Through the Orlando Sentinel Family Fund, a fund of the McCormick Foundation, $821,000 in grants to 42 non-profit organizations were distributed in Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake and West Volusia counties this year. 

The McCormick Foundation matches all donations at fifty cents on the dollar. In addition, all administrative costs are covered by the Orlando Sentinel and the McCormick Foundation, allowing 100% of all donations, plus the match, to go directly to these invaluable programs and services.

“The Orlando Sentinel and McCormick Foundation share a commitment to addressing the growing needs of our local communities,” said David Hiller, president and CEO of the Robert R. McCormick Foundation. “Thanks to the generous donors and readers, we are able to support these amazing community organizations working tirelessly to improve the lives of underserved youth, adults and families across Central Florida.”

“Newspapers build a sense of community and the Orlando Sentinel Family Fund has taken that one step further, supporting the great work our nonprofits do day in and day out,” said Orlando Sentinel President, Publisher and CEO Howard Greenberg. “These grants are possible because of the generosity of our readers and I’m proud of the progress we’ve made working together.”

The funds distributed are grants tied to two annual campaigns conducted by the Orlando Sentinel Family Fund:  the Back to School Campaign (now called the Education Matters Campaign) and the Holiday Campaign.

Six agencies received funding to distribute backpacks and school supplies to elementary school children as part of the Back to School Campaign:  A Gift for Teaching ($20,000), Catholic Charities ($10,000), Educational Foundation of Lake County ($20,000), The Foundation for Osceola Education ($25,000), The Foundation for Seminole County Public Schools ($20,000) and The Jewish Federation of Volusia & Flagler Counties ($15,000.)

As part of the Holiday Campaign, agencies that received grants from the Orlando Sentinel Family Fund and a description of the programs funded are listed below.

A Gift for Teaching, Inc. received $7,000 for the Centers of Attention program which will provide students with activities and individualized plans to improve performance in key academic areas.

Adult Literacy League, Inc. received $20,000 for the Literacy Services for Youth program which serves youth 16-24 with individual and group tutoring in preparation for post-secondary education.

Apopka Family Learning Center received a $20,000 grant for the Kids In Motion program, an after-school, academic enrichment program for disadvantaged children, ages 5-14. The program helps students acquire passing grades and maximize their potential.

Beta Center, Inc. received $20,000 for the Positive Parenting Support program which provides educational and supportive services to adolescent mothers and their children.

Boys & Girls Club of Central Florida, Inc. received $20,000 to provide tutoring, mentoring and skill building to low-income youth.

Boys & Girls Club of Lake and Sumter Counties, Inc. received $10,000 for their Project Learn program which provides tutoring, homework help and high-yield learning activities to low income students.

Catholic Charities of Central Florida, Inc. is a social service agency that provides counseling and emergency assistance to families. It received $20,000 to help low-income families pay their rent and utility bills and to distribute food.

Children’s Home Society of Florida received $35,000 for the Faine House program which provides transitional housing to youth who have aged out of the foster care system.

Christian Service Center’s Family & Emergency Services and Daily Bread meal program received $20,000 to help provide food and utilities and rent support for families in crisis.

Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida, Inc. received $30,000 for the Housing Now program which rapidly rehouses families and provides case management, rent and utility assistance, job skills training and employment to reclaim and maintain self-sufficiency.

Community Food & Outreach Center received a $15,000 grant for support of their emergency food, referrals and case management services program serving low-income families.

Covenant House Florida, Inc. received $40,000 for their Independent Living Track program, which provides life skills training, financial literacy counseling, conflict resolution, job search skills and GED programs to underprivileged youth ages 18-20.

Father Flanagan’s Boys’ Home received $35,000 for the Family Treatment Homes and the Intervention and Assessment Center, which provide psychological care, individualized treatment plans, and a family-style living environment for abused or homeless children.

Foundation for Orange County Public Schools, Inc. received $30,000 for their Middle School Morning Book Club program serving at-risk middle school students in 8 middle schools with literacy enrichment through specialized, instructional book clubs.

Greater Reading or Writing Skills Literacy Council, Inc. (GROWS) received a $15,000 grant for the GROWS Family Literacy program which provides family literacy classes to low-income immigrant parent-child teams.

