Alachua city officials, citizens and Chamber of Commerce members gathered at the Alachua Woman’s Club on Tuesday to distribute $27,500 to local schools and organizations supporting youth development during the chamber’s regular monthly luncheon.  

Scherer Construction’s marketing coordinator, Shelley Vickers, facilitated the event as the chamber’s 2026 president. 

She said the chamber—which now has 381 members in its 50th year—saw 21 organizations specializing in youth development, from after-school programs to good grades and behavior incentives, applying for one of 10 grant fund recipients. 

The fact that local schools secured nearly half of the winning spots showed the chamber’s commitment to supporting the next generation, Vickers said. 

“When we support our kids, they are our future. They are the ones that will be signing our paychecks, and they’ll be the ones taking care of us one day,” she said. “So we want to make sure that we take care of them, make sure they have all the resources that they need in order to grow.” 

The chamber raised the money through its 36th Annual Alachua Chamber Sportsfest Golf Tournament last year at Turkey Creek Golf Course.  Around 120 players and 50 volunteers participated in the event, which frequently sells out, and is the chamber’s only fundraiser. 

“When you lead with heart and you serve with purpose and you support one another, there is nothing that this community can’t accomplish,” Vickers said. “Something as silly as a little sports tournament that we do, playing golf and having fun with one another, we’re able to support all of these organizations.” 

The following organizations received grants from Alachua’s Chamber of Commerce: 

• City of Alachua Recreation & Culture—$10,000  
  According to Vickers, Legacy Park meets thousands of children from across the region through the city’s programming. She said the department had an $18,000 deficit last year, covering program fees, and this year’s grant would aim to help even more children.  

• Santa Fe High School Regiment Band Boosters—$4,000 
  The grant will help restore and repair over 100 instruments and equipment to working condition. 
  

• Crafty Gemini—$3,000 
  The non-profit aims to provide development and training through the arts, farming and athletics for up to 45 youth and senior citizens. The grant will provide craft materials and teaching tools for participants to learn hands-on and creative entrepreneurship skills, such as sewing, crafting and digital design. Youth can grow in confidence, teamwork and leadership while gaining experience for future education, careers and small business opportunities. 
  
  “Our organization really appreciates the opportunity to serve here in this community,” Crafty Gemini founder Brandon Wilson told Mainstreet. “We’ve been doing this stuff a long time, for probably about 15 years. To be recognized and be helped really makes our life a lot easier. It makes us more to everyone else besides just the kids that we serve. So it’s really, really exciting to be recognized and have the opportunity to partner with the chamber.” 
• Cade Museum—$2,000 
  The Gainesville-based museum will use the grant to supply hands-on science, technology, engineering, math and science workshops in Alachua for 60 to 90 youth. 
• Alachua Elementary School—$2,000 
  The grant will supply incentives for recognizing students’ positive behavior, good attendance and academic achievement. 

• Irby Elementary School—$1,500 
  The funds will supply positive behavior and academic achievement incentives for students. 

• Santa Fe High School Parent Teacher Student Association—$1,500 
  The grant will help fund supplies for the school’s care closet, which provides students with essential items like feminine hygiene products, jackets and shoes to help students feel supported and confident. 
• Santa Fe High School counseling and student services—$1,000 
  The group will provide students with mental awareness education through state-approved activities and events that help build resilience, coping skills, peer connections and reduce stress with healthy habits. 

• Alachua Chamber of Commerce—$1,000 
  For materials and supplies needed to recognize local students who make the honor roll and the AB honor roll. Dollar General, G&C Foods and other organizations will also donate reward incentives like ice cream bars for the chamber to give to students. 

• Kiwanis of Santa Fe from A.L. Mebane Middle School—$1,000 
  The funds will support Mebane’s Mustang reward programs with prizes that encourage students to make good choices that foster positive behavior and healthy interactions. 

Sign-ups for the chamber’s 2026 Alachua Chamber Sportsfest Golf Tournament will open in April.