By Yurianna Mikolay, Executive Director
Ocean Reef Community Foundation
As happens three times each winter season, Foundation Grants Committee and interested Club members boarded a chauffeur-driven passenger van and headed out the gate to visit nonprofit organizations improving the quality of life in surrounding communities early last month.
Community members are invited to join the Grants Committee and be a part of the vetting process as they visit organizations which apply for funding from the annual Community Grants program that benefits the Upper Keys, Homestead and Florida City where most folks employed at Ocean Reef live and raise their families.
Those who join the committee on site visits get to experience a sampling of past projects, largely funded through the All Charities effort, firsthand. They also have the important opportunity to provide highly valued feedback on new applicants to the committee to assist in making future funding decisions.
On the December Tour we visited a shoe closet at a local alternative high school, a new applicant providing support services to underprivileged women undergoing cancer treatment, a childcare provider in need of technology, a school where we recently funded a capital project now seeking help with transportation, and a new applicant hoping to provide supplemental fitness programs at the same school.
Here’s a sampling of snapshots of the tour and some of the positive feedback we got back afterwards:
“A small request for a great thing. It feels like it is filling an important need for kids. I admired their sensitivity towards the confidential distribution of the shoes and socks.”
“I was very impressed! Amazing what they accomplish with only two and a half staff people and a small budget. Providing a very valuable service at a critical time and also a relatively small ask.”
“Like the rest of the group, I was wow-ed by the 305 Pink Pack presentation. They are providing vital assistance and truly giving folks hope that they might get through their frightening diagnoses. And importantly, they do not have to face the overwhelming treatment demands alone. The director seems extremely resourceful and I loved the fact that many who have been helped by 305 are now volunteering their time to help newer cancer patients.”
“In Jacob’s Shoes, Le Jardin and ARC demonstrated their very legitimate and specific needs clearly and already have a track record of enhancing the lives of the children they serve. From the narrowly focused but important task of providing shoes, to the smart screens that have long been a learning tool in schools, to the serious concern that their busses need replacement, all are things that seem deserving of support.”
“ARC looks to be doing an excellent job with the resources provided.”
Like what you see? If you would like experience a tour for yourself, we invite you to come along for the ride and join us! The January tour to the Keys is already at capacity, but a few seats remain for the Friday, February 7th tour to Homestead and Florida City. Request reservations at ymikolay@oceanreef.com.
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