CHARITIES

OPPORTUNITY, INC. OF PALM BEACH COUNTY DBA OPPORTUNITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND FAMILY CENTER

www.opportunitypbc.org

Mission: Empowering the children of working families to achieve academic and life success through educational programs that embrace the whole child and through family programming.

Intended Fund Use: Funding received from the Great Charity Challenge would go to the following programs:

- family services

- social worker to provide case management, resource referral, employment/education/ training assistance, family education

- family development program – family education workshops and training

- homeless prevention fund – emergency assistance for housing/maintaining housing

- emergency food support – emergency food pantry and food distributions

Palm Beach County Food Bank

www.pbcfoodbank.org

Mission: To alleviate hunger in Palm Beach County.

Intended Fund Use: Before COVID-19, 184,000 (12.4% of the 2018 population) Palm Beach County residents neighbors were food insecure and did not know from where they would get their next meal. COVID dramatically increased the number of hungry children, families, seniors, and unemployed. Food insecurity is associated with a range of poor health outcomes for both children and adults.

A generous contribution from the Great Charity Challenge will play a vital role in helping address food insecurity and hunger in Palm Beach County by providing essential support to our core program, Food Recovery and Distribution. Your donation will be used to collect and distribute unused food from the local agricultural community and businesses to over 130 front line hunger relief partner agencies (food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters) at no cost across Palm Beach County. This program runs year-round and serves more than 200,000 individuals each month.

T. LEROY JEFFERSON MEDICAL SOCIETY

www.tljmedicalsociety.org

Mission: To improve the health and wellness, access to care, academic and career opportunities, and the quality of life for underserved populations through the provision of healthcare, education, career exposure and youth development services.

Intended Fund Use: We are in a growth phase, and while funders have always readily support our programs (mentoring, student career exploration, health fairs, healthy living classes, and social justice initiatives), our challenge is to match program growth with core operations support. More support for our core operations will allow us to solidify critical operational functions and provide improved programs in the community.

If successful, this donation request would not only support our programs (50%) but also shore up TLJMS Operations (50%) which is in need of support. So, in addition to our youth development and social justice initiatives for the community, this funding will allow us to offset general operating expenses. Our office allows us to have a home that will allow the community, volunteers, and member to visit and maintain engagement. TLJMS will strengthen operations and be better able to deliver the programs we deliver.

The Arc Of The Glades

www.arcglades.org

Mission: To partner with people with developmental disabilities for equal participation/ inclusion in the communities of western Palm Beach.

Intended Fund Use: Any money awarded through the Great Charity Challenge would be used for vocational and prevocational training, life skills training, Supported Living or Supported Employment services for adults with cognitive disabilities or other developmental disabilities.

THE CHILDREN’S HEALING INSTITUTE

www.childrenshealinginstitute.org/

Mission: to prevent child abuse by strengthening families facing crisis, challenge, and change.

Intended Fund Use: Money would support our TEACUP Preemie and Parent Aide programs which provide intensive services to ensure children are safe in their homes and families remain intact. These programs are more critical now, as child abuse/neglect risk increases during difficult times. Families previously at lesser risk for abuse are now experiencing social isolation, income loss, and high emotional stress. The pandemic has isolated children in their homes with overwhelmed, stressed-out caregivers. To alleviate parents’ immediate stress and identify signs/symptoms of distress, these programs provide frequent contacts though home visits, phone calls, texts, and virtual check-ins. Unmet concrete needs compromise the physical health and safety of children and increase the risk of neglect. The programs provide resources such as diapers, baby wipes, and activities for children, as well as help families access other vital resources (food, rent assistance, clothing). To reduce social isolation, we provide online professionally-facilitated TEACUP support groups twice weekly and private Facebook groups for our TEACUP and Parent Aide families where they can connect with other parents in a supportive, monitored environment. We serve Palm Beach County: parents of premature infants (TEACUP) and parents caring for a child aged 0-17 (Parent Aide), many with prior history of abuse/neglect.

The Pearl Mae Foundation

https://pearlmaefoundation.org/

Mission: The Pearl Mae Foundation “Pearl’s Pantry” program provides delivery of fresh and healthy groceries to the homes of seniors in Palm Beach County. The goal is to help seniors maintain social distancing due to medical vulnerabilities while still having the independence to cook fresh and healthy meals.

Intended Fund Use: Pearl’s Pantry has taken off and many individuals have become reliant on our grocery program during the prolonged pandemic. We have experienced a direct increase in demand for our services so any money awarded will go directly to growing and sustaining our program long term. We would spend the money on food and supplies so we can service more individuals, particularly seniors, weekly.