The Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties granted nearly $300,000 to 33 nonprofit organizations across Palm Beach and Martin Counties with damages from Hurricane Irma.
As organizations responded quickly during the storm, many suffered facility damages, interruption of vital services, lost food, lost marine life, emergency repairs and more.
The following nonprofit organizations received funding directly from the Community Foundation’s Hurricane Assistance Fund totaling $281,038:
- 211 Palm Beach Treasure Coast
- American National Red Cross
- The Arc of the Glades
- Armory Art Center
- Artist Showcase of the Palm Beaches
- Caridad Center
- Catholic Charities of the Diocese
- Center for Child Counseling
- Community Caring Center of Greater Boynton Beach
- Community Lant Trust of PBC
- Easter Seals FL
- Education Foundation of PBC
- El Sol Jupiter’s Neighborhood Resource Center
- Emmaus Alliance Ministries
- Farmworker Coordinating Council
- Florence Fuller Child Development Centers
- Florida Oceanographic Society
- Friends of the Mounts Botanical Garden
- Gods Army Raising Youth
- Good Samaritan Alliance Church Of Boynton Beach
- Habitat For Humanity International
- Habitat for Humanity South PBC
- Hands Together of The Palm Beaches
- Historical Society of Martin County
- Light House Café Ministries
- Lutheran Services Florida
- Memory Trees Corporation
- Palm Beach County Food Bank*
- Place of Hope
- Restoration Bridge International
- Sandoway Discovery Center
- South Florida Science Center & Aquarium
- YMCA of South Palm Beach County
*The Palm Beach County Food Bank was out of power for five days during Hurricane Irma and lost 40,000 pounds of meat due to lack of refrigeration and no backup generator. The Food Bank had many residents suffer losses of food from the hurricane including items like eggs, milk and produce.
“Palm Beach County’s primary funders like the Community Foundation swiftly stepped to the forefront to provide solutions from Hurricane Irma. For us at the Palm Beach County Food Bank, this included both providing food to folks who were experiencing greater need following the storm, as well as ensuring we have a generator to provide the backup power to fuel our facility and programs in advance of the next storm,” said Karen Erren, executive director at the Palm Beach County Food Bank.
“Palm Beach County is a very special community. It’s all about neighbors helping neighbors, and this is specifically true when it comes to hunger relief. Palm Beach County Food Bank is grateful to the Community Foundation and our many other funders working hard to help us in our county every day.”
A Coordinated Effort with Other Funders
In anticipation of the storm, the Community Foundation activated its Hurricane Assistance Fund and offered a coordinated application process to assist nonprofit organizations that were impacted. Nonprofits could easily apply for funding using ONE simple online application that was reviewed by a group of funders (rather than applying for funding multiple times). This streamlined online application process was hosted by the Community Foundation and enabled the partners to respond to as many emergency requests as possible.
“Can you imagine the hassle if each nonprofit had to apply to each funder individually? said Brad Hurlburt, president and CEO of the Community Foundation. “We were pleased to host the joint application system as it was the most effective way to be responsive. The Community Foundation can bring together corporate and community partners, local government, funders and private donors from across the country – along with our own funding – to co-invest funds for maximum effectiveness.”
More importantly, leverage was created when other community and corporate partners joined together with the Community Foundation. Quick and collective response by these partners helped the hurricane assistance efforts grow to nearly $800,000 available to assist 60 nonprofits in need.
The Community Foundation gratefully acknowledges other partners that donated directly to the Foundation’s Hurricane Assistance Fund, including the Celia Lipton Farris & Victor W. Farris Foundation, Florida Blue Foundation, JPMorgan Chase, PNC Bank, private donors of the Community Foundation and Wells Fargo.
Additionally, other funders have supported dozens of nonprofits directly, including Allegany Franciscan Ministries, an anonymous charitable foundation, Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County, Celia Lipton Farris & Victor W. Farris Foundation, Quantum Foundation and United Way of Palm Beach County. Each funder used the streamlined application process hosted by the Community Foundation to simplify the requests from nonprofit organizations.
For more information on these hurricane grants or establishing a charitable fund at the Community Foundation, please call 561-659-6800 or visit www.yourcommunityfoundation.org.
