VERO BEACH – During the week of Nov. 12-18, Indian River Community Foundation joined more 700 community foundations across America in celebrating National Community Foundation Week, an effort designed to raise awareness about the increasingly important role of organized philanthropy in local communities.
To recognize the event, the Vero Beach City Council issued a proclamation on Nov. 15, which was presented by Mayor Pilar Turner to Indian River Community Foundation board members Rick McDermott, Bob Puff and Ben Bailey.
“In a down economy, with limited resources and a growing need for services, community foundations can play a vital role in helping charitable dollars make the greatest impact possible in our community,” said McDermott, the immediate past chairman of the foundation. “We are more determined than ever to bring community partners and philanthropists together to find innovative and effective solutions to our most challenging social problems.”
Community foundations are independent, public entities that steward philanthropic resources from institutional and individual donors to local nonprofits that are the heart of strong, vibrant communities.
Since the Indian River Community Foundation began operating in 2008, more than $6,500,000 in charitable gifts has flowed through the organization. Ninety-three percent of the grants made in the most recent fiscal year supported charities that provide services to Indian River County residents.
“Our goal is to help connect donors with the causes the care about most,” McDermott said. “This is especially important in a community with so many seasonal residents who may not always have time to research charitable opportunities on their own.”
Indian River Community Foundation currently holds nearly $9 million in charitable assets, the majority of which are donor advised funds. However, in recent years individual philanthropists have requested deeper guidance in finding philanthropic programs that respond to the economic downturn.
These grant programs have resulted in funding programs that have helped the homeless, frail senior citizens, struggling families and local literacy programs.
Launched in 1989 through a proclamation by former president George H.W. Bush, the first Community Foundation Week included a congressional briefing about the work of community foundations throughout America and their collaborative approach to working with the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to address community problems.
For more information about the programs and services of the Indian River Community Foundation visit www.ircommunityfoundation.com or contact the organization’s executive director, Kerry Bartlett, at (772) 492-1407.
