2026 Community Grants
Thanks to the Ocean Reef community’s generosity, the Ocean Reef Community Foundation annual grants program will provide nearly $2.7 million to charities outside the gate this year. The Ocean Reef Community Foundation Community Grants program funds scores of worthy non-profit organizations in the interest areas of Education, Youth, Health & Family Services, and Community in the Upper Keys, City of Homestead, and Florida City each spring. Including record-breaking 2026 grants, the program will have awarded nearly $23.5 million since the Foundation’s All Charities effort to consolidate fundraising in the Ocean Reef community began in 2008.
GRANTS TO BENEFIT THE UPPER KEYS, CITY OF HOMESTEAD AND FLORIDA CITY
305 Pink Pack – Transportation to and from, and childcare during, cancer treatment for 40 Homestead and Florida City women – $12,500
A Chance for Therapy (ACT4Me) – Therapy programs for Homestead/Florida City children with neurological and genetic disorders – $42,000
Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts – STEAM curriculum and live Busy Bees Great Adventure performance field trip transportation for 1,500 7th graders in Homestead/Florida City Title I schools – $15,000
Advocate Program – Financial assistance program for veterans in need – $12,000
Archangel Foundation – After-school and summer STEM tutoring and enrichment program for girls at Homestead Middle School in coordination with Girl Power Rocks – $15,000
Autism Society of the Keys – Technology and therapy for autistic youth – $10,000
Baptist Health South Florida Foundation – Homestead Hospital Infant & Mother Safe Discharge safety equipment program – $24,650
Big Brothers Big Sisters – Continued expansion of youth mentoring program for 250 kids in the Upper Keys, Homestead and Florida City – $25,000
Bleeding Blue – Mental health support for law enforcement and first responders – $20,000
Branches Florida City ($60,000)
• “Climb & Climb Higher” teen leadership development and employment mentoring program – $35,000
• “It’s a Money Thing” Financial Education program for 290+ students and families – $25,000
Breakthrough Miami – Academic enrichment and leadership development program for 140 Homestead/Florida City 5th-13th graders – $15,000
Bridge to Hope – Homestead Food Pantry Hub and Home Food Delivery – $50,000
Burton Memorial United Methodist Church ($44,800 Total)
• 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 for Keys food pantry serving 11,500 – $19,800
• Child Development Center Summer School enrichment program – $25,000
Camillus House – CHEER educational initiative to assist 140 formerly homeless children in attending school and catching up with peers – $20,000
Caring for Miami – Project Smile Mobile Dental Unit visits for 1,500 Upper Keys, Homestead and Florida City residents – $40,000
Centro Campesino – After-school and summer programs for 160 kids in two locations – $35,000
Chapman Partnership – Mentoring program at the Family Resource Center for 150 children of families recovering from homelessness – $15,000
Children’s Bereavement Center – Expansion of comprehensive grief support for 250 youth in Homestead/Florida City in partnership with existing youth programs – $20,000
City Year – Academic and social-emotional development coaching for 665 youth at Florida City Elementary School – $30,000
Coast Guard Auxiliary Association – To assist the Ocean Reef Flotilla in serving the broader community in surrounding waters – $9,630
Coral Shores High School ($60,690 Total)
• Athletic Department Hardship Assistance Fund – $20,000
• AVID college readiness program training for teachers – $34,690
• Positive behavior interventions and support – $6,000
Cox Science Center & Aquarium – Bringing the Science Passport educational program to 1,000 children in Title 1 elementary schools in the Upper Keys, Homestead and Florida City – $25,000
DMF Employment Opportunities – Employment initiative for 190 Homestead/Florida City individuals with intellectual and development disabilities – $26,000
EmployU – Training and support program to transition adults with disabilities into employment in the Upper Keys – $20,000
En FAMILIA – Classroom technology for after-school literacy and STEAM enrichment program for 130 Homestead/Florida City children at six centers – $15,000
Family Central – Benefits Enrollment Program to support 200 vulnerable families in Homestead and Florida City – $25,000
Feeding South Florida – Food delivery and distribution to food pantries throughout the Upper Keys, Homestead and Florida City – $88,800
Florida Keys Area Health Education Centers (Keys AHEC) – In-school primary medical and dental services program serving 3,400+ in Upper Keys schools – $75,000
