Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5
Page 6
Page 7
Page 8
Inthesummerof2009followingextensiveanalysisanddiscussionwithinourownboardstaffandamongthefoundationsdonorsgranteesandcommunitypartnerstheCommunityFoundationforPalmBeachandMartinCountiesconcludedthatextraordinarycircumstancescalledforunprecedentedactiontohelpaddresstherisingtideofourcommunitiesmosturgentneeds.InthepriorityareaofsheltertheCommunityFoundationsoughtprojectswhichhelpincreasecapacitytoprovideimmediateshelterforhomelessindividualsandfamilies.TwogranteesChildrensHomeSocietyoftheTreasureCoastandVitaNovaprovideresourcesandservicesforyouthwhoareagingoutoffostercareandwhoareatriskofbeinghomelessinPalmBeachandMartincounties.Thestatisticsforthispopulationaredire.AccordingtotheChildWelfareLeagueofAmericaCWLAyouthagingoutofthefostercaresystemarebecominghomelessatdisconcertingrates.Anywherefrom12to36ofyoungpeopletransitioningoutofthesystemexperiencehomelessness.TheCWLAfurtherreportsYoungpeopleagingoutofpublicsystemsareconfrontedwithcriticalhousingneedsthatleftunaddressedhavethepotentialtocauseirreparableharm.Whilethestatisticsforthispopulationarediscour-agingthefuturesoftheseyoungpeopledonthavetobe.Byprovidingacomprehensivearrayofservicessuchashousingcasemanagementandmentoringfinancialassistanceforrentgoalsettingandcareerplanningandasenseofbelongingyouthhavetheopportunitytodevelopintoproductiveself-sufficientcitizens.ThanksinparttograntsfromtheCommunityFoundationanditsphilanthropicpartnerstheseat-riskyouthhaveaccesstosafeanddecentaffordablehousinginenvironmentsthatsupporttheirjourneytoadulthood.Agrantof26950fromtheHansandMaryStrattmanFundtoTheChildrensHomeSocietyoftheTreasureCoasthelpedestablishtheYouthTransitionCenteranda40000grantfromtheJohnS.andJamesL.KnightFoundationFundtoVitaNovahelpedtoprovidehousingandessentiallifeskillsforyouthsagingoutoffostercareinPalmBeachandMartinCounties.Theprogramprovidessupportservicesthatareessentialtoindependentlivingforeachyouthsuchasobtainingadrivinglicensefinishinghighschoolandfindingfull-timeemployment.OurFoundationsScholarshipprogramhashelpedmorethan1400localstudentspursuetheirdreamsandgoalsatcollegesuniversitiesandtradeortechnicalschoolsafterhighschoolgraduation.OnesuchstoryisDmitriSkjorshammeraRussianstudentwhoimmigratedtotheU.S.in2004.DmitrishighschoolteachersinMartinCountyquicklyrecognizedhisextraordinarytalentsinmathematics.Dmitrihopestobecomeatheoreticalmathematicianandaprofessor.Buthisfamilycouldnotaffordthenecessaryeducationtofulfillhisdream.In2007DmitribecamearecipientoftheWalterandAdiBlumScholarshipFundoftheCommunityFoundation.ThisscholarshiphelpspayforhisundergraduateeducationatHarveyMuddCollegeoneofthepremiermathscienceandengineeringcollegesinthenation.Lastyearhebecamearisingseniormajoringinmathematics.ThenewperspectivesIveattainedfrommystudiesandmyprofessorshaveinspiredmetopursueaPh.D.inMathematics.ThisofcoursewouldnothavebeenpossiblewithouttheWalterandAdiBlumScholarshipFundannualtuitionatHarveyMuddisaround50000saysDmitiri.TheFoundationisveryproudoftheimpacttheseopportunitiesprovideforourlocalstudents.YoucanjointhegenerousPalmBeachandMartincountydonorswhogivethegiftofeducationtodeservingstudentsinourregion.Misty21agedoutoffostercarewithnosupportisnowworkingonherGED.JaleelNugentaresidentlivingattheYouthTransitionCentersmilesashecompleteshisdriverseducationprogram.GrantsScholarshipsinAction