Indian River Community Foundation

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EPP Spotlight: Youth Guidance Mentoring Academy

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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.

Community Foundation Awards $175,000 to Five Local Nonprofits

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Indian River Community Foundation awarded grants totaling $175,000 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, Ed Massey, Sandy Rolf, and Larry Salustro.  The grants were awarded from the Community Enrichment Fund, and included the following:

Check Presentation to United Against Poverty from Indian River Community Foundation.
Check Presentation to The Hope for Families Center from Indian River Community Foundation.
Check Presentation to Youth Sailing Foundation from Indian River Community Foundation.
Check Presentation to SafeSpace from Indian River Community Foundation.

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

Feed the Lambs: Jaci Ruppert and Larry Salustro (far left) representing Indian River Community Foundation, and Keshia Leriche and Kenya May (far right) of Feed the Lambs Enrichment Program, with the kids participating in this year’s summer camp. Photo by Maureen Nicolace.

United Against Poverty: George Cooper, Barbara Lowry, Matt Tanner and Gwendolyn Butson of United Against Poverty, with Jaci Ruppert and Larry Salustro representing Indian River Community Foundation. Photo by Maureen Nicolace.

Youth Sailing Foundation: Stu Keiller, Youth Sailing Foundation Executive Director, and Jeff Pickering, Indian River Community Foundation CEO. Photo by Maureen Nicolace.

The Hope for Families: Indian River Community Foundation CEO Jeff Pickering with Hope for Families Executive Director Diana Grossi. Photo by Maureen Nicolace.

SafeSpace: Chiaka Nwosu representing Indian River Community Foundation. Representing SafeSpace: Elizabeth Southers, Development Coordinator; Linda Hengerer, Board Member; Richard Boga, Board Member; Nancy Wong, Board Member; Erica Snowberger, Board Member; Providence Piekara, Director of Finance; Charlotte Anderson-Brown, Director of Operations; Dr. Teresa Albizu, Chief Executive Officer. Photo by Xander Sylvia.

Vero Beach Lifeguard Association and Youth Sailing Foundation Collaborate on Catamaran Sailing

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Vero Beach Lifeguard Association (VBLA) and Youth Sailing Foundation (YSF) are collaborating to bring the fun and joy of sailing to beginner sailors abroad VBLA’s sixteen-foot Hobie Getaway.  The boat was in storage at YSF when VBLA’s Erik Toomsoo suggested YSF put the boat into commission and utilize it for familiarization and fun sails for beginner sailors.   With its heavy simple construction, wide trampoline, and forgiving sailing characteristics, the Getaway is a perfect boat for taking group of four or five junior sailors out onto the Lagoon with an adult instructor aboard.  Everyone gets a chance to steer and trim sails.  Perhaps more importantly, the kids get to hangout together having fun on the water.

Stu Keiller, Executive Director of YSF, said: “Erik and VBLA’s thoughtful and generous gesture allowing YSF to utilize the Getaway has given us an immensely popular addition to our fleet.  VBLA provided a new set of sails and YSF’s volunteer catamaran expert Rick Nelson tuned and updated fittings to complete the commissioning process.  Combining the resources of both organizations is a win-win for the children of Indian River County.”

VBLA’s Erik Toomsoo commented that: “It’s great to able to put the boat to use enabling children to get out on the water.  YSF’s emphasis on safety and their required swim test provides children with a respect for the water and how to have fun while remaining safe.  This makes them role models rather than potential rescues when they come to our beaches.”  The program is a win-win for both organizations.

For more information on VBLA and YSF go to vbla.org and ysfirc.org.

This article first appeared on VeroNews.com. To read the original article, please click here.

IRC Healthy Start Publishes Fetal and Infant Mortality Review Report

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In the video above, Andrea Berry, Executive Director of IR Healthy Start Coalition, introduces the Fetal and Infant Mortality Review Report (FIMR). The report includes both qualitative and quantitative data from our community surrounding maternal child health and presents findings about what contributes to health, wellness and infant death. As Berry explains, “Indian River Healthy Start Coalition’s top priority is to ensure no family needlessly withstands this loss.”

Please click here to read the full FIMR Report.

For more information about Indian River Healthy Start Coalition and to read their annual report, please click here.