News & Events

The Greater Escambia Community Foundation Awards $296,350 in Grants To Local
Organizations To Assist Victims of the Oil Spill

Pensacola, Florida, November 16, 2011 - The Greater Escambia Community Foundation, Inc. awarded grants totaling $296,350 to seven area agencies on Wednesday, November 16, 2011 to support individuals and families still struggling to recover financially, emotionally and physically from the April 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Recipients of the grants included:

Baptist Health Care Foundation, acting as a fiscal agent for Lakeview Center ($36,125)- will utilize the grant to create a Child’s Place for Healing, an outdoor playground and garden area for children affected by the oil spill who are under the care of Lakeview Center.

Favor House of Northwest Florida ($50,000) - will create a shelter program to provide assistance for residents who sustained emotional and financial distress associated with the oil spill.

First United Methodist Church, acting as the fiscal agent for the Gulf Coast Interfaith Alliance ($43,100) – will distribute funds to three programs:

1. Milk & Honey – A small profit organization that serves the needs of an underserved community through after school programs and summer programs for youth.
2. Suit Yourself Ministry – A program that provides proper clothing for women who are trying to reenter the workplace following the loss of a job, or abuse, which are direct result of the oil spill.
3. Serve the Hungry – Provides food and clothing for men and women in need.
   

Loaves and Fishes ($30,000) – The monies will provide food and emergency shelter for individuals and families impacted by the oil spill.

Sacred Heart Foundation, acting as the fiscal agent for the Lynn F. Johnston Pediatric Dental Clinic ($41,625) – The dental program provides specialized dental care for the neediest indigent pediatric patients in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties. The grant will be used to assist children from families whose financial stability was directly affected by the oil spill.

South Santa Rosa Interfaith Ministries ($45,500) – Based in Santa Rosa County, this program will assist victims of the oil spill with housing, utility and medical needs.

United Ministries ($50,000) – This program will provide emergency financial assistance for shelter and utility needs to individuals and families impacted by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

The grants were made possible through a contribution from the Fund for Gulf Coast Communities, a program of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, to enhance the resiliency of the Gulf Coast’s diverse communities and address some of the unmet needs of individuals, families, and children significantly affected by the April 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill and its aftermath.

“We are grateful to be receiving this grant,” said Paul Westhoff, executive director, Sacred Heart Medical Group, Primary Care Operations. “When people are losing their jobs and hurting financially as a result of last year’s oil spill, they cannot afford proper dental care for their children and grandchildren.” “We have seen a substantial increase in new patients since April of 2010,” Westhoff continued. “This grant will allow us to meet the needs of those very deserving children.”

The Greater Escambia Community Foundation was formed to help donors who have an interest in long-term charitable giving. The donor directs philanthropic gifts to the charity or charities of their choice. The community foundation manages the funds, distributes gifts on behalf of the donor, provides the accounting function, and satisfies all government reporting requirements. This arrangement leaves the donor free to focus only on their charitable interest.

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The Greater Escambia Community Foundation Awarded $500,000 Grant from New Fund Established to Help Communities Affected by BP Oil Spill

Grant one of six awarded by the Fund for Gulf Communities; Greater Escambia Community Foundation will distribute to organizations serving communities across region.

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA, June 1, 2011 – The Greater Escambia Community Foundation announced today that they have received a $500,000 grant from the Fund for Gulf Communities (“the Fund”) to continue supporting residents across Florida’s Gulf Coast still struggling to recover financially, emotionally and physically from the April 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

The award was made by the Fund, which was created through an anonymous donation to Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors to enhance the resiliency of the Gulf Coast’s diverse communities and address some of the unmet needs of individuals, families, and children significantly affected by the spill and its aftermath. The Fund will achieve this by working with and funding respected nonprofit organizations such as the Greater Escambia Community Foundation that have strong ties to the region and connections to community-based organizations providing direct services to people in need.

“This recent grant from RPA will enable our organization to continue in its mission to work with donors to accomplish their charitable interests. It will also enable us to continue serving the emerging needs of individuals and families in Northwest Florida,” said Paul Young, Executive Director of Greater Escambia Community Foundation.

Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors selected regional partners based on the partners’ abilities to identify and address critical local needs as well as their technical assistance and grant making capacity. Six regional partners working in four Gulf Coast states were awarded grants.

“Regional leaders like the Greater Escambia Community Foundation have a deep knowledge of communities and residents and a history of trusted, effective grant making at the neighborhood level,” said Amy Holmes, a senior philanthropic advisor at RPA who is overseeing the Fund. “Their on-the-ground experience and relationships make it possible to identify and support local groups that are addressing problems in their communities in the wake of the region’s societal and economic challenges.”

To help Gulf Coast nonprofits strengthen their organizations and networks for the long term, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors will also provide program guidance, technical assistance and monitoring support to the regional organizations such as the Greater Escambia Community Foundation.

Community foundations are independent public charities created by and for the people within a local area. They work with donors to establish and manage charitable funds that cover a wide range of philanthropic interests. There are more than 700 community foundations within the United States including the Greater Escambia Community Foundation, serving Northwest Florida.

The Greater Escambia Community Foundations works with donors who have an interest in long-term charitable giving. The donor directs philanthropic gifts to the charity or charities of their choice, and the donor enjoys as much or as little recognition as they wish. The community foundation manages the funds, distributes gifts on behalf of the donor, provides the accounting function, and satisfies all government reporting requirements. This arrangement leaves the donor free to focus only on their charitable interests.

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