Community Enrichment Fund Archives - Indian River Community Foundation

Community Foundation Awards $50,000 to United Against Poverty

July 17, 2020 Leave a Comment

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.

Community Foundation, United Way, Philanthropy Help Lead Local COVID-19 Response

April 6, 2020 Leave a Comment

On Monday March 24, 2020, Indian River Community Foundation (“IRCF”) joined the United Way of Indian River County and other community leaders to launch the COVID-19 Community Response Fund.

During the past two weeks, IRCF has encouraged clients to help in the following ways:

Make 2020 charitable distributions from donor advised funds to local charities now, especially if accounts hold a significant cash position.
Make a gift to the United Way’s COVID-19 Community Response Fund now, either directly or bundled with other client contributions to the IRCF COVID-19 Fund.
Make a significant gift to save or sustain a specific charitable organization, especially ones serving vulnerable individuals and families.

Community Foundation Client Response

After just two weeks, IRCF’s clients have responded generously including the following:

Distributions of more than $150,000 to the United Way’s COVID-19 Community Response Fund, including $50,000 from the Community Enrichment Fund and additional support from the following accounts: A Caring Family Fund, Becker Family Foundation, Buffington Family Fund, Carole and Phil Coviello Charitable Fund, Forrester Family Fund II, Larry and Susan Salustro Fund, and two anonymous funds.

Gifts of significance from IRCF clients to sustain individual charities identified by IRCF’s staff team as experiencing both an immediate increase in demand for services and a shortfall in earned income or contributions. For example, one client family made a personal commitment of $90,000 to Childcare Resources to keep experienced preschool teachers employed while covering some of the tuition payments from working families for the next three months. Another client made her first gift of significance of $10,000 to the Humane Society to help with the increased demand for services.

First Distributions from United Way’s COVID-19 Community Response Fund

The United Way’s COVID-19 Community Response Fund is being used to support local organizations working to meet community needs related to the health crisis. Priority needs include food, rent and utility assistance for low-income individuals and families. In just two weeks, distributions from this fund have been coordinated by a committee made up of knowledgeable community leaders and grantmakers which includes IRCF. These include the following:

$126,600 for rent, utility and food assistance to low-income families.
$71,000 to help seniors.

How to Help?

Visit www.unitedwayirc.org or contact IRCF’s donor services team at 772.492.1407 or donorservices@ircommunityfoundation.org.

Community Foundation Awards $50,000 to Camp Haven

February 4, 2020 Leave a Comment

(Vero Beach, Fla. – February 3, 2020) Indian River Community Foundation recently awarded a grant of $50,000 to Camp Haven from its Community Enrichment Fund. The grant was awarded after careful review by a Grants Committee comprised of volunteers Scott Alexander, Dale Jacobs, Mike McManus, Sandy Rolf and Larry Salustro.

Camp Haven receives $50,000 check from IRCF's Community Enrichment Fund. — **(From left): Larry Salustro, Chuck Bradley, Diana Stark, Jermey Gable, Gordon Stewart, Jeff Pickering of Indian River Community Foundation, Brian Korkus, Timothy Longden.** **(Photo Credit: Maureen Nicolace)**

The $50,000 grant to Camp Haven will be used to help support construction of a new multi-purpose building for the organization’s residential campus. According to Chuck Bradley, Executive Director, “Camp Haven is the only local facility dedicated to helping single homeless men with transitional housing while they work to break the cycle of homelessness. This support will make a real difference.”

“One of the purposes of the Community Enrichment Fund is to support local charities that help vulnerable individuals and families living in our community,” said Jeff Pickering, President and CEO of Indian River Community Foundation. “Camp Haven does this by helping homeless men with a safe, supportive place to call home temporarily as they work on rebuilding their lives. It is tough work, but the success stories Camp Haven’s show results that everyone involved can be proud of.”

**IRCF President and CEO Jeff Pickering talks to Camp Haven Staff and Board Members, along with IRCF Board Member. (Photo Credit: Maureen Nicolace)**

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 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 $72 million in 175 charitable giving accounts, the Community Foundation and its clients have awarded more than $67 million in grants, mostly to nonprofit charitable organizations located in Indian River County, Florida. Visit www.ircommunityfoundation.org to learn more.