Florida Keys Bull Sharks – Sports equipment and training for residents of the Florida Keys Children’s Shelter – $2,000
Florida Keys Children’s Shelter – Residential & Counseling Programs for at-risk youth – $70,000
Florida Keys Healthy Start Coalition – Upper Keys Child Safety Equipment and Early Childhood Development programs for 250+ – $50,000
Florida Keys Outreach Coalition – “Quick Assist” financial assistance program to prevent homelessness for about 95 Upper Keys residents – $50,000
Florida Keys Soccer Club – Youth soccer league programs and equipment for club serving 300 – $10,000
Florida Keys Wild Bird Center – Youth education and outreach program for 100 – $5,000
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 in Homestead and Florida City – $20,000
Friends of South Florida Music – Expansion of “Music FUNdamentals” music education program to three Homestead/Florida City childcare centers and 700+ children – $7,500
Genesis Hopeful Haven – Independent Living Housing and support programs for Homestead and Florida City young people aging out of foster care – $50,000
Girl Scout Council of Tropical Florida – Community Troops program for 300 underserved girls in low-income and historically excluded Homestead and Florida City neighborhoods – $20,000
Good Health Clinic – Providing $4 million in donated medication and healthcare access to 600 low-income Upper Keys residents – $39,000
Greater Miami Youth for Christ – Teen leadership development and employment mentoring program for 250 at West Homestead KIX – $60,000
Guidance/Care Center – Mental health housing at Monroe County’s only assisted living facility for residents with chronic mental illness – $25,000
Guitars Over Guns Organization – Music instruction programs and mentors for at-risk Homestead and Florida City youth – $35,000
Health Information Project – Peer-to-peer, comprehensive health education program for 2,000+ students at five Homestead and Monroe County high schools – $25,000
His Hands & Feet – Haven of Hope Pantry offerings of food, hygiene items and school supplies at Homestead Senior High School – $5,000
Homestead Senior High School – New uniforms to support growth and pride of expanding band – $20,000
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 500 disadvantaged Homestead and Florida City children – $10,000
Island Dolphin Care – Half of the amount needed to achieve a $42,500 match from the TDC to replace the fencing at this facility which provides therapy opportunities for multiple grantees – $21,250 (MATCH REQUIRED)
Just Older Youth (JOY) – Towards adding a third day of classes and activities for ages 50+ to the current two day weekly schedule in the Upper Keys – $20,000
Key Largo School K-8 ($71,000 Total)
• Summer Recreation program for up to 250 pre-K through 5th grade students – $50,000
• AVID college readiness program, college visits and teacher training – $15,000
• Towards coaching development and equipment for the new weightlifting program for both middle and high school athletes – $6,000
Kristi House – Homestead and Florida City expansion of services for child-victims of abuse and sex trafficking – $56,000
Ladies Empowerment & Action Program (LEAP) – Incarcerated Women’s “Chance for Change Initiative” – $20,000
Le Jardin Community [Childcare] Centers – Interactive educational technology for two childcare centers (Centers 2 & 5) serving hundreds of Homestead/Florida City kids – $50,316
Lucy Fernandez Foundation – Toward Boating Safety Education & Outreach program expansion – $10,000
Mexican-American Council – College & Career Prep programs and scholarships for 250 students from families of farmworkers at Homestead high schools – $40,000
Miami-Dade County Public Schools Foundation – Project UP-START Graduation Milestone Initiative to help homeless Homestead/Florida City high school seniors (currently 94+) participate in graduation events and provide essentials kits for college. – $15,000
Miami Diaper Bank – Expansion of mobile diaper distributions serving 2,100 babies in the Upper Keys, Homestead and Florida City – $50,000
Miami Lighthouse for the Blind – Children’s Vision Program for 700+ in both service areas – $10,000
Monroe Association for RemARCable Citizens (MARC) – Transportation program for Upper Keys Adult Day Program for developmentally disabled adults – $30,000
MUJER – Workshops and therapy for 130 abused children and non-offending parents – $50,000
National Alliance on Mental Illness Miami-Dade County (NAMI) – Continued expansion of free signature mental health programming to serve 2,500 in the Upper Keys, Homestead and Florida City – $20,000
