News & Events | IRCF - Indian River Community Foundation

EPP Spotlight: Youth Guidance Mentoring Academy

November 22, 2021 Leave a Comment

Youth Guidance Mentoring Academy is dedicated to enriching the lives of Indian River County youth through mentoring relationships that inspire trust, self-esteem and positive futures. Each year, the organization serves approximately 250 children ages 5-18 from low-income families. According to Indian River Indicators, 15.2% of households in the county do not have access to the internet. Additionally, 44% of families struggle financially to meet basic needs, such as food, child care and transportation.

The Youth Guidance Vocational Training Program aims to provide low-income children with life skills, trade skills, and self-confidence to improve their chances of living above the poverty level in their adult lives. Youth Guidance’s all-day Learning Center especially helped these low income families during the COVID-19 pandemic by providing a positive place where students receive three meals a day, have access to tutors to complete virtual school, and participate in hands-on programs that emphasize life skills and vocational training.

“This past year, Jahim scored A’s and B’s in his virtual classes. Troy learned how to sew a pillow. Paul replaced the drive belt on a lawnmower engine. Neftali used a handheld grinder to scrape rust off metal — and she did it better than the boys!” – Phil Barnes, Executive Director of Youth Guidance.

Youth Guidance Mentoring Academy is also a part of our Endowment Partners Program (EPP). The purpose of the EPP is to help local charities plan for their long-term sustainability by growing a permanent endowment fund. During a 12-month program, participants learn about endowments, planned giving, investment management and marketing solutions that inspire loyal donors to make planned gifts from their estates. The program is coordinated by IRCF team member Yamilet Cendejas.

To learn how to give outright contributions today or bequests and other planned gifts for future support, please see “Planned Giving: Leave a Legacy” under our “Giving” section or go to the Youth Guidance Mentoring Academy website.

Weekly Insights: Treasure Coast Food Bank Feeds More with their Mobile Mercado

November 19, 2021 Leave a Comment

Treasure Coast Food Bank volunteers help to provide Thanksgiving meals to their neighbors in need.

Treasure Coast Food Bank (TCFB), the largest hunger relief organization on Florida’s Treasure Coast, works tirelessly to provide direct services and outreach programs to help support children, seniors, and families in need. With a staff of over 50 employees, and a fleet of more than 8,500 volunteers, TCFB distributes millions of meals annually to our neighbors in Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin, and Okeechobee counties.

This holiday season, the Treasure Coast Food Bank is collaborating with partners in Indian River, Martin, St. Lucie, and Okeechobee Counties to provide meal assistance to those in need. Click here to read the full meal assistance schedule.

Want to help provide food security for our neighbors year-round? You can volunteer, donate money from your Donor Advised Fund, or collect canned food to donate to the Treasure Coast Food Bank. For every $1 donated, the organization can provide eight meals. Click here for more details.

Weekly Insights works in conjunction with Indian River Indicators. Indian River Indicators was launched in June 2021 and originated after the completion of the 2019 Indian River Community Needs Assessment. It provides key data and information about our community that is updated annually and can be used to support and sustain proven programs. It can also be used by community leaders to develop policy, promote promising practices and inspire innovation that can lead to solutions to persistent community challenges. Indian River Community Foundation holds monthly informational sessions to introduce the community to this new resource. The next session will be held on Tuesday, December 7th at 4pm via zoom. Please email Foundation Coordinator, Chiaka Nwosu at chiaka@ircommunityfoundation.org to attend a session.

To learn more visit www.ircommunityfoundation.org and click “Indian River Indicators” or contact a member of the Community Foundation’s team at 772.492.1407.

Weekly Insights: LifeBuilders of the Treasure Coast Builds Lives, Protects Communities

November 12, 2021 Leave a Comment

LifeBuilders of the Treasure Coast seeks to reduce crime, recidivism, and assist with low-income individuals who come in contact with Treasure Coast courts as a consequence of criminal behavior or a dependency action. According to Indian River Indicators, there are 227 homeless adults and 34 homeless children in Indian River County. Programs such as LifeBuilders’ Building Lives, Protecting Communities can help this statistic. The primary objective of this program is to change lives by collaborating with other local organizations to reduce homelessness in Indian River County. As of September 2021, LifeBuilders has assisted 103 Asset Limited, Income Constrained, and Employed (ALICE) households with a total of $52,484 in Indian River County this year.

A representative of LifeBuilders of the Treasure Coast provided us with the following:

“Mona” works hard to make a home and provide for her two young children. Losing her job due to COVID was devastating. She was able to obtain some COVID relief funds, but they were soon exhausted. She worked with several Indian River County agencies, including United Against Poverty, to get caught up with her utilities and other expenses. She still needed help with catching up her rent to avoid eviction, but all other avenues were exhausted. LifeBuilders was able to provide rent assistance.

To learn more visit www.ircommunityfoundation.org and click “Indian River Indicators” or contact a member of the Community Foundation’s team at 772.492.1407.

EPP Spotlight: Alzheimer & Parkinson Association of Indian River County

November 10, 2021 Leave a Comment

Participants at the Alzheimer & Parkinson's Social Respite Program.

The Alzheimer & Parkinson Association of Indian River County serves residents with disorders affecting memory and movement by promoting quality of life and choice through advocacy, support, empowerment, education and research connections. The organization’s Social Respite Program provides up to six hours of free caretaking for people with cognitive impairment in order to offer respite for the caregiver of someone with dementia. This program allows people to socialize in a safe, loving and entertaining environment.

The Social Respite Program is available at the following locations: Indian River Shores Community Center, Sebastian Yacht Club, Gifford Community Center, The IG Center, Alzheimer and Parkinson Assoc. of IRC. Please call 772-563-0505 to schedule.

Alzheimer & Parkinson Association is also a part of our Endowment Partners Program (EPP). The purpose of the EPP is to help local charities plan for their long-term sustainability by growing a permanent endowment fund. During a 12-month program, participants learn about endowments, planned giving, investment management and marketing solutions that inspire loyal donors to make planned gifts from their estates. The program is coordinated by IRCF team member Yamilet Cendejas.