Indian River Community Foundation

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Weekly Insights: The Samaritan Center of Vero Beach

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Pictured from left to right: Renee Bireley, Development Manager; Vania Bartee, Children’s Coordinator; Vanessa McGriff, Operations Manager; Kris Rivera, CCPBD Operations Director.

The Samaritan Center provides transitional housing and guidance to homeless families in Indian River County and prepares them to live independently. The average length of stay is 6-9 months. During their stay, the Samaritan Center partners with resident families to provide a nurturing environment, safe housing, case management, support/educational services, and connection to community resources.  

The organization recently purchased a 2022 Ford Transit Connect van to provide transportation for all homeless residents, parents, and children to school/trainings, childcare, employment, and job interviews. During the 2020/ 2021 fiscal year, Samaritan Center served 42 unduplicated individuals with approximately 45,990 trips around town. The van was made possible with support from Indian River Community Foundation.

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, February 1st 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.

Continuing the Remarkable Legacy of Ellie McCabe

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Ellie McCabe passed away at the age of 87 on December 26, 2021. She was a well respected philanthropist and advocate for mental health. Her philanthropic efforts began with her father through The Wahlstrom Foundation, later renamed The Robert F. and Elenora W. McCabe Foundation, and continued when she moved full-time to Vero Beach in 1983. Ellie was a large contributor in founding nonprofit organizations such as the Vero Beach Museum of Art, John’s Island Foundation, the Mental Health Association’s Mental Health Walk-in Center, and the Mental Health Collaborative. She also served on the Board of Directors of Saint Edward’s School, the Visiting Nurse Association of the Treasure Coast, and Indian River Impact 100.

In 2017, Mr. and Mrs. McCabe moved their private foundation to Indian River Community Foundation.

Ellie requested memorial contributions be made to the Endowment for Better Mental Health at Indian River Community Foundation. Click here to make a contribution online or mail a check to Indian River Community Foundation, P.O. Box 643968.

Bob and Ellie McCabe also became members of The Alma Lee Loy Society which honors donors who have entrusted Indian River Community Foundation with their charitable legacy.  To learn more about making a planned gift from an estate, visit www.ircflegacy.org or call 772.492.1407.

Indian River Insights from Vero Beach Magazine

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In partnership with Vero Beach Magazine, Indian River Community Foundation’s President and CEO, Jeff Pickering, writes a monthly column called Indian River Insights. These articles explore the root causes of community needs, celebrate successes, analyze meaningful solutions, and offer insights into persistent challenges. In the January 2022 Edition of the Vero Beach Magazine, Pickering looks at the status of seniors in Indian River County, including what they need and how we are doing as a community to serve them today and into the future.

“While the life disparity in our county is troubling, the good news is that several local charitable organizations are working to close that gap.” – Jeff Pickering

Click here to read Indian River Insights from the January edition of Vero Beach Magazine.

Indian River 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 on the first Tuesday of every month at 4pm via Zoom to introduce the community to this new resource. 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.

EPP Spotlight: Indian River Golf Foundation

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Indian River Golf Foundation promotes and expands interest in the game of golf for golfers of all ages, encourages participation, awareness of opportunities and encourages high levels of performance, enjoyment and appreciation for the game.  The Foundation’s Starting New At Golf (SNAG) Program introduces golf to beginners using two clubs and tennis-type balls that cling to Velcro covered targets. It is primarily offered to elementary school students as an after school activity.

Indian River Golf Foundation 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 Indian River Golf Foundation website.

Weekly Insights: Dogs for Life

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According to Indian River Indicators, 11.9% of adults in Indian River County are veterans, compared to 8.6% of all adults in Florida. As many as 30% of veterans suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Dogs for Life is devoted to improving the quality of life for individuals and Veterans through training service dogs for hearing, mobility and the effects of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders. Through the Veteran Dog Training Program, Dogs for Life provides trained and certified service dogs to Veterans with hearing and mobility challenges, as well as the effects of PTSD.

Hearing dogs assisted with a door knock, a ringing telephone, a smoke alarm, and an alarm clock, or other sounds a person with a hearing impairment may be missing. Mobility Assistance Dogs are task trained to assist with such issues as rising from a chair, picking up a phone, and retrieving a fallen object tasks that can be impossible to a person with a physical challenge. PTSD tasks can include waking from a nightmare, creating a “safe zone” in a crowd, turning lights on in a dark room, creating a distraction or finding an exit to leave a stressful situation, calling for help on a special K-9 emergency phone, providing deep pressure for calming effect and reducing hyper-vigilance through task work.

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, February 1st 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.