INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — The Hibiscus Children’s Center, a non-profit that protects and enhances the lives of abused children, announced it has been selected by Olive Garden in Vero Beach and LongHorn Steakhouse in Stuart to receive a $2,000 grant as part of the Restaurant Community Grants program from the Darden Restaurants Foundation, the charitable arm of Darden Restaurants. The annual grants program empowers each of the Olive Garden and LongHorn locations to help award a grant to support local community programs.
This generous donation will help to fund the Career Pathways to Independence Program for abused youth. This program helps alleviate some of the stresses these youth face as they approach 18 and helps set the stage for lifelong success. This creative youth education program provides foster youth ages 13 to 17 at the Hibiscus Children’s Village in Vero Beach with innovative support, structure, and guidance they need to receive a high school diploma or GED and to provide them the best possible future.
Additionally, the program will prepare foster youth for independence. Youth ages 15 to 17 will participate in forward-thinking career exploration, testing and assessments, along with opportunities for internships in local businesses, mentoring, and seminars on topics including completing college and job applications, resume writing, creating a budget and more.
Michael Waninger, Hibiscus CEO, said “The Darden Restaurant Foundation has been a generous supporter of Hibiscus and the youth we serve for many years. They have helped to impact the lives of these teens and we are deeply grateful for their continued partnership to help build a strong future”.
“We’re proud to be able to support Hibiscus Children’s Center through our Restaurant Community Grants program,” said Stephanie Ghertner, Director of the Darden Foundation. “Our team members are incredibly passionate about getting involved in their local communities, and this program enables them to do just that.”
For more information about Hibiscus Children’s Center and its services, please visit HibiscusChildrensCenter.org.