Indian River Community Foundation

Building A Better Community Through Donor-Driven Philanthropy

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Community Foundation, Kindergarten Readiness, Mental Health Collaborative Discuss Community Needs Assessment

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The Community Needs Assessment is an analysis of community needs in Indian River County in relation to children, seniors, health, housing, and economic opportunity and employment. Tania Ortega-Cowan of the WQCS Radio station recently interviewed community leaders for their thoughts on critical elements of this assessment.

Community Foundation CEO, Jeff Pickering, shared his insights on seniors and housing difficulties, as well as the positive impact this assessment has had on local government decisions. Dr. Nivea Torres of the Kindergarten Readiness Collaborative spoke about the Community Needs Assessment as it relates to the needs of local children from infancy to 5 years old. Brett Hall, Executive Director of the Mental Health Collaborative of IRC, also reflected on the Community Needs Assessment and his work to connect local individuals with mental health professionals.

Please click here to listen to the full interview.

COVID-19 Community Response Fund Continues to Disperse Funds County-Wide

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26,337 households served, 1.4M donated funds, 35 local organizations, 1.8M pounds of food distributed

More than $1,199,000 has been distributed out to 35 local charitable nonprofits. Grants from the fund have focused on rent, utilities, food, baby needs, pets, and senior support assistance.  Weekly distributions of funds have already been made to the following organizations:

  • 211
  • The Buggy Bunch
  • Camp Haven
  • CareBag
  • CareNet Pregnancy Center
  • ChildCare Scholarships
  • Children’s Home Society
  • Economic Opportunities Council
  • Food Pantry of IRC
  • For the Love of Paws
  • Freedom Journey
  • Gifford Youth Orchestra
  • Gift Cards
  • Halo No-Kill Rescue
  • Heal the Healers
  • Health Mart and Whole Family Pharmacy
  • Healthy Start Coalition
  • Hibiscus Children’s Center
  • Hope for Families Center
  • Humane Society of IRC
  • Moonshot Moment
  • Prescriptions (TCCH, VNA, Whole Family, CCIRC)
  • RCMA
  • Salvation Army of IRC
  • Senior Resource Association
  • St. Helens/ UP
  • The Source
  • Treasure Coast Food Bank
  • Treasure Coast Homeless Services Council
  • Tykes and Teens
  • United Against Poverty
  • Veteran’s Council of IRC

If You Haven’t Done So Already, Here’s How You Can Help

  1. Make 2020 charitable distributions from donor advised funds to local charities now.
  2. Make a gift to the United Way’s COVID-19 Community Response Fund now.
  3. Make a significant gift to save or sustain a specific charitable organization, especially one serving vulnerable individuals and families. 

Girls on the Run Completes Season with Virtual 5K

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Girls on the Run recently completed their 2019-2020 running season with a virtual 5K Celebration Event. Despite the recent COVID-19 health pandemic, the season proved to be their most successful one yet with a record number of girls enrolled in their running program.

Indian River Community Foundation’s Community Enrichment Fund supported scholarship participation which enrolled 30 additional girls who wouldn’t otherwise have been able to be a part of the program. 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 grant making funds, including the Community Enrichment Fund and the Better Giving Fund.  These resources support the Community Foundation’s mission of building a better community through donor-driven philanthropy.

Community Foundation Awards $50,000 to United Against Poverty

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Indian River Community Foundation recently awarded four grants totaling $177,000 from its Community Enrichment Fund to local charities.  The grants were reviewed by a Grants Committee comprised of volunteers Scott Alexander, Dale Jacobs, Louis Schacht, Sandy Rolf and Larry Salustro.

One grant for $50,000 was awarded to United Against Poverty (“UP”) for programs serving vulnerable individuals and families in the community.  With more than 50 percent of Indian River County households living either in poverty or one paycheck away from it, UP’s programs are dedicated to inspiring and empowering people to lift themselves out of poverty and their families to economic self-sufficiency. 

“UP’s four core programs include a Member Share Grocery, Crisis Stabilization, Education, and Workforce Development,” said executive director Annabel Robertson. “They are designed together to create a support network that helps participants with a “hand up” as they embark on a path towards success.”

“We are extremely grateful for the Community Foundation’s support of these critical programs,” said Barbara Lowry, UP’s Board Chair.  “It will help so many people in need to get to a better place in life.”

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 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 $72 million in 175 charitable giving accounts, the Community Foundation and its clients have awarded more than $70 million in grants, mostly to nonprofit charitable organizations located in Indian River County, Florida.  Visit www.ircommunityfoundation.org to learn more.