By Yurianna Mikolay, Executive Director
Ocean Reef Community Foundation

Thanks to the Ocean Reef community’s generosity, the Ocean Reef Community Foundation annual grants program will provide more than $2 million to charities outside the gate for the second year, surpassing last year’s total. As always, we are completely transparent in sharing exactly where every dollar goes. Keep reading to see the complete list of 91 Community Grants to 81 non-profit organizations in the Upper Keys, Homestead and Florida City.

Our thanks also go out to our Grants Committee Chair Janie Sims, Vice Chair Steve Woodsum and members Cindy Brammer, Alan Goldstein, Diane Hill, Marie Jacobs, Ken Karl, Ed Kramer, Cynthia Lee, Kathie Markel, Linda Owens, Amy Upjohn, Kathy Weiland and Brad Young, for their dedication in evaluating a record number of applications up 30 percent over the previous year.

After months of careful vetting by the Grants Committee, the Foundation’s total share of 2024 All Charities proceeds not reserved for larger Impact Fund projects will be distributed, combined with donations made directly to the Community Grants Fund, as follows:

GRANTS TO BENEFIT THE UPPER KEYS, HOMESTEAD AND FLORIDA CITY

ACT4Me – Therapy programs for Homestead and Florida City children with neurological and genetic disorders – $35,000

Adrienne Arsht Center Trust – STEAM curriculum and live Busy Bees Great Adventure performance field trip for 7th graders in Homestead/Florida City Title I schools – $15,000

Advocate Program – Financial assistance program for veterans – $10,000

ArtSouth – “Arts Beyond the Classroom” arts education program for children at the Chapman Partnership Family Resource Center and Miami Dade College Homestead Campus – $10,000

Autism Society of Florida – Water safety drowning prevention program – $10,000

Autism Society of the Keys -Technology and therapy for autistic youth – $10,000

Be Strong International -“Raising the BAR” parenting education program – $12,500 (MATCH REQUIRED)

Big Brothers Big Sisters Miami – Continued expansion of youth mentoring program in the Upper Keys, Homestead and Florida City – $20,000

Branches Florida City ($60,000)

  • “Grow & Climb” teen leadership development and employment mentoring program – $35,000
  • “It’s a Money Thing” Financial Education program for students and families – $25,000

Bridge to Hope W.O.C. – Homestead Healthy Food Distribution Hub services including food, nutrition education, access to health services, and career-focused technology training – $33,000

Burton Memorial United Methodist Church ($34,800 Total)

  • Food Pantry: Refrigerated truck usage to enable pick up of perishable donations from local grocery stores and funds to purchase needed food items when not available by donation – $19,800
  • Child Development Center: Summer enrichment program – $15,000

Camillus House – CHEER educational initiative to assist formerly homeless children in attending school and catching up with peers – $15,000

Caring for Miami – Project Smile Mobile Dental Unit visits for the Upper Keys, Homestead, and Florida City – $40,000

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami South Dade Child Development Center – Teacher training in behavior management strategies and interventions – $6,000 (MATCH REQUIRED)

Centro Campesino Farmworker Center – Technology support, field trip transportation and entrepreneurship curriculum for after-school and summer youth programs – $18,200

Chapman Partnership – Mentoring program at the Chapman Family Resource Center for children of families recovering from homelessness – $15,000

Children’s Bereavement Center – Expansion of comprehensive grief support to Homestead and Florida City in partnership with existing youth programs – $25,000 (MATCH REQUIRED)

City Year – Academic and social-emotional development coaching at West Homestead K-8 Center – $30,000

Coral Shores High School ($37,974 Total/see also MCSD for additional CSHS grants)

  • Athletic Department Hardship Assistance Fund – $15,000
  • AVID college readiness program training for teachers – $17,974
  • Positive behavior interventions and support – $5,000

Cox Science Center & Aquarium – Bringing the Science Passport educational program to Title 1 elementary schools in Homestead, Florida City and the Upper Keys – $25,000

DMF Employment Opportunities – Employment initiative for individuals with intellectual and development disabilities – $19,900

enFAMILIA – 40 Chromebook computers for four Homestead and Florida City out-of-school-time centers for children – $12,000