Great Kids Explorer Club, Inc. runs a Bridges to Success program, which provides life skills enrichment and one-on-one tutoring to underserved children.  They received a $15,000 grant for this program.

Harbor House of Central Florida, Inc. received $20,000 for the HARK, Helping At-Risk Kids program, which provides a 12-week group counseling course for youth who have witnessed domestic violence in their homes.

Harvest Time International received $10,000 for the Help for Today program, which provides free emergency vouchers for food and needed household products for families experiencing hunger and financial crisis.

Hope Helps, Inc. received $10,000 for the Kids of HOPE Summer Lunch program, which provides food baskets to families in crisis during the summer months.

Jewish Family Services of Greater Orlando, Inc.’s Family Stabilization program received a $25,000 grant to provide assessment, case management and job skills training and preparation for families at risk of homelessness.

Jewish Federation of Volusia & Flagler Counties received $10,000 for the basic needs for children, families and the elderly which provides food, utility and rent assistance, clothing, furniture and household goods to low income families and migrant workers.

Kids House of Seminole, Inc. received a $28,000 grant to support their Child Advocacy {program which provides child abuse prevention, parent education and training and treatment.

Lake Sumter Children’s Advocacy Center provides crisis counseling, on-site medical exams and long-term therapy to child victims of sexual and physical abuse. They received a $20,000 grant.

Lifestream Behavioral Center, Inc. received $15,000 for the Anthony House program, which provides transitional to permanent housing to at-risk individuals and families.

Meals on Wheels, Etc. provides nutritious meals and support services for low-income seniors.  They received a $20,000 grant for their program.

Orlando Health Foundation, Inc. received a $40,000 grant for the Healing Tree program which offers comprehensive mental healthcare services and referrals for ongoing support to child victims of sexual abuse and their families.

Osceola County Council on Aging, Inc.’s Mobile Food Pantry program received a $20,000 grant to help provide healthy food packages to families with children residing in motels near Orlando’s tourism corridor.

Rescue Outreach Mission of Sanford, Inc. received a $15,000 grant for the After School and Weekend Educational Enrichment for Homeless Youth program, which provides reading, writing and math skills to youth living in the shelter.

Salvation Army – Seminole County received a $20,000 Emergency Services grant which provides direct financial assistance to individuals and families in crisis for rent, mortgage and utilities payments.

Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, Inc. received a $30,000 grant for the Agency Nutrition Education Training program, which provides partner agencies with training on strategies to educate clients in nutrition and healthy eating.

Seminole County Victims Rights Coalition, Inc. received $10,000 for their SafeKid program, which provides shelter, after-school care, intervention education and counseling to child survivors of family violence.

Seniors First, Inc. received $15,000 for their Emergency Meals On Wheels program, providing home delivered meals and case management assistance to elderly adults.

Society of St. Andrew, Inc. gleans produce that remains after farmers have finished harvesting and food that is rejected by commercial markets. They distribute it to food banks and received an $8,000 grant to support that effort.

United Cerebral Palsy of Central Florida, Inc. received $20,000 for the Keeping All Kids Safe program, which provides a supportive counseling program to improve families functioning and assists in the reduction of child abuse and neglect.

United Way of Lake and Sumter Counties, Inc. received a $14,000 grant to support their Human Care Network, which feeds nearly 13,000 individuals every month through 10 food banks while providing job training and referral services.

Valencia College Foundation, Inc. received a $9,000 grant for the Transitions Summer Academy program, providing exposure to college, careers and life skills development to at-risk youth.

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The Orlando Sentinel Family Fund, a fund of the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, is committed to supporting programs that move low-income children and families to self-sufficiency. Since 1990, through the Fund, more than 870 grants totaling more than $31 million have been awarded to local nonprofit organizations serving Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Lake and W. Volusia Counties. To learn more about the Orlando Sentinel Children’s Fund, visit www.orlandosentinel.com/familfund.

The McCormick Foundation matches all donations to the Orlando Sentinel Family Fund at 50 cents on the dollar. With the Orlando Sentinel and the Foundation paying all campaign and administrative expenses, 100 percent of all donations, plus the match, is granted to qualified nonprofit organizations.