May 2020 Community Foundation Newsletter
Remembering Arva Moore Parks
Arva Moore Parks
Arva Moore Parks was a local treasure. In 2013, the Foundation had the privilege of honoring her with our Arts & Culture Award for her significant contributions to historic preservation and the cultural landscape, not only in our City Beautiful, but the greater community as well. Parks died Sunday, May 10th, at home in Miami’s Shenandoah neighborhood. She was 81.

A University of Florida Alumnus (1960), she started her career as a history teacher at her alma mater, Miami Edison Sr. High School. She later attended UM earning a Master's in History with her thesis on Coconut Grove. Arva Moore Parks worked to preserve many historical buildings in South Florida. Specifically to Coral Gables, as an early champion of historic preservation, she helped create Coral Gables’ preservation program in the 1970s and lead efforts to protect founder George Merrick’s family home and the Biltmore Hotel. She was instrumental in commissioning a statue of George Merrick that stands outside Coral Gables City Hall. Recognized for leading the inception and creation of the Coral Gables Museum, she proudly chaired the Board of Trustees.

We will remember Arva for her dedication to encouraging us all to come together through a shared sense of place. She will be missed by all of us at the Coral Gables Community Foundation.
A Beautiful Day Supporting Families
As The Foundation and the City Beautiful continue to work together to serve those in need due to the pandemic’s impact, Cafe Abbracci, Jossie’s Couture and Norma Jean Abraham took part in a distribution of meals and handmade masks for families of St. Alban's Nursery & Enrichment Center. Presently, St. Alban's cares for over 300 families in the West Coconut Grove/East Coral Gables neighborhoods. Thank you to Jossie’s Couture on Miracle Mile for donating the hand-made masks and to Nino Pernetti and the team at Caffe Abbracci for their generous donation of delicious family meals.
Foundation receives Grant from The Batchelor Foundation 
The Batchelor Foundation recently awarded a $20,000 grant to the Coral Gables Community Foundation's Four-Year Scholarship Fund. 

Since 1990, the Batchelor Foundation has provided philanthropic support to organizations that focus on promoting health, education and well being of children, animal welfare, and the preservation of the natural environment in the South Florida community.
 
Established by the Coral Gables Community Foundation's Board of Directors in 2015, the Foundation's Four-Year Scholarship is awarded annually to students who have demonstrated overall academic achievement and dedication to service within the school and in his/her community. 
 
Thank you to the Batchelor Family and to the Batchelor Foundation for their support!
The Kirk Foundation supports Meals & Services for Seniors

The Kirk Foundation, established in 1999 by it's founder and principal benefactor, R. Kirk Landon, made a generous $10,000 donation specifically to provide meals and support for seniors in need through the Foundation’s Community Response efforts. The Community Foundation thanks The Kirk Foundation and its Board of Trustees for their generosity and partnership in delivering this important service to our community’s elderly population .  
New Fund established:
The Foundation is proud to announce the formation of a new fund, the 305 Feeds Charitable Fund. Founded by a group of community-minded friends, Christian Crews, Tony Gambirazio, Jed Royer, Franz Tarafa and Herman Valerius, the Fund will support both local restaurants and non-profits that have been negatively impacted by the pandemic. For more information and to support, please visit their website here: www.305feeds.org
It's Giving Season: Community Foundation awards Grants to 24 Local Non-Profit Organizations
The Coral Gables Community Foundation is pleased to award grants to 24 deserving non-profit organizations during our Spring grant cycle. Twice a year, the Foundation and its Community Giving Committee, chaired by Board Member David Olazabal, awards grants to non-profit organizations with an impact in Coral Gables. 

Thank you to our Community Giving Committee members for their service:
Committee Chair, David Olazabal; Chair of the Board, Laura Russo; John Harris, Vivian de las Cuevas-Diaz; Board Treasurer, Michael Walsh; Past Chair, John O’Rourke; John Allen; Michael McCarthy and Scott Richey.

We are proud to support the great work of our Spring 2020 Grantees!
Create your Legacy Today with the Merrick Society
George Merrick's vision for better living continues today as involved Coral Gables stakeholders strive to maintain the look and feel of the City Beautiful.

The Coral Gables Community Foundation established the Merrick Society so that visionary people can continue George Merrick's dream. The Merrick Society preserves key philanthropic activities in the Gables and raises unrestricted funds for the Foundation.
 
This exclusive group commits to a three-year annual contribution of $1,000, $2,500, $5,000, or $10,000. To find out more, please contact our Executive Director, Mary Snow, at 305.446.9670, or via email at  mary@gablesfoundation.org .


Support the Coral Gables Community Foundation when you shop on Amazon
Support your Community Foundation by shopping on Amazon Smile! When you shop on Amazon Smile, Amazon will donate a portion of your purchase to the Coral Gables Community Foundation. Support us every time you shop!