Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

West Palm Beach, FL (January 31, 2012) – After awarding $489,000 in grants in May 2011 to address the growing crisis of hunger and homelessness,  the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties challenged the 17 recipient nonprofit agencies to match their grants dollar for dollar to double the amount for a greater impact.  The community responded overwhelmingly and helped the agencies exceed the goal and raise an additional $593,000 --  bringing the total investment to over $1 million. 

This community investment by the Foundation and the many donors who contributed to the matching challenge will help local organizations provide thousands of people access to food benefits, help hundreds of families maintain stabilized housing, promote neighborhood revitalization and increase the availability of affordable rental and transitional housing for low-income people in Palm Beach and Martin Counties.

After recognizing the staggering increase in the number of people whose basic needs were being compromised by job loss and the housing market collapse, the Community Foundation identified two key initiatives to tackle the widespread problems created by the economic recession. The Alleviate Hunger and Affordable Housing Initiatives go beyond grant making and include strategies to create longstanding change in our communities.  The initiatives focus on building partnerships and attracting and leveraging donor investment to identify opportunities and solutions that address food security and affordable housing.  The successful outcome of the initiatives brings the community together to help ensure the most basic needs of our vulnerable populations are met. 

The matching challenge participating agencies include:

• Adopt-A-Family of the Palm Beaches, Inc.
• C.R.O.S. Ministries
• Center for Family Services of Palm Beach County
• CredAbility
• Families First of Palm Beach County
• Florida Impact
• Glades Initiative, Inc.
• Habitat for Humanity of Martin County, Inc.
• Habitat for Humanity of South Palm Beach County
• Habitat for Humanity, Palm Beach County
• Housing Partnership, Inc.
• Indiantown Non-Profit Housing, Inc.
• Neighborhood Renaissance
• The Lord's Place, Inc.
• The Village Baptist Church/Feed the Hungry
• Treasure Coast Food Bank
• Urban League of Palm Beach County, Inc.

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About the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties

As one of Florida’s largest community foundations, the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties advances quality of life, citizen engagement, and regional vitality through its promotion of philanthropy. The Community Foundation was founded in 1972 and has total assets of more than $130 million. Last year, the Foundation awarded over $5.3 million in grants and led initiatives to address critical issues of common concern among our region’s communities, including hunger, homelessness, affordable housing, and the conservation and protection of water resources. For more information, visit our website: www.yourcommunityfoundation.org.

Contact:          

Tina Snider

Director of Marketing & Communications

Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties

tsnider@cfpbmc.org; (561) 659-6800, ext. 4510