Community Foundation of Collier County Awards $1.2 Million in Grants for the First Quarter of 2014

Naples, Florida (PRWEB) April 17, 2014

Community Foundation of Collier County President/CEO, Eileen Connolly-Keesler, has announced that $1.2 million in grants were distributed to a variety of Collier County nonprofit organizations for the period from January 1 through March 31, 2014.

"These grants fuel programs that meet local challenges and improve the quality of life in our region. We track the vital signs and we know how pressing the needs are in terms of homelessness, hunger, healthcare, the arts, the environment and issues facing women and girls in Collier County”, explains Connolly-Keesler.

Approximately $925,000 of the grant total came from the Community Foundation’s Donor Advised Funds which allow donors to participate in the funding process by suggesting grant recipients. Out of this total, $100,000 was awarded to the Salvation Army - Naples for their Latchkey League program.

$280,000 of the grant total came from the Community Foundation’s Community Impact Fund which allows the Community Foundation to address needs as they emerge.

The nonprofits that received funding from Community Impact Funds include: Boys & Girls Club of Collier County; Care Club of Collier County; Collier County Housing Authority; Hunger and Homeless Coalition; Collier Senior Resources; Champions for Learning; Fun Time Early Childhood Academy; Golisano Children's Museum of Naples; Grace Place for Children and Families; Guadalupe Center, Inc.; Harry Chapin Food Bank; Jewish Family & Community Services; Junior Achievement of SW Florida; Legal Aid Service of Collier County; NAMI of Collier County; Naples Alliance for Children; New Horizons of Southwest Florida; Our Mothers Home; Shelter for Abused Women; The Conservancy of Southwest Florida; The Women's Fund of Southwest Florida; United Cerebral Palsy of SW Florida; United Way of Collier County.

Of the $280,000, $50,000 was awarded from the Basic Needs Fund to four organizations that provide rental and food assistance and offer support to low-income seniors in the Golden Gate area; those organizations are Catholic Charities of Collier County; Hunger and Homeless Coalition of Collier County; Collier Senior Resources; and, the Harry Chapin Food Bank.

An additional $57,000 in grants from the Women’s Initiative Network were awarded to a variety of organizations that provide leadership programs for at-risk teen girls; coordinated services for seniors; caregiver support programs; and, support for victims of human trafficking. Additionally, $130,000 was paid to the United Way of Collier County from the Collier 211 Fund to support the management of the first free, 24-hour, non-emergency human services helpline for those in need in Collier County.

Eleven organizations received grant monies from the Community Foundation’s Capacity Building Grant program, which provides nonprofit organizations with small grants, up to $5,000, for technical assistance, equipment and professional development. These grants encourage nonprofit organizations to meet or exceed best industry practices and to collaborate with other nonprofits to address the pressing needs of our community

About the Community Foundation of Collier County

The Community Foundation of Collier County is a tax-exempt, public charitable organization established in 1985 with a $300,000 endowment. The first grants were awarded in 1986 towards Cambier Park’s band shell construction project and The Shelter for Abused Women initial development.

Today, the Community Foundation oversees more than 500 funds, collaborates with over 400 local nonprofits, manages nearly $75 million in assets and has distributed $70 million in grants. For more information about the Community Foundation of Collier County call (239) 649-5000 or visit http://www.cfcollier.org.

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