The Ocean Reef Community Foundation’s annual grants program will provide more than $1.6 million to nonprofit organizations serving neighboring areas this year thanks to the Ocean Reef community’s generous participation in the 2021 All Charities effort.
Grants Committee Chair Janie Sims points out that “This is the first year we will grant more than $1.5 million and that funding is needed ‘More now. More than ever’,” in accord with the 2021 Auction Weekend theme. After a challenging year that set records for requests and saw both vetting of applicants and the All Charities Auction go virtual, she said, “It is extraordinary to be able to step up and meet the increased need with record grants.”
ORCF’s Community Grants Program funds dozens of worthy charities in the interest areas of Education, Youth, Health & Family Services and Community in the Upper Keys, Homestead and Florida City each spring. Including 2021 grants, the program will have donated about $13 million to improve the quality of life in the communities where Ocean Reef employee families live since the All Charities collaboration began in 2008.
After months of careful vetting, a Grants Committee of your peers recommended the Foundation’s entire share of 2021 All Charities proceeds be distributed as follows:
ACT4Me -Therapy programs for Homestead/ Florida City children with neurological and genetic disorders-$35,000
Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts – Learning through the Arts curriculum and live performance field trip for 5th graders in Homestead/Florida City Title I schools -$15,000
Autism Society of the Keys -Technology and therapy for autistic youth -$10,000
Branches Florida City Grow & Climb teen leadership development and employment mentoring program -$25,000, Tax Preparation/VITA and Savings Champion program for families -$25,000
Burton Memorial United Methodist Church Food Pantry: Refrigerated truck usage to enable pick up of perishable donations from local grocery stores – $7,200, Pre-School: Summer Enrichment Program $7,000
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
Centro Campesino – COVID-19 Pandemic Direct Emergency Financial Assistance -$25,000
Chapman Partnership – Mentoring Program at the Parent Institute at the Family Resource Center for families transitioning from homelessness -$10,000
Chapters Health Foundation –Towards re-establishing a nonprofit Hospice and Palliative Care program in Monroe County (absent since Hospice VNA of the Florida Keys closed after Hurricane Irma) -$50,000
City Year Miami -Holistic Student Assessment Pilot Program at Redlands Middle School -$20,000
Community Health of South Florida -Children’s Crisis Center inpatient facility for children with severe mental health issues, at risk of harming themselves or others -$25,000
DMF Employment Opportunities -Employment initiative for Homestead/ Florida City individuals with intellectual and development disabilities -$15,000
Domestic Abuse Shelter – Prevention programs for Upper Keys youth and training for key providers of youth services – $10,000
Faith Church of the Redlands School- New desks for middle and high school classrooms for special needs students -$5,640
Family Central -Expansion of the Benefits Enrollment Program to support vulnerable families in Homestead and Florida City -$25,000
Feeding South Florida Food delivery and distribution to six partner pantries in Homestead, Florida City and the Upper Keys -$120,803, Year-round “Backpack” weekend meals for disadvantaged children in the Upper Keys pre-schools -$10,816
Florida Impact to End Hunger -Creation of the Homestead Food Access Coalition in alliance with Baptist Homestead Hospital and the City of Homestead to address root causes of food insecurity, poor nutrition and untapped federal food programs -$22,676
Florida Keys Area Health Education -In-school primary medical services program at Key Largo School and Coral Shores High School – $25,000
Florida Keys Children’s Shelter -Recreation, Life Skills and Education Coaching Programs -$50,000
Florida Keys Foster Adoptive Parents Association -Unfunded needs for children in Foster Care in the Upper Keys -$15,000
Florida Keys Healthy Start Coalition -Upper Keys Child Safety Equipment, Early Childhood Education and Prenatal/Postpartum Support programs -$32,000
Florida Keys Outreach Coalition -Quick Assist program to prevent homelessness -$7,500
Genesis Hopeful Haven -Housing solutions for Homestead/Florida City youth aging out of foster care $42,000
Good Health Clinic -Program to donated medications through pharmaceutical assistance program, national aggregate supplies and discounted distributor rates -$8,128
Greater Miami Youth for Christ -Teen Indigenous Leaders development and employment mentoring program at West Homestead KIX -$41,000
Greater Miami Youth Symphony -Music lessons program at schools in Homestead/Florida City -$7,500
Guidance/Care Center -Computerized assessment tool for diagnosing ADHD in children and adults in the Upper Keys -$14,790