Ocean First Institute – Expansion of Marine Science Education in collaboration with Upper Keys schools – $10,000 (MATCH REQUIRED)
Ocean Studies [Public] Charter School ($25,150 Total)
• Continuation of new “Healthy Minds, Strong Lives” mental health support initiative for 250 students – $17,750 (MATCH REQUIRED)
• Summer Enrichment Program – $7,400
PATCHES PPEC – Specially equipped van to transport 45+ medically fragile children – $50,000
Pawsitive Beginnings – Animal-assisted therapy program for Florida Keys Children’s Shelter residents – $5,000
Raza Mentors – Activities for mentorship program pairing 150 children of farmworkers with community leaders from the same background – $15,000
Saint Vincent de Paul Sacred Heart Homestead – Financial hardship assistance to prevent homelessness in Homestead/Florida City – $5,000
Seacamp Association – Marine science educational experiences for Florida Keys Children’s Shelter residents – $7,820
Somerset Prep Homestead (Public K-12) – Towards Athletics Access Initiative to support and grow middle and high school level sports programs – $15,000
South Florida Council of Boy Scouts – Scouting programs for 250 disadvantaged youth in the Homestead area – $20,000
Special Olympics Florida Monroe County – Continued expansion of the Upper Keys Unified Championship Schools program for 315 youth with and without intellectual disabilities, including new outreach to schools in Homestead and Florida City – $41,000
St. Justin Martyr Catholic Church Child Development Center – Summer camp scholarships for underprivileged youth in the Upper Keys – $20,000
Star of the Sea Outreach Mission – Upper Keys Hunger Relief Project serving 2,200 – $50,000
Start Off Smart ($45,000 Total)
• Family Empowerment program supporting victims of domestic violence in achieving financial independence from abusers – $25,000
• To add “Pathways to the Future” career and college readiness workshop series to the Youth Academic Success Program for Homestead/Florida City middle and high school students – $20,000
Take Stock in Children – College scholarships (matched by the Florida Pre-Paid College Foundation) for Upper Keys youth mentoring program – $100,000
The ARC of South Florida – New passenger van to transport children with disabilities – $51,000
The Children’s Voice Chorus – Choral programs for Homestead/Florida City youth – $10,000
The College of the Florida Keys – Entrepreneurship Incubator Lab eight-week hybrid program providing workshops, mentorships, and industry input to increase entrepreneurship and diversify the Upper Keys economy – $25,220
The Friends of the Upper Keys Parks & Beaches – Secures a match to build a new playground at Rowell’s Waterfront Park – $25,000
The Salvation Army – “Pathway to Hope” social services and financial assistance program for about 56 Upper Keys families – $26,000
Tinkerbell’s Kids – Expansion of FIU-developed Leadership SMARTS program to include Homestead/Florida City youth coping with having incarcerated parents – $19,800
TIPS – Florida Keys Youth Basketball League essentials and enhancements for 250 1st-8th graders – $10,000
Touching Miami with Love Homestead Site ($70,000 Total)
• Adult Literacy Empowerment Program – $35,000
• Youth Development Job Training Internship Program – $35,000
Treasure Village Montessori (Public Charter School VPK-8) – Water and swim safety program – $3,900
United Way of Collier and the Keys – Upper Keys “Success by Six” School Readiness program – $25,000
University of Miami – Pediatric Mobile Healthcare expansion serving 9,600 in Homestead and Florida City – $25,000 (MATCH REQUIRED)
Upper Keys Baseball Development Foundation – “Steady Bats” baseball program serving 125 youth – $9,500
Upper Keys Youth Lacrosse League – Safety equipment to remove financial barriers to participating in lacrosse – $10,000
Veteran Sailing – Basic Keel Boat to Coastal Cruising Sailing Certification for active-duty military and honorably discharged veterans – $5,000
Voices for Florida Keys Children – Children’s Welfare Program to assist about 200 families through the 16th Judicial Court Guardian Ad Litem – $17,500
Wellspring Counseling – Financial Aid for counseling for 140 Upper Keys, Homestead and Florida City residents – $29,640
Wesley House Family Services – To cover items foster youth need to participate fully in formative life experiences that state funding does not cover – $20,000
Young Musicians Unite – Towards continued expansion of music education program for grades 5-12 to 5,500+ students across 20 Homestead/Florida City schools every week – $40,000
Total 2026 Off Reef Community Grants: $2,674,666
To learn more about the Community Grants program and/or 2026 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.
