Agencies We Support _______________________________________________
Grand Harbor Community Outreach Program (GHCOP)–since 2002–assisting deserving non-profit agencies in Indian River County:
The Agencies we funded this year are listed below along with a description of what they will do with GHCOP funding and the amount of their grant award. Note that many of these agencies address one or more of the strategic targets and where relevant, at least 25% of the clients are residents of Gifford. At least 27 of our 32 Agencies work with Gifford residents.
A year-long effort – including vetting the agencies by our dedicated GHCOP volunteers:
• Summer of 2023: GHCOP Grant process begins. Philanthropy Committee invited 29 non-profits in IRC to submit a letter of intent for specified projects and programs. All were approved and they sent their applications end of November. Financial analysts then reviewed each agency’s financial report.
• January and February: Teams of volunteers carefully reviewed each application and most met on site (a small number of visits were made via Zoom) with senior management and board representatives of each agency.
• Philanthropy Committee made their final recommendation to the GHCOP Board in March for approval.
• Checks were delivered to agencies at the Awards Breakfast April 17. (See above photo of breakfast attendees.) The approved Grants fall into the three categories shown below.
The GHCOP grant process began in August of 2020 when the Philanthropy Committee Co-Chairs Lisa Alcock and Al Gallo began revising their approach to meet the difficult guidelines imposed by the pandemic. They started by inviting IRC non-profits to submit a grant application Letter of Intent. Grant applications were then submitted in mid-November. Over the winter and early spring, volunteers then carefully reviewed each application. Outreach volunteers met safely using Zoom technology with senior agency management and their BOD representatives to discuss applications and any special circumstances.
We were very fortunate this season to have several new, highly qualified volunteer financial analysts who reviewed the agency- and program-specific reports, along with experienced and new committee members conducting those always essential site visits. After rounds of internal committee deliberations, a final recommendation was presented to the GHCOP Board in May 2021 for approval. Due the ultimate success of GHCOP’s extraordinary fundraising efforts, we were able to award $45,000 more than the originally planned level funding.
This season we discovered the generosity of the Grand Harbor and Oak Harbor communities despite the year’s hardships and uncertainties. We cannot stress enough how grateful we are for the support the community has shown Outreach. Because of your generosity we have an extraordinary chance to make a difference in the county we call home. More than half of our county residents live below the federal poverty line or are among the working poor. At our annual grant awards breakfast in April 2021, agencies received their grant monies and described deep appreciation, confirming what all our generous volunteers and donors already know: that these funds would have a meaningful impact on their programs and those they serve during this most difficult year.
Lisa Alcock and Al Gallo, Co-Chairs Philanthropy 2020-2021
FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD: $67,000
Children’s Home Society: $19,000 to purchase refrigeration for a food pantry located at Dodgertown Elementary School. Food costs have risen 24 percent since 2020 and learning is adversely affected if a child is hungry. This food pantry previously provided only items which would not spoil if not refrigerated and is used by families of students attending the school.
Our Father’s Table: $9,000 to fund meals served at their site in Gifford and to provide meals to the elderly and homebound. Residents drop in to enjoy their meals and have a social experience. Volunteers deliver meals to the homes of people not able to get to the site.
Senior Resource Association (SRA): $18,000 to the Meals on Wheels Program providing a vital daily hot meal and wellness check to low-income homebound seniors. SRA promotes independence and dignity by providing services to older adults.
The Food Pantry of IRC: $21,000 to pay for the purchase of milk for all the participants who qualify. Last summer while running short of cash, the Pantry had to shut down milk service to families with children and seniors at which point they reached out to GHCOP and we were able to provide an emergency grant to permit the provision of milk for the remainder of 2023.
MENTAL HEALTH, WELL BEING AND SPECIAL NEEDS: $215,250
Alzheimer & Parkinson Association IRC: $20,000 to help support the Gifford Community Program which offers memory and movement programs, caregiver support, and dementia education to Gifford residents free of charge. Activities focus on participant engagement which emphasizes social interaction and validation.
Camp Haven: $15,000 to support professional mental and emotional support to the residents. Camp Haven works with homeless men in an environment intended to assist them to obtain financial independence and regain self-esteem. The counseling program is structured to focus on social and relationship skills as well as vocational and educational opportunities and reconnection with their communities in a healthy, drug free lifestyle.
Hibiscus Children’s Center: $22,000 to provide support for the Career Pathways to Independence Program. Individualized assistance is provided to children whose traumatic experiences have arrested their educational process. The program works to increase attendance and engagement at school and increases exposure to postsecondary options and careers.