Guitars Over Guns Organization -Music instruction programs and mentors for at-risk Homestead/ Florida City youth -$25,000
Habitat for Humanity of the Upper Keys -Towards building two of four affordable housing units at Key Heights in lslamorada -$50,000
Health Information Project -Peer-to-peer, comprehensive Health Education Program at four Homestead High Schools -$25,000
ICU Baby -Transportation Assistance Support to enable Upper Keys and Homestead/ Florida City families to visit their babies in NICU in Miami hospitals -$15,180
Jacobs Aquatic Center Bathroom updates and ADA Chair Lift at Key Largo Community Pool-$15,000
Key Largo School AVID college readiness program, college trips and teacher training – $9,700, Transportation for the 5th grade class to participate in the Arsht Center Learning Through the Arts performance – $1,000
Kids 4 Kids USA – Red Cross Certified Water Safety/ Swim Program for youth with special needs – $5,950
Kids Come First in the Florida Keys – School supplies, basic and seasonal needs for disadvantaged Upper Keys youth – $7,500
Kristi House – Emergency Client Needs and establishment of Homestead Drop-In Center for Trafficked Kids – $19,500
MARC House – Materials and furniture to outfit an outdoor space for the Monroe Association of RemARCable Citizens Upper Keys Group Home – $5,000
Mexican American Council – College & Career Readiness program for seniors from families of farm workers at Homestead high schools – $26,750
Miami Dade College – “New Normal” Hospitality Training Program at the Homestead Campus – $42,500 (MATCH REQUIRED)
Miami Lighthouse for the Blind – Children’s Vision Program for 800 in both service areas – $10,000
MUJER – Breaking the Secret Workshops w/ University of Miami and follow up therapy for 40+ abused children – $48,316
Ocean Studies (Public) Charter School – Flying Start to Literacy program to help close the “learning loss gap” for students behind due to the pandemic – $14,625
PATCHES PPEC – Taking Medical Records of Pediatric Daycare from paper to digital for efficiency and cost savings – $32,59 (MATCH REQUIRED)
ProjectArt – Youth art education program at the Homestead Public Library – $5,000
Redlands Christian Migrants Association – Replacement of unsafe, failing playground equipment-$12,500 (MATCH REQUIRED)
South Florida Council of Boy Scouts – Scouting expenses for disadvantaged youth in the Homestead area – $20,000
South Florida Science Center & Aquarium – Bringing the Science Passport educational program to Title 1 elementary schools in Homestead/Florida City and the Upper Keys – $25,000
Special Olympics Florida Monroe County – Programs to serve 284 Upper Keys individuals with intellectual disabilities – $18,000
St. John’s Episcopal School – 25 laptops for Coding & Computer Engineering Program – $6,225
St. Justin Martyr Catholic Church – Replacement of school’s failing decking, stairs and fencing for safety – $11,350
Star of the Sea Outreach Mission – Upper Keys Hunger Relief Program – $36,000
Start Off Smart Homestead Police Department “See Something, Say Something” Youth Community Service Campaign – $19,902, Two Police Academy Scholarships for locals committed to serving in the Homestead Police Department – $15,000
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 – Roof repairs, ramps and turf projects at three Homestead/ Florida City school facilities – $17,881
The Children’s Alliance – Clothing & Resource Hub Trailer for Families in Need – $20,000 (MATCH REQUIRED)
The College of the Florida Keys – COVID-related Financial & Academic Student Support – $60,000
The Motivational Edge – The Transition to Adulthood Program for Homestead youth aging out of foster care – $10,000 Three Virtues Organization – Freezer and used box truck to increase capacity of Homestead food pantry – $13,292
TIPS – Florida Keys Youth Basketball League – $6,000
Touching Miami with Love (West Homestead Site)
Youth Development Job Training Program – $25,000
USCG Auxiliary Flotilla 13-04 – Maintenance of the flotilla vessel – $8,000
United Way of the Florida Keys – Expansion of the Early Literacy Program to the Upper Keys to an additional 60 preschool children – $9,000
VOICES for Florida Keys Children – Children’s Welfare Program to assist families through the 16th Judicial Court Guardian Ad Litem – $7,500
Wellspring Counseling – Homestead & Upper Keys Counseling Financial Aid Program – $20,000
YMCA of South Florida Homestead Afterschool Program scholarships – $2,500 (to be combined with $17,500 awarded last year and held for this year’s program for a total of $20,000)
Key Largo Summer Camp and Afterschool Program scholarships – $55,000
Total 2021 Community Grants: $1,613,815
To learn more about the Community Grants program and 2021 Co-Investment Opportunities to complement partial grants, please email foundation@oceanreef.com. Your support of All Charities provides important funding for the Ocean Reef Community Foundation. Become a Patron Supporter, call (305) 367-5996 to learn more.
By Yurianna Mikolay, Executive Director Ocean Reef Community Foundation