Family Central – Benefits Enrollment Program to support vulnerable families in Homestead and Florida City – $25,000

Feeding South Florida – Food delivery and distribution to three partner pantries in Homestead, Florida City and the Upper Keys – $60,000

Florida Foster Care Review – Expansion of Permanency Roundtable effort to secure lifelong families or supportive adult connections for youth in and aging out of foster care to Homestead and Florida City – $12,500

Florida Goldcoast Ninety-Nines – Female aviation education and training for Upper Keys, Homestead, Florida City women and girls – $10,000

Florida Keys Area Health Education Centers (Keys AHEC) – In-school primary medical and dental services program in Upper Keys schools – $50,000

Florida Keys Children’s Shelter – Residential & Counseling Programs for at-risk youth – $50,000

Florida Keys Healthy Start Coalition – Upper Keys Child Safety Equipment and Early Childhood Education programs – $38,000

Florida Keys Outreach Coalition – Upper Keys “Quick Assist” financial assistance program to prevent homelessness – $30,000

Florida Keys Soccer Club – Youth soccer league programs and equipment – $10,000

Florida Keys Wild Bird Rehabilitation Center – Youth education and outreach program – $5,000 (MATCH REQUIRED)

Gift of Adoption – Financial assistance to complete the adoption process for at-risk children into Upper Keys, Homestead, and Florida City families – $5,000

Genesis Hopeful Haven – Independent Living Housing and support programs for young people aging out of foster care – $50,000

Girl Scout Council of Tropical Florida – Community Troops program for underserved girls in low-income and historically excluded Homestead and Florida City neighborhoods – $15,000

Good Health Clinic – Providing $2 million in donated medication and healthcare access to 600+ low-income Upper Keys residents – $28,000

Greater Miami Youth for Christ – “Teen Indigenous Leaders” development and employment mentoring program at West Homestead KIX – $50,000

Guidance/Care Center – The Keys’ only Assisted Living Facility for residents with chronic mental illness – $19,987

Guitars Over Guns Organization – Music instruction programs and mentors for at-risk Homestead and Florida City youth – $25,000

Habitat for Humanity of the Upper Keys – Towards building the Poinsettia Affordable Housing Project in Key Largo – $50,000

Health Information Project – Peer-to-peer, comprehensive health education program at four Homestead and Monroe County high schools – $25,000

Homestead Christian Academy – Replacement of 20-year-old flooring in Kindergarten-Grade 3 classroom – $3,800

ICU baby – Comprehensive support for Upper Keys, Homestead and Florida City families with babies in the nearest NICUs at Miami hospitals – $25,000

In Jacob’s Shoes – “Sole Necessities” program to provide shoes to disadvantaged Homestead and Florida City children – $10,000

Just Older Youth (JOY) – To expand programs for Upper Keys Seniors from one to two days a week – $10,146 (MATCH REQUIRED)

Key Largo School ($83,335 Total)

  • New Drama Club Productions – $10,000
  • Equipment and educational materials to establish new Softball & Baseball programs – $10,835
  • AVID college readiness program, college trips and teacher training – $22,500
  • Summer Recreation program for up to 300 pre-K through 5th grade students – $40,000

Kristi House – Homestead and Florida City Therapy Expansion Initiative for child-victims of abuse and sex trafficking – $45,000

Mexican-American Council – College & Career Prep programs and scholarships for students from families of farm workers at Homestead high schools – $35,000

Miami Diaper Bank – Expansion of mobile diaper distributions to the Upper Keys and in Homestead and Florida City – $25,000 (MATCH REQUIRED)

Miami Lighthouse for the Blind & Visually Impaired – Children’s Vision Program for 800 in both service areas – $10,000

Monroe Association for ReMARCable Citizens (MARC House) – Adult Day Training program for developmentally disabled adults – $10,000

Monroe County School District CTE ($36,500 Total)

  • Yamaha Motors needed to offer Coral Shores High School Yamaha Marine Maintenance Certifications – $30,000
  • Small Appliances for Coral Shores High School Culinary Kitchen – $6,500

