IRC Healthy Start Coalition Archives - Indian River Community Foundation

EPP Spotlight: Indian River Healthy Start Coalition

November 3, 2021 Leave a Comment

Indian River County Healthy Start Coalition carries out a mission to establish and support a local system of care that optimizes the health of moms, babies and their families living in Indian River County. The true purpose of the organization is to prevent infant mortality. The Babies and Beyond Program supports this purpose by providing childbirth education, lactation support, postpartum nurse visits, and peer play groups. Three out of four local pregnant mothers received support from programs such as the Babies and Beyond Program. As a result, Indian River County’s infant mortality rate has reduced more than 50% since 2011.

When the pandemic hit in 2019, the Healthy Start Coalition provided the Babies and Beyond Program over zoom. This allowed for mothers and their families to create a support system family with childcare professionals and other mothers within the comfort of their own home.

“I can’t thank Healthy Start and these women enough,” said one local mother. “They helped me see the light during a very dark time… not only did we find comfort with our cohort, but the instructors were right there with us until our son was born—many of them offering support and advice after his birth.”

Indian River Healthy Start Coalition 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 Healthy Start Coalition website.

IRC Healthy Start Publishes Fetal and Infant Mortality Review Report

January 15, 2021 Leave a Comment

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.

Community Foundation Awards $165,000 to Four Local Nonprofits

October 22, 2020 Leave a Comment

Indian River Community Foundation CEO Jeff Pickering; and representing Substance Abuse Council of IRC are Executive Director Carrie Maynard-Lester and Program Director Irene Cauwels. (Photo: Maureen Nicolace) — Indian River Community Foundation CEO Jeff Pickering; and representing Substance Abuse Council of IRC are Executive Director Carrie Maynard-Lester and Program Director Irene Cauwels (Photo: Maureen Nicolace).

Indian River Community Foundation awarded grants totaling $165,000 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, Louis Schacht, Sandy Rolf, and Larry Salustro. The grants were awarded from the Community Enrichment Fund, and included the following:

$50,000 to the Substance Abuse Council of Indian River County to fund a Recovery Support program.
$45,000 to Tykes & Teens to support their Healthy Families of Indian River program.
$20,000 to Indian River County Healthy Start Coalition to support its Removing Barriers through Technology program.
$50,000 to The Buggy Bunch as a match challenge to acquire and renovate a new Family Education Center.

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 $75 million in 180 charitable giving accounts, the Community Foundation and its clients have awarded more than $71 million in grants, mostly to nonprofit charitable organizations located in Indian River County, Florida. Visit www.ircommunityfoundation.org to learn more.

Community Foundation Awards Fifteen Grants Totaling $405,000 to Local Charities

July 6, 2017 Leave a Comment

Indian River Community Foundation awarded discretionary grants totaling $405,000 to 15 local nonprofit charitable organizations from its spring 2017 grants cycle. The grants were reviewed by three volunteer grant committees and approved by the Community Foundation’s Board of Directors.

“While most of Indian River Community Foundation’s grants are awarded from clients’ charitable giving accounts, these discretionary grants are made possible by dollars that are entrusted to us to find, fund and follow effective organizations, programs and projects that make our community better,” said Jeff Pickering, President and CEO.

All fifteen grants were awarded from the Community Foundation’s Community Enrichment Fund to address needs in the areas of education, environment or historic preservation as well as needs of vulnerable individuals, families and animals. The following grants were awarded in three categories:

Category 1 – Operating grants for small nonprofit charitable organizations in Indian River County.
• Girls on the Run — $5,000 to support work inspiring girls age 8 – 13 to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experienced-based curriculum that creatively integrates running.
• Laura Riding Jackson Foundation – $5,000 for informational signage and videos to enhance the visitor experience at the late poet’s historic home.
• LifeBuilders of the Treasure Coast – $5,000 to support an intervention effort to provide temporary housing assistance to 10 low-income individuals or families involved with local courts.
• Special Equestrians of the Treasure Coast – $5,000 to be used toward the salary of a riding instructor to teach horsemanship for students with special needs.
• Veterans Council of Indian River County – $5,000 to be used toward efforts to increase visibility of the organization’s mission and programs serving local veterans.

Category 2 – Capacity-building grants to help nonprofit charitable organizations in Indian River County to improve business operations or to move toward sustainability.
• Economic Opportunities Council of Indian River County – $2,461 to purchase fundraising and constituent relationship management software.
• Education Foundation of Indian River County – $25,000 for the cost of launching a new “Partners in Education” program to increase support from local businesses.

Category 3 – Operating grants for established programs or projects of nonprofit charitable organizations in Indian River County.
• Childcare Resources of Indian River – $49,740 for an Early Education Coach to work with early childhood educators throughout Indian River County.
• Environmental Learning Center – $42,574 to purchase a new 15 passenger van to expand outreach to persons with disabilities or other conditions that limit easy access to nature.
• Indian River County Healthy Start Coalition – $50,000 to support the Healthy Families of Indian River County program, which provides home visitations to families at risk for child abuse or domestic violence.
• Ocean Research and Conservation Association – $40,000 to expand a project to rank muck inputs into the Indian River Lagoon in Indian River County.
• Pelican Island Audubon Society – $50,000 to support the Audubon Advocates after-school lagoon science program for 5th graders in South Indian River County schools.
• SafeSpace — $30,000 for the Economic Empowerment Program which helps victims of domestic violence in Indian River County to establish financial independence.
• United Against Poverty of Indian River County — $50,000 for the STEP program to help low-income individuals and families lift themselves out of poverty and reach economic self-sufficiency.
• Youth Guidance – $40,000 to support the South County Sports Mentoring Program.

Indian River Community Foundation was established in 2008 with a mission of building a better community through donor-driven philanthropy. With assets of $36 million in 150 charitable giving accounts, the Community Foundation and its clients have awarded $42 million in grants, mostly to nonprofit charitable organizations located in Indian River County, Florida. For more information visit www.ircommunityfoundation.org.