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In this Issue:
Scholarships | Youth Program Grants
COVID-19 Recovery Assistance
2021 Angels Campaign | Grantee Highlights Combined Federal Campaign
Books for Peace Library | And more!
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CFVI Awards $312,750 in Scholarships to 224 Virgin Islands Students
2020 awards represent largest group of scholarship recipients and second largest amount of
scholarship funds distributed in Foundation's 30-year history
In an effort to provide support and encouragement to Virgin Islands students in their pursuit of higher education and achieving their educational goals, the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands (CFVI) has awarded $312,750 in scholarship awards and grants to 224 Virgin Islands students, eclipsing last year’s amount of $205,000 for 87 students.
Thanks to a generous donation from Heavy Materials, LLC, CFVI was able to make grants of $1,250 to 191 eligible undergraduate CFVI scholarship applicants and $1,500 to 33 graduate applicants.
In addition to the $288,250 provided by Heavy Materials, LLC, CFVI provided an additional $24,500 to students who were awarded other scholarships.
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COVID-19 Recovery Assistance Update |
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Since the arrival of COVID-19 on our shores, the Foundation has provided 48 grants totaling more than $200,000 (and counting!) focused on addressing pandemic-related needs of children and families facing emergencies in food security, health, and well-being.
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Project Promise VI used its mini grant to purchase laptops for program participants. |
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Rapid Response Mini Grants for Youth Programs
CFVI distributes $22,950 to 21 organizations
CFVI provided a series of rapid response mini grants designed to address critical one-time needs associated with programs, projects, and initiatives serving children and youth in the Territory. Priority was given to programs serving children from homes with financial challenges.
Grantees used the funds for equipment and technology to facilitate remote enrichment experiences, program tuition scholarships, and personal protective equipment (PPE).
One of the grantees, Project Promise VI, used its grant to purchase laptops for remote learning. The organization is dedicated to improving the lives of at-risk youth on St. Croix by providing empowerment initiatives, cultural programs, and family services.
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CFVI Launches 2021 Angels Giving Campaign |
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The CFVI Angels community is the largest philanthropic network in the Territory. Since 1999, Angels have provided more than $6.6 million in unrestricted funding from individual and business donors who contribute $500 or more annually to the Foundation.
Angel gifts directly contribute to the well-being of our Virgin Islands community. In 2019, nearly $5 million in direct support was provided by CFVI to organizations and individuals in the areas of community programs and services, health and human services, children and family programs, education, and the environment.
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Help us continue this important work and celebrate CFVI's 30th anniversary! Will you be a 2021 Angel and be a part of Building Forward
to a better tomorrow in our Virgin Islands?
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Kashish Chainani and Amber McCammon pose with the new Books for Peace Library, sponsored by CFVI, at the Virgin Islands Children's Museum. |
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Books for Peace Library at the Virgin Islands Children's Museum |
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Kashish Chainani met the founder of the Books For Peace movement at a Junior State of America (JSA) summer camp at Princeton University, and was inspired to implement a Books for Peace library at her home in St. Thomas, VI. The message of spreading knowledge of marginalized and underrepresented groups through literacy to people of all ages spoke out to her. She immediately knew that she wanted to contribute to this message and hopes to spread knowledge and inspire many others in order to help this initiative.
Books for Peace aims to empower a generation with the ideals needed to challenge inequality through the deliverance and promotion of literature written by and about women, children, people of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and other underrepresented and marginalized groups.
"The Books for Peace Library is a wonderful addition to the literacy outreach efforts of the Virgin Islands Children's Museum," said Amber McCammon, the museum's Director of Programs. "Many thanks to Kashish for taking the initiative and the team at CFVI that helped make this wonderful resource a reality! We are honored to be the stewards of the Books for Peace library kiosk."
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CFVI Releases Hurricane Recovery and Building Forward
Comprehensive Report
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Included in this comprehensive report of CFVI's Hurricane-related funding activities are details on a wide range of philanthropic vehicles, which the Foundation created to effectively steward millions of dollars in donations, respond to the intentions of thousands of donors, and provide support to more than 100 grantees. In fact, from September 2017 through the end of July 2020, more than 10,000 individual donors and institutions contributed over $18 million in donations and grants. People who wanted to make a difference but didn't know how or where to start were able to pool their resources with like-minded stakeholders and target help where it was most needed. To date, more than $16 million has been awarded and we continue to work diligently to distribute the remaining balance.
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CALL FOR NOMINATIONS (Deadline 10/31/20): Euan McFarlane Award
Award Honors Environmental Leadership in the Insular Caribbean
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For over three decades, one Caribbean award has consistently recognized and honored individuals in the insular Caribbean who demonstrate exceptional environmental leadership. Since 1987, 28 individuals from 18 Caribbean islands have been recipients of the Euan P. McFarlane Environmental Leadership Award, an award that was established to acknowledge individuals who have displayed both exemplary and sustained leadership on behalf of the environment in the insular Caribbean. Their efforts have been an inspiration for their home islands and served as models for the Caribbean region.
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CFVI provided a grant to Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic School from the HelpUSVINow! Fund to assist with repairing and replacing items and areas damaged by the hurricanes, as well as to revitalize the “Angels of Steel” steel band. Grant funds were used to replace tables and security cameras and fix the ceiling and wiring in the cafeteria, along with replacing broken equipment in the kitchen. The grant also allowed for many areas in the school to be repaired, and to replace various damaged school items such as books, desks, educational supplies and equipment. Additionally, grant funds also enabled the replacement of a number of damaged steel band pans for the school’s “Angels of Steel” program, and assisted with the music teacher’s salary.