Mental Health Association of Indian River County: $12,000 to assist the Walk-In and Counseling Center which provides immediate assistance and focuses on preventing harm from untreated mental health issues including suicidal ideation. Services include mental health screening and crisis intervention, referral, support groups and individual, group and family psychotherapy.
Samaritan Center for Homeless Families: $14,250 to provide in-house mental and emotional therapy for residents while in the shelter and support after departure.
Substance Awareness Center of IRC: $14,000 to provide housing and peerbased recovery support. The participants are often homeless or inmates who are re-entering society. The Recovery Assistance Program provides a home environment as a safe and structured alternative to life on the streets.
Sunshine Rehabilitation Center of IRC: $13,000 supports programs which provide physical, occupational and speech therapy to disabled individuals and those who are not financially able to pay for service or lack medical insurance due to their financial condition.
The ARC of IRC: $20,000 to support the Client Medical Management program which arranges the management and coordination of healthcare appointments allowing the support professionals more time to ensure the continuum of care to clients. The clients at the ARC are adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. ARC provides a broad array of service options to assist their patients in acquiring skills that lead to greater independence. ARC also has homes for the adults who can longer be cared for by their families.
The Source (I am Ministries): $15,000 to support mental health services to members who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Services are provided daily to individuals and groups.
Treasure Coast Community Health: $18,000 to support a behavioral health service provider to students at Dodgertown Elementary school. These services are conducted at the school during the school day.
Tykes & Teens: $20,000 to support programs that use evidence-based interventions to mitigate the effects of trauma in young children and build the capacity of families and childcare workers to respond appropriately to children. This is the only agency in the county providing this service to young children.
United Against Poverty (UP): $25,000 to support the Success Training for Employment Program (STEP). STEP works with unemployed adults with barriers to employment. The participants are trained and motivated to find and keep a job.
VNA of the Treasure Coast: $7,000 to assist in providing health care through the Medicaid-Eligible Patient Care Program. This is a critical safety net for those patients.
EDUCATION: $198,500
Gifford Youth Achievement Center (GYAC): $34,000 to support the After School Education Program. This program provides homework assistance, tutoring, educational enrichment services, and cultural and recreational opportunities for children of all ages.
Healthy Start Coalition of IRC: $15,000 to fund various initiatives focused on children and their parents, with literacy integrated into each program. The Parents as Teachers Program trains parents to be their children’s first teacher. Health Education is a free program which provides education and care coordination to pregnant women and their families. They also conduct a Healthy Families program which is an in-home visitation program. Fatherhood Initiative program is designed to enhance parenting skills, empowerment, and well-being of the fathers. Book distribution is an active element of their program.
Literacy Services of Indian River County: $12,000 to support literacy programs for local adults. The program is oriented toward improving literacy skills and helping the individuals to find jobs or better jobs, engage in their children’s education, and become active participants in the community.
The Learning Alliance (TLA): $27,000 to support two programs in the Gifford community. The first provides families with children the necessary tools to be their child’s first teacher and build the literacy, social and emotional skills of their children so that they are ready for kindergarten, and the second program supports K-2 grade teachers at Dodgertown Elementary School with skills to effectively coach and teach their students.
Special Equestrians of the Treasure Coast: $8,000 to provide Horse Powered Reading with Equine Assisted Learning to first and second graders with learning challenges at Dodgertown Elementary School. Youth Guidance:
Donation Fund of IRC: $22,000 to fund programs for youth ages 5-24 from low income and single parent homes. The programs are conducted after school and during the summer in the mornings and focus on academic enrichment, life skills and vocational training.
HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING: $69,000
Habitat for Humanity of IRC: $12,000 to assist in the construction of a new home for an eligible family. Each year, this home is fondly known as “the Grand Harbor Habitat Home”.
Homeless Children’s Foundation: $10,000 to provide funding for their program, Compassion in Action. The program provides homeless children with the opportunity to attend summer camp. A camp experience not only offers a respite from the difficult circumstances these children face daily, but it also keeps them safe and enables them to be part of a nurturing environment, fostering personal growth, learning and social interaction.
The Hope for Families Center: $25,000 for funding operating needs of this family homeless shelter. The mission is to provide safe shelter and food as well as assistance in financial literacy. The ultimate goal is to build the foundation for long term independence and to break the cycle of homelessness for families.
Safe Families for Children: $10,000 to assist with the costs associated with connecting families in need with community resources including recruiting, and training host families and facilitating friend arrangements to support the children of families in crisis. This includes temporary shelter for children with nonfamily members.
Veterans Council of Indian River County: $12,000 to provide routine and emergency living expenses for veterans and their families.