CFVI Virtual Giving Tree Project Returns for the Holidays

The Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands' (CFVI) popular holiday Virtual Giving Tree project is back for the fourth year in a row. More than $220,000 has been distributed to USVI nonprofits since the program was launched in 2020. 

Last year, the project distributed $56,266 to 21 USVI nonprofits to support holiday-related needs for children, youth, families and seniors. Funding was used to provide seniors, low-income families and children, the homeless, and others with a variety of needs, including food, personal care products, holiday gift baskets, clothing, toys, and much more. For a detailed list, read the press release from last year.

For more information, contact Beth Nuttall, Director of Grants and Programs, at bethn@cfvi.net.

Donations to support the 2023 Virtual Giving Tree project can be made online at

cfvi.co/DonateGivingTree. One hundred percent of all proceeds will directly support the holiday-related needs of USVI nonprofits.

2024 Angels Giving Campaign Kicks Off

CFVI has officially kicked off its 2024 Angels Giving Campaign, which raises funds that directly contribute to the well-being of Virgin Islands residents. Programs, operating costs, and much of our community outreach are provided each year through generous Angel donations.

The CFVI Angels community is the largest philanthropic network supporting the territory. Since 1999, Angels have provided nearly $8 million in unrestricted funding from individual and business donors who contribute $500 or more annually to the Foundation.

Please join us in celebrating a legacy of impact and providing an even brighter future in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Your contribution to CFVI’s Angels network will have a direct impact on:

• Operational Excellence: Strengthening our organizational capacity.
• Community Empowerment: Expanding our programs.
• Innovation and Resilience: Investing in tools and resources.
• Unity and Collaboration: Enhancing partnerships.

Together we can do great things!

CFVI Announces Opening of USVI's 13th Little Free Library

Newest addition located at Alvin McBean Ball Park in Anna's Retreat on St. Thomas

CFVI is pleased to announce the opening of the 13th Little Free Library (LFL) in the territory as part of the Foundation’s relaunch following the pandemic.

The newest library is located at Alvin McBean Ball Park in Anna's Retreat on St. Thomas. An official opening event was held Dec. 9.

"CFVI is so excited to reestablish our LFL program following the disruptions of the pandemic. We are committed to enhancing the lives of the children, families, and all who live in the Virgin Islands and we believe that supporting literacy and providing Little Free Libraries for our community is a valuable way to do this," said CFVI President, Dee Baecher-Brown.

Learn more about the program and other USVI LFL locations.

Longtime CFVI Friend and Fund Holder Publishes Book

Judith Towle, CFVI friend and fund holder, recently released the book her late husband, Ed, always meant to write, although with her own take on the subject: “A Caribbean Awakening – the Dawn of an Environmental Movement in a Sea of Small Islands.”

The book makes a wide sweep across the Caribbean and the northern Atlantic but concentrates primarily on the Leeward Islands, especially, though not exclusively, those with English-speaking communities. The author highlights Ed’s heroes in the environmental movement and adds a lot of her own research for context and background.

Of special interest to Virgin Islands readers may be Towle’s retelling of the controversial transformation of nearly two-thirds of St. John into a National Park.

The Judith A. Towle Environmental Studies Fund was established at CFVI in 2003 in recognition of the commitment of Judith Towle to increasing environmental awareness in the Caribbean. 

Read more in The St. Thomas Source.

Inaugural Maria Rodriguez Van Heurck Award

Individuals may be nominated for a $5,000 award

CFVI is pleased to invite nominations for the inaugural Maria Rodriguez Van Heurck Award. Nominees will be evaluated based on the pillars of a giving spirit, selfless service, love for community, and choosing to find beauty in life. The nominee selected will receive $5,000 to be used in the USVI or BVI in support of charitable activities.

In partnership with CFVI, the Maria Rodriguez Foundation Fund was founded in 2021 by family and friends to recognize a member of the Virgin Islands community who embodies Maria’s spirit of selfless service. The Fund seeks to honor Maria by continuing her legacy of giving back to the community, in both big and little ways.

Residents in the U.S. Virgin Islands and British Virgin Islands are eligible for nomination. Nominations must be submitted by December 31, 2023, using the application in CFVI's online grant portal.

