of the Community Foundation’s grants are awarded by clients through donor advised funds, Indian River Community Foundation’s competitive grant program is made possible through the generosity of anonymous donors to several grantmaking funds, including the Community Enrichment Fund and the Better Giving Fund.  These valuable resources support the Community Foundation’s mission of building a better community through donor-driven philanthropy.

Kindergarten Readiness Collaboration is presented with $15,000 check from IRCF's Community Enrichment Fund.
(From Left): Kindergarten Readiness Collaboration Board Member Chris Ryall, Executive Director Nivea Torres, and Indian River Community Foundation CEO Jeff Pickering. (Photo: Maureen Nicolace)

Indian River Community Foundation was established in 2008 with a mission of building a better community through donor-driven philanthropy.  With assets of $70 million in 175 charitable giving accounts, the Community Foundation and its clients have awarded more than $66 million in grants, mostly to nonprofit charitable organizations located in Indian River County, Florida.  Visit www.ircommunityfoundation.org to learn more.

share this post
linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram