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.