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Friends of Virgin Islands National Park
Thanks to Cruzan Rum’s Island Spirit Fund (via GlobalGiving), CFVI awarded a grant to Friends of Virgin Islands National Park to support native plant restoration, protection, and education on St. John. The project included three phases: removal of non-native, invasive plants; native plant propagation; and planting select native plants and trees with volunteer support. Most recently, more than 184 sea grapes and other native coastal plants were planted along the Maho Beach shoreline, which suffered severe beach erosion after the storms due to the loss of vegetation. In total, more than 300 native plants/trees were planted along coastal areas. Grant funds also supported a community plant giveaway to help raise awareness about the project, the value of native plants, and to foster a sense of ownership and pride for the island's environment. Over 100 individuals/families received native trees at the giveaway.
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Coral Bay Community Council
Thanks to Cruzan Rum’s Island Spirit Fund (via GlobalGiving), CFVI awarded a grant to Coral Bay Community Council to remove leftover hurricane debris from the shorelines and roadways of Coral Bay, in order to support environmental recovery, improve the natural and built environmental aesthetics, and have a clean and safe environment. Over 260 cubic yards of debris (combined total with DPNR efforts) was properly disposed of. Grant funds also supported the design and creation of a donkey- and chicken-proof litter receptacle, in cooperation with My Brother's Workshop, for future deployment around Coral Bay's restaurant areas.
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The Forum
CFVI provided a grant to The Forum from the Fund for the Virgin Islands to support youth music education programming following the hurricanes of 2017. The funds were used to bring musical artists to St. Thomas to lead workshops and master classes (open to the public), which provided a small sense of normalcy and enjoyment after the devastation of the hurricanes. Junior high, high school, and college students also attended these sessions as part of their music education. The visiting artists also provided public concerts and participated in radio shows.
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Want more grantee highlights? We post weekly on social media and our website! |
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In Memory of Long Time CFVI Angel Austin "Babe" Monsanto |
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The Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands sends our deepest condolences to Alda Monsanto on the passing of Austin "Babe" Monsanto. And we join our fellow community members in honoring the life of Austin “Babe” Monsanto - husband of Alda, who is a Director Emeritus of CFVI's Board of Directors; dedicated father and grandfather; and a “forever” CFVI Angel donor! Babe leaves behind a legacy of dedication, lifelong philanthropy and volunteering. We are deeply appreciative for his enduring commitment and the many contributions, not just to CFVI, but to the entire USVI.
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CFVI a Participating Charity in Combined Federal Campaign |
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The mission of the CFC is to promote and support philanthropy through a program that is employee focused, cost-efficient, and effective in providing all federal employees the opportunity to improve the quality of life for all.
CFC is the world's largest and most successful annual workplace charity campaign, with almost 200 CFC campaigns throughout the country and overseas raising millions of dollars each year. Pledges made by Federal civilian, postal and military donors during the campaign season supports eligible non-profit organizations, like CFVI, that provide health and human service benefits throughout the world.
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CFVI Combined Federal Campaign Information:
CFC Sunshine Zone 22
CFC# 45789
EIN 66-0470703
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For Grantees: Updated Grant Recognition Guidelines
We appreciate an acknowledgement of your grant from CFVI in whatever ways are within your organization’s communications capabilities. We encourage you to send us press releases or copies of publications or media coverage that mention your grant. Please refer to the CFVI Grant Recognition Guidelines for more information, or contact Sean Liphard, CFVI Communications Manager, at seanl@cfvi.net.
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CFVI 2019 Financial Report | At a Glance
CFVI’s Financial Statements are audited annually by an independent, certified public accounting firm. As part of our commitment and dedication to fiscal responsibility, transparency and careful stewardship of donor contributions, we produce and share our annual financial report document, which provides an overview of the past two years.
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New Funds, Fiscal Sponsorships and Grants
New Funds/Fiscal Sponsorships
CAHS Centennial Fund
Marine Rebuild Fiscal Sponsorship
New Grants Received
Miami Foundation
GlobalGiving
GlobalGiving/Island Spirit Fund renewed
Banco Popular COVID Response
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Spread the Good News!
During these unprecedented times, we could all use some good news! Help us spread the word about the important work CFVI is supporting throughout our U.S. Virgin Islands. Forward this newsletter to your colleagues, friends and family, and invite them to follow us on social media and join our mailing list!
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We are proud to have earned Guidestar's Platinum Seal of Transparency by sharing our key metrics and highlighting the impact we’re making. |
We are proud to have earned the Charity Navigator 4-Star Rating for demonstrating strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency. |
We are proud to be a vetted organization by GlobalGiving, which recognizes CFVI as a trusted partner and change-maker in the world. |
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CFVI Staff
President
Vice President and
Director of Grants and Programs
Communications Manager
Executive Manager
Accountant
Accounting and Administrative Assistant
CFVI is a proud member of the
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CFVI Office Hours
Due to the ongoing pandemic, CFVI staff will continue to work remotely Monday through Thursday and go into the office on Fridays at least until the end of the year.
If you need to reach us, please email general.info@cfvi.net.
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