New Horizons of the Treasure Coast and Okeechobee, The Learning Alliance, United Against Poverty of Indian River County and Indian River Habitat for Humanity became the latest Indian River Impact 100 Community Partners as recipients of $100,000 transformational grants. The four were selected by the 421 philanthropic members of the all-woman organization at their eighth Annual Meeting last Wednesday afternoon at the Oak Harbor Club, sponsored by Wilmington Trust.
“It is because of the commitment that you have for collective philanthropy that our organization can continue to thrive, and be able to provide the impact that we do to the nonprofit organizations in our community and the individuals and families that they serve,” said Board President Rebecca Emmons. “It marks our fifth consecutive year that we have been able to donate four $100,000 grants to organizations in our community.”
Impact 100 was founded as a philanthropic initiative for women to pool their resources and gift significant, transformational grants. Annual membership dues are $1,000, with 100 percent of those dollars granted based on a vote by the members. Many also contribute an additional amount to help defray administrative costs. With this year’s grants, Impact 100 will have awarded more than $2.9 million in grants to Indian River County nonprofits.
Roughly half the members had voted by absentee ballot, and the rest after listening to brief, passionate presentations from each of the seven finalists who had been vetted through an extensive grant review process led by Grants Chair Wanda Lincoln.
New Horizons will use the grant to open an Indian River County Learning Center where they will use evidence-based best practices to help individuals with mental health illnesses learn or relearn the skills of daily living and employment so that they can live meaningful, productive lives. “One out of five Americans is coping with issues of mental health,” said Pat Austin, Community Outreach director, noting that Florida has the “dubious distinction” of ranking 50th in mental health funding. “At Learning Centers we don’t think of them as victims of mental illness; we think of them as students who are trying to learn how to put their lives back together again and how to have a future.”
The Learning Alliance will continue its Moonshot Moment goal of achieving 90 percent literacy by third grade through a year-long Moonshot Institute Learning Lab for Educators, giving them the tools and strategies necessary for their students to achieve academic success. “There is no blueprint for the work we’re doing,” said CEO Barbara Hammond. “Everything we’ve learned over the past six years has been thrown into this initiative. We’re not lowering expectations; we’re raising them, but we’re giving teachers the tools to lift them up.”
The United Against Poverty Jump Start Job Opportunities program will take their existing educational STEP (Success for Employment Program) initiative that much further by expanding enrollment, acquiring additional computers and other learning materials, and creating a simulated workplace environment. “Your support will transform lives from dependency and hopelessness to dignity and self-reliance,” said Executive Director Annabel Robertson. “Together we will jump-start job opportunities and transform lives.”
Habitat for Humanity will partner with the City of Fellsmere to create Meadows Field, a 25-acre recreational area with soccer and baseball fields, a walking trail and picnic facilities surrounded by the homes of underserved working families earning less than $27,000 per year. “We not only build homes; we build communities,” said Sara Mayo, Habitat CFO, adding that this is a way to bring families together. “This is the type of community we can do together.”
The remaining three finalists will receive merit grants of $7,000 each – the Environmental Learning Center to utilize nature therapy to improve human wellness and the environment; the Humane Society of Vero Beach and Indian River County for Operation SNIP (Spay Neuter Intervention Program); and the Pelican Island Audubon Society, partnering with Florida Outdoor Center, to expand its Audubon Advocates After-School Program and introduce an Audubon Women’s Outdoor Program.
A new Impact 100 board was also installed at the annual meeting, with Emmons handing over the presidency to Suzanne Bertman. Suzanne Carter will serve as president-elect.