Individuals with additional questions are encouraged to contact Beth Nuttall, Director of Grants and Programs, at bethn@cfvi.net. 

Charlotte Kimelman Cancer Institute Groundbreaking

The groundbreaking ceremony for the Charlotte Kimelman Cancer Institute was held on Saturday, November 4, and featured remarks from CFVI President, Dee Baecher-Brown.

"Charlotte Kimelman, a cherished philanthropist and devoted resident of St. Thomas, will forever be remembered for her remarkable contributions to the Virgin Islands community," said Baecher-Brown. "She and her late husband Henry L. Kimelman's enduring impact on healthcare and community development is an inspiration to us all."

The Kimelmans were also visionaries. In 1990, they founded CFVI, an organization that has since become a cornerstone for community development, fostering positive change across the islands.

Grantee Spotlights

Gifft Hill School

CFVI awarded a grant to Gifft Hill School, with funding from Banco Popular, to provide academic support and engaging enrichment activities to students in grades K-12 through an after-school program. The program operated during the academic year, offering tutoring and enrichment for a range of subjects, including mathematics, English language arts, science, and social studies. In addition to academic tutoring, the program also provided enrichment activities such as STEM workshops, arts and crafts, and recreational activities, fostering a well-rounded learning experience.

Learn more about Gifft Hill School.

Eddie Ortiz Annual Three Kings Tradition, Inc.

CFVI awarded a grant to Eddie Ortiz Annual Three Kings Tradition, Inc., with funding from the Carambola Youth Athletic Fund to support 10 players from the 3 Queens Basketball Team for their participation in the 2023 Women's Basketball Invitational Tournament in Puerto Rico. The grant covered expenses such as travel, accommodation, transportation, and meals. This off-island basketball tournament offered players a higher level of competition and a broader perspective on the sport. Additionally, it promoted unity, fostered cultural exchange, and further developed the athletes' skills.

CFVI Staff Attends 2023 National Humanities Conference

CFVI President, Dee Baecher-Brown, and Grants and Programs Director, Beth Nuttall, attended the 2023 National Humanities Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana, hosted by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and the National Humanities Alliance.

The annual conference brings together representatives from colleges, universities, state humanities councils, cultural institutions, and other community-based organizations to explore approaches to deepening the public’s engagement with the humanities.

Directory of Community Organizations

To access the directory via a print/PDF version, or to be included in the directory, visit https://cfvi.net/Directory-of-Community-Organizations.

To request a hard copy of the print version, contact general.info@cfvi.net.

Learn more. 

Share Virtue of the Week with Others!

Promoting Child Development

Text-based curriculum is available FREE through 2024

We believe in empowering caregivers as at home learning partners. So we’re partnering with ParentPowered, formerly Ready4K, to offer a text-messaged parenting curriculum that is mapped to the moment from birth through 4th grade. No extra time or supplies needed! Simply text the code CFVI to 70138 to start receiving messages today.

Parents and caregivers receive daily texts that consist of fun facts and easy tips on how to promote their child’s development by building on existing family routines.

Join other families in the territory already using the curriculum! By entering your cell phone number you agree to enroll in the program and receive ParentPowered text messages from 70138. While there is no cost for enrolling, data and message rates may apply. You can cancel the text messages at any time by texting STOP to 70138.

For Grantees: Grant Recognition Guidelines



We appreciate an acknowledgment 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 mentions your grant. Please refer to the CFVI Grant Recognition Guidelines for more information, or contact Sean Liphard, CFVI Communications Manager, at seanl@cfvi.net.

New Fund and Fiscal Sponsorships

Empower VI - Fiscal Sponsorship

Self-ish Summit - Fiscal Sponsorship

VI Children's Museum - Agency Fund

CFVI Staff

Dee Baecher-Brown

President

Sonia Barnes-Moorhead

Vice President, Development & Capacity Building

Jeanne Brennan Wiebracht, CPA

Vice President, Finance & Administration

Susan Clark

Controller

Sean Liphard

Communications Manager

Beth Nuttall

Director of Grants & Programs

Una Pascal

Accountant

CFVI is a proud member of the

CFVI Office Hours

Our office is staffed on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, with employees working remotely Mondays and Thursdays.

Please call or email us before visiting the CFVI office as our hours can fluctuate.