The Community Foundation of North Central Florida announced $235,000 in grants to local organizations on Thursday as part of its annual “Day of Impact.”
The awards are the collective result of two Community Foundation fundraising groups: $160,000 from the Women’s Giving Circle and $75,000 from the Gainesville-Alachua County Association of Realtors (GACAR) Giving Circle.
Since its inception 20 years ago, the Women’s Giving Circle has awarded over $2.3 million to organizations that support women and girls throughout North Central Florida.
The latest recipient of its $100,000 impact award, Food 4 Kids, will identify single-mother-led families in Alachua County to expand its backpack food program over the next school year. Approximately 1,600 children are currently enrolled in the program, but Margot DeConna, Food 4 Kids executive director, said she expects the new funding to serve an additional 250 families.
“These are families where moms are having to make difficult decisions about whether to feed their kids this weekend, or have that car repair done to get to work, or pay that rent or utility bill,” DeConna told the Community Foundation board of directors at their Thursday meeting. “This grant will impact so many families here in Alachua County and will help these women have the economic power to make their families thrive while also providing nutrition support.”
The remaining $60,000 in catalyst grant funding went to eight organizations: ACORN Clinic, DREAM On Purpose, Gainesville 4 All, Girls Place, Grace Healthcare Services, GRACE Marketplace, Partnership for Strong Families and Working Food.
The other giving circle, GACAR, selected Bright Community Trust to receive its $75,000 award. The organization will use the funding to lower the costs of four homes under construction, said Adam Gurske, one of GACAR’s founders.
“We all know costs are soaring, and for what they’re building – a three-bedroom, two-bath, one-car garage, relatively small homes, 1,300 square feet – the actual construction cost is over $300,000,” Gurske said, explaining to the board that the plan is to sell the homes for around $240,000 to first-time homebuyers. “The unique thing about Bright Community Trust is they build community land trusts, so that also helps with the affordability.”
The award is only the third for the younger giving circle. GACAR Chair Kacey Anderson said her group is taking lessons from the more experienced Women’s Giving Circle.
Megan Jansen, Women’s Giving Circle chair, said 169 members contributed to this year’s total.
“It’s the power of collective giving,” Jansen said. “Every dollar that’s contributed goes right back out into the community. There’s no overhead costs. The donations are made in January, and they’re out in the community by June. Making that impact, that quick.”