Nine local charities were granted a total of $70,000 from generous residents and members of the Indian River Club through the Head, Heart and Hands Community Outreach program they established in 2014. Within the three-part program, Head features a speaker series to learn about the needs of the community, Hands addresses those needs through volunteerism, and Heart is the philanthropy aspect.
“We’re doubling the number from $35,000 last year to $70,000 this year, which is a big deal for us,” said Mary Beth Cunningham, Outreach chairman, at a poolside grant distribution reception last Thursday afternoon.
Grant chairman Larry Salustro and other committee members each made individual presentations to representatives of the various organizations.
“The Arc of Indian River County supports individuals with special needs and empowers them to achieve their life goals,” said Donna Polk, presenting a $6,000 check to Arc Executive Director Chuck Bradley. The grant will help provide computers, technological support and training for a new after-school program called SURF (Students Unleashing Rewarding Futures), to provide them a better chance of obtaining employment after high school.
Sally Bryan presented $4,830 to Childcare Resources Executive Director Shannon McGuire Brown, toward tuition for seven children due to enter kindergarten in the fall to attend an eight-week summer program at Maitland Farms. Childcare Resources provides childcare for children aged 6 months to 5 years for working parents whose income levels fall between 150 percent and 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines.
“Crossover Mission supports and redirects at-risk youth in Indian River County through a year-round community youth recreational activity, academic enrichment and personal mentoring program,” said Jim Weiss, before presenting a check for $5,000 to founder Antoine Jennings.
More than 40 volunteers mentor 100 mostly middle-school students, utilizing intervention, academic mentoring, basketball tournaments and confidence-building techniques.
Jeff Ward presented Education Foundation of Indian River County Executive Director Cynthia Falardeau with a $7,800 check toward the Graduation Equation program, a professional development platform for middle school teachers of pre-algebra math, to prepare students lacking the basic math proficiencies needed for the Algebra 1 curriculum.
Mary Skinner presented $5,000 to Gifford Youth Orchestra board member Jim Parks, toward the cost of student fees for 11 children currently in the program who are at risk of homelessness. “Music instruction and access to instruments and the experience of tutoring younger kids and performing in public would not otherwise be available to these kids,” said Skinner.
Ed Perry presented $10,000 to United Against Poverty (formerly Harvest Food and Outreach) Executive Director Annabel Robertson to expand its Jump Start Opportunities program, offering 300 hours of intensive classroom instruction and internships over 16 weeks to help individuals increase their income and achieve a measure of financial stability.
Hibiscus Children’s CEO Paul Sexton received $11,900 from Chris Coy to improve the security system in the eight group homes of the Vero Beach campus. “Monitoring of these facilities is essential to the safety of the kids who live there and necessary for the sense of security that Hibiscus Children’s Village attempts to develop in them,” said Coy of the formerly abandoned, abused or neglected teens living there.
Larry Salustro presented $10,000 to Youth Guidance Mentoring and Activities Executive Director Doug Borrie toward the cost of a new program director at a Mentoring Academy under development to serve the Oslo/Highlands part of the county. The organization provides one-on-one mentoring to low-income children from single-parent families, plus group mentoring, activities and outings.
“Indian River Club is very pleased the Economics Opportunities Council is expanding to our part of the county and is proud to be the initial funder of Early Bird at Indian River Academy with this grant of $10,000,” said Dave Hammerstrom, presenting a check to EOC CEO Leonard Edwards. Eighteen 3-year-olds will enter the new pre-school program this fall, operating similarly to Head Start programs for 4-year-olds.