INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Philanthropy is alive and well in Indian River County, according to Becky (Rebecca) Allen, recently elected to serve a second term as Indian River Community Foundation board chairman. The generosity of local residents was celebrated at a reception at Dale and Matilde Sorensen’s stunning Riomar home, attended by Community Foundation board members, fund holders, founders and advisors.
Allen announced at the event that in 2011 the Community Foundation had distributed more than $4.5 million in grants to 173 different nonprofit organizations, primarily local.
Guests wandered the Sorensen’s beautifully renovated 1920’s Florida home, and spilled out into the elegant backyard living-room pavilion and outdoor dining area, while enjoying cocktails and passed hors d’oeuvres.
“I think the community is starting to understand all of the different services we can provide,” said Becky Allen, when asked about the Community Foundation’s rapid growth.
Under her leadership, charitable assets under management grew from $5 million to $10.7 million.
“We work with professional advisors, attorneys and CPA’s, and have provided seminars for various targeted groups. It’s almost spreading exponentially.”
Allen explained that the organization is donor driven and offers a range of services depending on the donors needs, from hands-on assistance to informational access.
“The intentional philanthropists are the ones we’re finding are using our programs. We can help them develop a plan of action to know where their money is going. We can connect donors with the nonprofits, or they might utilize us just for anonymity.”
Later, in her address to the group, Allen thanked three directors who were leaving the board – Rick McDermott and Ann Marie McCrystal, who formed the first Indian River Community Foundation board with attorney Robin Lloyd in 2004, and Susan Hopkins, who will continue to serve on the foundation’s Grants Committee.
All were part of the core group of 51 founders who provided the initial $1 million in operating capital to support the origination’s development.
Three new directors, Lois Appleby, Kevin Given and Andrea Thurn, have been named to the board.
Additionally, two new initiatives, the Alma Lee Loy Legacy Society, which honors donors using the Community Foundation to carry out their charitable estate plans, and the Nonprofit Knowledge Center, an online database connecting donors to local nonprofits, have been established.
“It’s not one-size-fits-all; it’s really a broad area of services. We’re ready to help you and help us make this a better place to live,” said Allen.