MUJER – Workshops and therapy for 60+ abused children and non-offending parents – $50,000

NAMI Miami-Dade County – Expansion of free signature mental health programming to the Upper Keys, Homestead and Florida City – $10,000

Ocean Studies Charter School – STEM Experiential Learning Lab with zSpace laptops – $29,179

PATCHES PPEC – Replacement of Pediatric Nursing Center’s security camera and door system for safety of medically complex children – $7,000

Redlands Christian Migrant Association – Security cameras for five classrooms and hearing and vision testing equipment for child development center – $19,819

Seacamp Association – Marine science summer camp experience for 20 children residing at the Florida Keys Children’s Shelter – $7,600

Seminole Cultural Arts Theatre – 35 partial scholarships for Homestead and Florida City children to participate in the annual “Junior” youth production – $10,000

South Dade Women Veterans Alliance – Half the cost of Trauma Focused Training and 20 percent of the cost of the Annual Women Veterans Conference – $12,500

South Florida Council Boy Scouts of America – Scouting programs for disadvantaged youth in the Homestead area – $20,000   

Special Olympics Florida Monroe County – Continued expansion of the Upper Keys Unified Championship Schools program for youth with and without intellectual disabilities – $25,000

St. Justin Martyr Preschool – Expansion of after-school and summer camp programs to serve an additional 25 children – $28,525

Star of the Sea Foundation – Upper Keys Hunger Relief Program – $36,000

Start Off Smart ($48,944 Total)

  • Homestead Police Department Community Policing program to safely engage local youth and families – $28,944
  • Two Police Academy Scholarships for locals committed to serving in the Homestead Police Department – $15,000
  • No Child Left Hungry program to enable officers to provide food assistance when they encounter families in need in their work – $5,000

Take Stock in Children – College scholarships (matched by the Florida Pre-Paid College Foundation) for Upper Keys youth mentoring program – $75,000

The ARC of South Florida – Half the cost of a new passenger van to transport children with disabilities – $30,000 (MATCH REQUIRED)

The Children’s Voice Chorus – To expand choral programs at Branches Florida City to additional children – $10,000

The College of the Florida Keys – Furniture to outfit the Career Center at the Upper Keys Center, high-fidelity Pediatric Simulation Mannequin for the Upper Keys Nursing Lab, and new Upper Keys Center Community Day to engage the community – $39,000

The Motivational Edge – Art-based Youth Engagement & Empowerment Program for at-risk youth – $20,000

The Salvation Army – “Pathway to Hope” social services and financial assistance program for Upper Keys residents – $15,000

TIPS – Florida Keys Youth Basketball League – $7,000

Three Virtues Organization – Freezer unit for Homestead food pantry operation – $5,224

United Way of Collier and the Keys – Upper Keys “Success by Six” School Readiness program – $15,900

University of Miami – Pediatric Mobile Healthcare expansion in Homestead and Florida City – $26,253 (MATCH REQUIRED)

Upper Keys Baseball Development Foundation – “Steady Bats” baseball program serving 75 youth – $8,500

Upper Keys Youth Lacrosse League – Safety equipment to remove financial barriers to participating in lacrosse – $10,000

Voices for Florida Keys Children – Children’s Welfare Program to assist families through the 16th Judicial Court Guardian Ad Litem – $15,000

Wellspring Counseling – Upper Keys & Homestead Counseling Financial Aid Program – $26,000

Wesley House Family Services – New Key Largo Office & Family Visitation Center renovation for agency managing local foster care and support and prevention services for at-risk families – $30,000

YMCA of South Florida – Homestead after-school program scholarships – $20,000

ADDITIONAL INTERNAL GRANT TO BENEFIT OCEAN REEF EMPLOYEES

ORCF Ocean Reef Employee Emergency Fund (OREEF) – To be matched by $3,300 from Ocean Reef Club and $3,300 from Ocean Reef Community Association – $3,300

Total 2024 Community Grants:  $2,007,386

To learn more about the Community Grants program and/or 2024 Co-Investment Opportunities to complement partial and match grants, please email foundation@oceanreef.com,
call (305) 367-4707 or visit our office in the Ocean Reef Business Center.