It’s well known that members of the John’s Island Community Service League are generous philanthropically.
Despite the pandemic putting a halt to in-person fundraisers, the JICSL distributed $1.2 million as traditional grants and scholarships in March 2021. From their Marlyn Scully Strategic Fund, they granted an additional $120,000 in grants this spring and have committed to multi-year grants of $150,000 each to the HEART Program and an Intensive Outpatient Mental Health Program at Cleveland Clinic for teens with severe mental health issues.
However, less known is that they are equally assiduous as volunteers. In addition to serving time on various JICSL committees, they serve on the boards, advisory councils and committees of innumerable nonprofits, and volunteer in a variety of hands-on capacities with agency clients. Frequently, they are the first people to step in wherever help is needed.
“The last time we met in this room it was two years ago and Hope Woodhouse was president.
A lot has happened since then,” said Betsy Fox, JICSL president, welcoming guests to the Fall Luncheon. Fox noted that last year, the 15-member JICSL board alone volunteered 10,348 hours, which, based on the national value of a volunteer hour, equates to nearly $300,000.
Guest speaker Judi Miller spoke of the vital role volunteers played when, in January 2021, Treasure Coast Community Health was unexpectedly informed that they would be managing COVID-19 vaccination clinics at the fairgrounds. A TCCH board member, Miller was charged with mobilizing and training 75 volunteers to coordinate that massive task. John’s Island residents quickly stepped in and provided 40 percent of those volunteers.
“You truly live your motto: ‘Transforming lives in Indian River County through leadership, collaboration and dedicated philanthropy,’” said Miller, who retired after 27 years as CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters, and now also volunteers on the Moonshot Community Action Network leadership team and with the Children’s Trust Campaign.
Miller said that once people learned they might have access to a COVID vaccine, the demand was instantaneous. With TCCH staff already stretched to the limit, and no funding to hire additional staff, volunteers were needed to assist with everything from managing traffic to, in some cases, becoming credentialed to administer the shots.
“People were so committed. There wasn’t such a thing as a no-show,” said Miller. “And the trust and the respect between the volunteers and the staff was wonderful. I’m a pretty optimistic person, but honestly, my faith in humanity just burgeoned tenfold by this volunteer experience,” said Miller. To date, she said, those 75 volunteers helped to administer 25,000 shots.
“When I think about the volunteer work that you all have done, to me it’s a gift that just keeps on giving during this COVID roller coaster that we’ve had,” said Miller. “I’ve learned, once again, that often miracles are just good people. They’re good people with kind hearts doing what they do with love; lots of it. Clearly, John’s Island Community Service League has a huge heart for Indian River County and the people you serve.”
As there were a number of new members, Fox explained the difference between the JICSL, which funds operating expenses, and the John’s Island Foundation, which funds capital expenses; adding that the two complement each other.
“We have a very diverse group of 40 agencies. There’s hardly a need or a challenge that the underprivileged in our community face that we can’t help remedy,” said Lynn Whipple, co-chair of the 60-member grants committee.
Having visited with many of the agencies over the summer, Michelle Julian, chair of the financial analyst team, said, “I wanted to pass along their heartfelt thanks to all of you. As many of the agencies said, if it wasn’t for the support of the John’s Island Community Service League and all of its members, they would not be able to carry out their missions to help the residents of Indian River County.”
For more information, visit JIServiceLeague.com.
Photos provided
