News & Events | IRCF - Indian River Community Foundation

Community Foundation Awards $137,000 to Four Local Nonprofits

October 20, 2021 Leave a Comment

Indian River Community Foundation awarded grants totaling $137,000 to nonprofit charitable organizations serving Indian River County. The grants were reviewed by a Grants Committee comprised of volunteers Pat Brier, Toni Hamner, Dale Jacobs, Wanda Lincoln, Ed Massey, Dawn Michael, Angelia Perry, Larry Salustro and Louis Schacht. The grants were awarded from the Community Enrichment Fund, and included the following:

$50,000 to Substance Awareness Center for Peer Support.
$37,000 to Childcare Resources of Indian River for the Childcare Resources Education Advancement and Training for Early Educators (CREATE) program.
$25,000 to Ballet Vero Beach to continue Programs for School Aged Children.
$25,000 to Florida State Parks Foundation for equipment to help save the endangered Red-Cockaded Woodpecker at St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park.

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. These valuable resources support the Community Foundation’s mission of building a better community through donor-driven philanthropy.

Indian River Community Foundation was established in 2008 with a mission of building a better community through donor-driven philanthropy. With assets of approximately $90 million in 200 charitable giving accounts, the Community Foundation and its clients have awarded more than $80 million in grants, mostly to nonprofit charitable organizations located in Indian River County, Florida. Visit www.ircommunityfoundation.org to learn more.

Photo Identifications in this Article:

Substance Awareness Council: Carrie Lester and Irene Cauwels of Substance Awareness Center with Jeff Pickering CEO of Indian River Community Foundation. Photo by Maureen Nicolace.

Childcare Resources: Stephanie Harmody, Shannon McGuire Bowman, Jeff Pickering of Indian River Community Foundation, and Patrick Farrah with children in the Turtle Room at Childcare Resources. Photo by Maureen Nicolace.

Ballet Vero Beach: (seated) Camilo A. Rodriguez, Adam Schnell of Ballet Vero Beach and Jeff Pickering, CEO of Indian River Community Foundation. Standing: Katherine Eppink, Anders Southerland, and Debi Arseneaux, along with Learning Alliance puppet friends Bob and Moonshot. Photo by Maureen Nicolace.

St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park: Jeff Pickering, CEO; Brooke Sauserman, Foundation Assistant; and Chiaka Nwosu, Foundation Coordinator all of Indian River Community Foundation, along with Dylan Gavagni, Park Manager at St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park. Photo by Maureen Nicolace.

Community Foundation Grants $25,000 to Help Protect Federally Endangered Woodpecker at St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

October 19, 2021 Leave a Comment

Indian River Community Foundation President and CEO, Jeff Pickering with St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park Manager, Dylan Gavagni.
Photo credit: Maureen Nicolace.

The Indian River Community Foundation recently awarded $25,000 to the Florida State Parks Foundation to help save the endangered Red-cockaded woodpecker at St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park.

Red-cockaded woodpeckers are only found in about 10 locations in Florida state, one of which is St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park in Fellsmere. The Florida State Parks Foundation aims to purchase a Bobcat 5600 Toolcat with the funds, which will maintain the birds’ habitat.

“The survival of this rare woodpecker is now dependent on human intervention to ensure they have food, shelter and suitable nesting sites,” said Foundation CEO Julia Gill Woodward. “The preservation of their existing habitat in Indian River County is crucial, and the Florida Park Service is well-positioned to fulfill this need thanks to their experience with land management and their understanding of species conservation.”

“Given the enormity of the problems that philanthropy is often called on to address, this grant represents something very specific that our Community Foundation can do to make a meaningful difference in our local environment,” said Indian River Community Foundation President and CEO Jeff Pickering. “Extinction is forever, and our support of this project is something that we are proud to provide to give these special birds a fighting chance at long-term survival.”

Click here to read more about this grant in an article written by Julia Gill Woodward, Chief Executive Officer of the Florida State Parks Foundation.

Weekly Insights: Redlands Christian Migrant Association (RCMA) Provides Quality Childcare

October 1, 2021 Leave a Comment

The Redlands Christian Migrant Association (RCMA) opens doors to opportunities through quality child care and education from crib to high school and beyond. According to Indian River Indicators, students in Indian River County have a graduation rate of 93.4%, which is higher than the state average of 90%. Centers such as RCMA’s Children’s House Child Development Center in Vero Beach provides educational daycare for up to 54 children. This gives low-income children a chance to build comprehensive development and language skills that ultimately impact their high school graduation rate.

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 informational sessions every Tuesday at 4pm via Zoom to introduce the community to this new resource. Please email 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: VNA and Hospice Foundation Serves with Compassionate Care

October 1, 2021 Leave a Comment

The VNA and Hospice Foundation was established to provide compassionate, innovative care of the highest quality, setting the standard for patients and caregivers needing private care, home health, hospice and community health services. According to Indian River Insights, at 165.2 deaths per 100,000 people, Cancer is the leading cause of death in Indian River County. The VNA and Hospice Foundation works to serve patients with diseases like Cancer by providing non-invasive, compassionate programs such as their Music Therapy Program. This type of therapy does not require previous knowledge of music and addresses the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of a patient. This means a deliverance of increased relaxation, reduced pain, reduced anxiety, cognitive improvements and developing coping skills as patients and their families navigate through challenging times.

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: Indian River Habitat for Humanity Brings People Together to Build Homes

October 1, 2021 Leave a Comment

Indian River Habitat for Humanity seeks to put God’s love into action by bringing people together to build homes, communities and hope. Typically, housing costs should be at 30% or less of a homeowner or renter’s income. According to Indian River Indicators, 22% of homeowner costs and 52% of home rentals are 30% or more of income in Indian River County. Habitat for Humanity recognizes the amount of stress and insecurity these housing costs can place on a family. The Habitat Homeownership program accepts applicants who are experiencing home insecurity and helps them build a house, in exchange for interest-free mortgages and “sweat equity” into their home.

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.