Through the Sun Sentinel Children’s Fund, a McCormick Foundation Fund, $299,000 in second quarter grants was recently distributed to 27 nonprofit organizations in Broward and Palm Beach counties.  Since 1991, more than $38 million has been granted through the Sun Sentinel Children’s Fund to support programs that move low-income children and families to self-sufficiency. 

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

“Newspapers build a sense of community and the Sun Sentinel Children’s Fund has taken that one step further, supporting the great work our nonprofits do day in and day out,” said Sun 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 Sun Sentinel Children’s Fund appreciates the support of Children’s Services Council of Broward County, JM Family Enterprises, Publix Super Markets and AutoNation. Their sponsorship further ensures that local children have the opportunities they need to realize their full potential, achieve their hopes and dreams, while being supported by a nurturing family and community. 

Agencies that received second quarter grants from the Sun Sentinel Children’s Fund and a description of the programs funded are listed below:

1. Achievement and Rehabilitation Centers, Inc. received $8,000 to support the “Parents as Teachers” program which works to build family capacity and foster resilience among families with disabled children.
2. Adolph and Rose Levis Jewish Community Center, Inc. received $10,000 for Camp Kovad scholarships which help children with significant special needs attend summer camp.
3. All ‘Bout Children received $5,000 for the Childcare Community Social Emotional Wellness program offering mental health services for families presenting child abuse and/or neglect risk factors. 
4. ArtServe, Inc. received $10,000 for the Eco-Art Education and Therapy Program providing at-promise children and young adults living with disabilities the opportunity to learn about the environment through the arts and to experience the arts.
5. Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County received $10,000 to provide programs in character and leadership development; education and career development; health and life skills; the arts, technology; and sports, fitness, recreation during critical out of school hours.
6. Brookwood Florida-East received $5,000 to provide therapeutic residential services for abused and neglected foster girls aged 11-18 placed to prepare for self-sufficiency.
7. Broward Partnership for the Homeless received $38,000 to assist in providing emergency shelter, transitional housing and support services for over 1,000 homeless individuals and families annually.
8. Children’s Diagnostic & Treatment Center, Inc. received $10,000 for the Emergency Medical HELP-Line program which provides an emergency hotline for families with children with special needs.
9. Children’s Harbor, Inc. received $10,000 for the Residential Foster Care program which offers four group homes and a teen maternity residence for foster children.
10. Children’s Home Society of Florida, South Coastal Division received $10,000 to provide adoption services, shelter for runaway youth, case management, family counseling and child abuse prevention activities.
11. Early Learning Coalition of Broward County, Inc. received $5,000 for their School Readiness program, which offers financial assistance to low-income children attending early learning programs.
12. Farmworkers Childrens Council, Inc. received $8,000 for the Campo Alegre program, a seven-week summer academic program for children of farm, nursery and landscaping laborers.
13. Gateway Community Outreach, Inc. received $8,000 to support the agency in providing food and case management services to more than 6,000 low-income families each year.
14. Gratitude House received $10,000 for the Mother and Infants in Training Together (MITT) substance dependency program that provides beds for pregnant and postpartum women and allows infants up to one year of age reside in treatment with their mother.
15. Habitat for Humanity of Palm Beach County received $10,000 for the Family Services Program providing support necessary to ensure that Habitat homeowners are prepared for the new responsibilities of homeownership and the financial obligations they assume.
16. Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Palm Beach County received $10,000 for the Prenatal Teen Education/Outreach and Development program providing prenatal outreach and education programs to at-risk pregnant teens, women and families.                  
17. Helping Abused Neglected Disadvantaged Youth, Inc. received $10,000 for their Emergency and Children’s Needs program which offers food vouchers, health care and homelessness prevention services to relative and non-relative caregivers of children at risk of abuse and/or neglect.
18. Henderson Mental Health Center, Inc. received $10,000 for their Homeless Prevention-Emergency Assistance Program providing families with rental/mortgage assistance and utility payments to prevent homelessness.
19. Jessica June Children’s Cancer Foundation, Inc. received $10,000 for the Emergency Financial Assistance Program which provides temporary financial assistance to prevent homelessness, hunger and malnutrition for families enduring pediatric cancer.
20. Kids In Distress, Inc. received $20,000 for the Kinship Support Program providing supportive services to children and their caregivers prioritizing grandparents and other extended family members charged with caring for relatives’ children.
21. Lighthouse of Broward County, Inc. received $8,000 for the KIDS Keys to Independence program providing after-school literacy and safety instruction and summer camp for children who are blind or visually impared.
22. Museum of Discovery & Science received $10,000 for the PACE Informal Science Education Project which in collaboration with PACE Center for Girls, provides a 12-week program that integrates the Museum’s formal and informal educational activities into the PACE science curriculum.
23. PACE Center for Girls, Inc. received $8,000 for their prevention and intervention day program for girls at-risk who experience challenges in the mainstream school environment academically or socially.
24. Samuel M. and Helene E. Soref Jewish Community Center, Inc. received $10,000 for their Child and Youth Education – Academic Enhancement program providing elementary children from low-income families with the curriculum and support to enable them to achieve higher grades, higher standardized test scores and improved social development life skills.
25. Susan B. Anthony Center, Inc. received $8,000 for the Stop the Cycle program providing therapy, psychiatric evaluation, substance abuse counseling and parenting workshops.
26. Take Stock in Children, Inc. of Palm Beach County received $5,000 for their Student/Mentor Support Program, which helps children at or near the poverty level graduate by providing volunteer mentors, student advocates (case managers), early intervention and long-term support,  parental involvement and scholarships. 
27. Women in Distress of Broward County, Inc. received $33,000 for their Children’s Program, which provides age-appropriate domestic violence services to children who have been affected by domestic violence.

###

About the Sun Sentinel Children’s Fund
The Sun Sentinel Children’s 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 1991, through the Fund, more than 2,300 grants totaling more than $38.4 million have been awarded to local nonprofit organizations serving Broward and Palm Beach counties.  To learn more about the Sun Sentinel Children’s Fund, visit www.sunsentinel.com/childrensfund.

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