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.
A year-long effort – including vetting the agencies by our dedicated GHCOP volunteers:
• During the summer, the 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. (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
2024-2025 Grants _______________________________________________
Remember those checks you wrote for the Annual Giving Fund, the Gala, and the GHCOP Golf Tournament? The funds which you provided us have been put to good use. This year GHCOP provided…
$596,000
to a total of 32 agencies.
FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD: $56,000
Our Father’s Table: $11,000 to fund meals served at their site in Gifford and to provide meals to the elderly and homebound. Residents drop into the church to enjoy their meals and socialize. Volunteers deliver meals (around 550) to the homes of those not able to get to the site. Our Father’s Table received a summer strategic grant in summer 2024 as there were no adequate funds to pay for the insurance on the delivery van.
Senior Resource Association (SRA): $22,000 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: $23,000 to pay for the purchase of milk for the families and elderly who qualify for assistance. The Food Pantry was the first agency to receive a summer strategic grant in 2023.
MENTAL HEALTH, WELL BEING AND SPECIAL NEEDS: $217,000
Alzheimer & Parkinson Association of IRC: $20,000 to 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 and emotional support to the residents. Camp Haven works with homeless men in an environment that assists them to obtain financial independence and regain self-esteem. The counseling program focuses on social and relationship skills, vocational and educational opportunities, and reconnection with their communities in a healthy, drug-free lifestyle.
Mental Health Association of Indian River County: $15,000 to assist the Walk-In Counseling Center which provides immediate assistance and focuses on preventing harm from untreated mental health issues including suicide ideation. Services include mental health screening, crisis intervention, referral, support groups and individual, group and family psychotherapy.
Samaritan Center for Homeless Families: $15,000 to provide mental and emotional therapy in their residential setting to homeless families and to teach them “life skills”.
Sunshine Rehabilitation Center of IRC: $15,000 to provide financial support of the Pediatric Occupational and Speech Therapy Program whose goal is early intervention in school readiness support for children with skill deficits and developmental delays. The number of children nearing school-age but lacking age-appropriate skills to thrive in school has grown exponentially since the pandemic. A majority of the patients are on Medicaid which reimburses only 50% of the actual cost of therapy. This grant would help fund the gap and needed assessments.
The ARC of IRC: $24,000 to support the Client Medical Management program which arranges the management and coordination of healthcare appointments for clients – allowing the support professionals more time to ensure the continuum of care to clients. ARC provides a broad array of service options to assist their patients – who are adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities – in acquiring skills leading to greater independence. ARC also houses adults who can no longer be cared for by their families.
The Source (l am Ministries): $15,000 to support mental health services to members who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. This agency also provides meals, shelter, and personal care to the homeless daily and, in summer 2024, was the recipient of a special grant of $5,000 to replace one of their commercial stoves.
THRIVE (formerly Substance Awareness of IRC): $15,000 to provide housing and peer-based recovery support. The participants are usually 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.
Treasure Coast Community Health: $22,000 to support a behavioral health service provider to students at Dodgertown Elementary School during the school day.
Tykes & Teens: $22,000 to support programs that use evidence-based interventions to mitigate the effects of trauma in young children and build upon the capacity of families and childcare workers to respond responsibly to children. This is the only agency in the county providing this service for young children.
United Against Poverty: $25,000 to support the Success Training for Employment Program (STEP). STEP works with unemployed adults facing barriers to employment. The participants are trained and motivated to find and keep a job.
VNA of the Treasure Coast: $14,000 to assist in providing health care through the Medicaid Eligible Care Program. This is a critical safety net for Medicaid patients and has been operating at a significant deficit.
EDUCATION: $251,000
Big Brothers, Big Sisters of IRC: $9,000 to provide literacy skills and improve kindergarten readiness. They work one on-one with 4-year-old children who attend pre-K and low-performing kindergarten students. The goals of this program are on building literacy skills and improving kindergarten readiness.
Childcare Resources: $35,000 to subsidize high quality childcare for children with working parents whose incomes are between 150% and 200% of the federal policy level. This agency provides childhood development and education for economically challenged children.
Children’s Home Society: $9,000 (conditional) to support a family program at Dodgertown Elementary School which encourages Dad to be engaged with their children.
CrossOver Mission: $32,000 to sustain its after school and morning summer programs for at-risk children through a combination of tutoring, mentoring and recreational activities.
Feed the Lambs: $10,000 to provide disadvantaged youth the opportunity to succeed academically, to learn appropriate behavior, and build confidence and self-esteem. This program has been extended to Wabasso.
Gifford Youth Achievement Center: $35,000 to support the after-school education program which provides homework assistance, tutoring, educational enrichment services, and cultural and recreational opportunities for children of all ages.
Healthy Start Coalition of IRC: $20,000 to fund various literacy initiatives focused on children and their parents. This year our funds are targeted to the acquisition of books to be used by the children at school and to take home!
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 provide exposure to post-secondary options and careers.
Literacy Services of Indian River County: $15,000 to support literacy programs for local adults. The program is oriented toward improving literacy skills, helping parents to work with their children, helping individuals find jobs and becoming more active participants in the community.
Special Equestrians of the Treasure Coast: $8,000 to provide Horse-Powered Reading with Equine Assisted Learning to first graders with learning challenges at Dodgertown Elementary School.
The Learning Alliance: $31,000 to support two programs in the Gifford community. The first provides parents the necessary tools to be their child’s first teacher and to build literacy, social, and emotional skills of their children so they are ready for kindergarten. The second program supports K-2 grade teachers at Dodgertown Elementary School with skills to effectively coach and teach their students.
Youth Guidance Mentoring: $25,000 to fund the personnel staffing 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 life skills, vocational training, and academic enrichment. Agency award recipients and GHCOP site visit volunteers gather at the grantee award breakfast.
HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING: $72,000
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: $11,000 to provide funds for their program “Compassion in Action.” The program provides homeless children with the opportunity to attend summer camp, enabling them to be in a safe and nurturing environment, as well as fostering personal growth, learning and social interaction.
The Hope for Families Center: $25,000 to fund the operating needs of this homeless family shelter. Their 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: $11,000 to assist with the costs associated with connecting families in crisis with community resources which include recruiting, training host families, and facilitating friend arrangements to support these children. This includes temporary shelter for children with non-family members.
Veterans Council of Indian River County: $13,000 to provide routine and emergency living expenses for veterans and their families. It also will enhance case management services, enabling personalized support plans and access to over 130 community resources. Additionally, the grant will strengthen efforts to navigate the complexities of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits & advocate for veterans’ needs.