FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Palm Beach Gardens, Fl. Feb 25, 2015 – 30 area organizations with extraordinary local community programs were awarded financial Grants totaling a record $290,000 by the BallenIsles Charities Foundation (BICF) during a heart-warming charity reception earlier this month at BallenIsles Country Club.

The “Helping to Make a Difference” financial Grants bring the Foundation’s total charitable contributions made since its formation in 2011 by residents and members of BallenIsles Country Club to $865,000.

“We could not achieve the progress we have been making, without the kind generosity of BallenIsles residents and the local businesses which support our mission to help the many worthwhile organizations in Palm Beach County that accomplish great things on very limited resources,” said BallenIsles Charities Foundation President Fred Corrado.

The financial Grants include support for the purchase by the Palm Beach Gardens Fire Rescue Department of its first-ever,  live fire simulator which creates a visual image of a burning fire while eliminating costly and dangerous live fire training. Palm Beach Gardens Fire Department Division Chief of Training Shon Broedell demonstrated how the live fire simulator can create a visual image of a burning fire while eliminating costly and dangerous live fire training. The state of the art, waterproof digital live fire simulator creates self-generated LED flames and has five thermal sensors with realistic sound effects.  The system also incorporates a smoky environment with the use a smoke generator. In addition to training PBG Fire & Rescue personnel, the live fire simulator will be made available to neighboring Fire Rescue Departments including North Palm Beach and Palm Beach County Fire Rescue. It will also be used by both the Palm Beach Gardens Boy Scouts of America Fire Explorer Post and PBG Reserve Firefighter Division, providing realistic fire training to these future firefighters, without putting them at risk. Palm Beach Gardens Fire Rescue Chief, Michael Southard, Deputy Fire Chief, Keith Bryer and Division Chief, Shon Broedell accepted the Foundation’s financial Grant on behalf of the fire department.

The BallenIsles Charities Foundation financial Grants also support funding to PAWS 4 LIBERTY for the adoption, veterinary care and training of a military service dog for veterans with disabilities. PAWS 4 LIBERTY is one of few nonprofit organizations in Florida using animal-assisted therapy to help veterans achieve functional independence and a better quality of life. Many returning veterans are being diagnosed with PTSD, and the suicide rate among active duty personnel reached an all-time high in 2012.

Corporal Joseph Rainey, a veteran of the Gulf War, Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) in Afghanistan, and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) in Iraq, also attended the reception on behalf of PAWS 4 LIBERTY, with his Military Service dog Tank, a 4-year-old Golden Retriever.

The BICF financial Grants also support the purchase of Computer Aided Design (CAD) software that will further enhance the programs at Suncoast High School that have helped this local public Magnet school become academically recognized nationally as one of the Best High Schools in America.

At Adopt-A-Family of the Palm Beaches, the Foundation’s Grant will again provide school supplies, uniforms and personal hygiene kits that will make it possible for some 200 children in need to attend school.

Clinics Can Help was again supported by a financial award from the Foundation. The non-profit collects and re-distributes surplus medical equipment and supplies to over 1200 financially insecure patients. The grant supports the purchase of 12 adaptive transit strollers, used in place of a wheelchair.

Alzheimer’s Community Care received a Grant from the Foundation that funds one full month of family nurse consultant care and services. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County received funding for an afterschool STEM program for one of two clubs in the program, while a comprehensive dental care program for 60 children will be made possible at Caridad Center.

At Eisenhower School the Foundation’s financial grant has funded a K‐5 IPad Cart to be used by the entire school as needed.

Feed The Hungry will use the grant to provide 500 families in need with a box of food, which includes meats and fresh vegetables.

Also supported by a Foundation Financial Grant was First Tee of The Palm Beaches which will use it to provide 9 after school sessions for 200 students. Grandma’s Place will use its grant from the foundation to provide 650 hours of care and educational support for children in crisis.

At Gratitude House, the financial grant will provide 2 months of care for mothers and infants in treatment together.

The Financial grants will also enable H.A.C.E.R. Ministry Corporation to provide food to feed some 330 families. At Habitat for Humanity of Palm Beach County, the financial grant will fund a program with Seminole Ridge Construction academy for home building for qualified recipients.

Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of PBC received a grant from the Foundation for the purchase of 4 breast pumps and instructional kits for mothers in need. Homeless Coalition of Palm Beach County will use its Foundation Grant to purchase 25 beds to be used by families in need who have obtained permanent housing.

The Palm Beach County Food Bank will use the Foundation grant to provide food for 160 families who are in the weekend nutrition program. At Palm Beach Gardens City Hall, the Foundation’s financial Grant will provide funding for the BallenIsles Performance Series conducted annually.

Palm Beach Gardens Elementary will purchase 1500 books for students while Palm Beach Gardens High School will fund the annual college trip, so students in need have the ability to visit potential schools. The Palm Beach Gardens Police Department will use the Foundation’s financial grant to purchase infant/child car safety seats to be given to those unable to afford them. The Renaissance Learning Academy will purchase exercise machines with its financial Grant, for use by students with Autism Spectrum disorder. The Renaissance Learning Center will use the Foundation’s Grant to purchase musical instruments and equipment for use by children with Autism.

The Symphonic Band of The Palm Beaches will use its Foundation Grant to fund the purchase of new or used musical instruments for use in the instrument donation program.

13 participants in a 36 week after school program administered by Team First-Pal will be funded by the Foundation’s financial Grant. The Arc of Palm Beach County will use its grant to fund the music and arts program in the Potentials Charter School. The Center for Family Services of Palm Beach County will fund its grant the purchase of bedding to be used at the Pat Reeves Village for families in crisis. Urban Youth Impact also received a financial grant to fund the support of 2 children for 1 year in the after school and summer programs. Funding for the support of wounded veterans to visit Palm Beach County for 4 days will also be made possible by the Foundation’s financial grants to the West Palm Beach Waterfront Warriors.

The BallenIsles Charities Foundation www.BallenIslesCharitiesFoundation.org is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission of “Helping to Make a Difference” in the community. It renders financial and in-kind support to area organizations providing civic, educational programs, health and human services and support for the environment. The Foundation’s 2015 Grant Giving of $290,000 surpasses monies previously raised and awarded in the four years since its formation. The Foundation previously awarded $130,000 in 2012; $160,000 in 2013; $285,000 in 2014. A number of organizations were receiving repeat Grants from the BallenIsles Charities Foundation.

 

“When we began this journey four years ago we really set out to try to make a difference with financial Grants for small local charities that sometimes fly under the radar of public attention while doing marvelous work. The support we’ve drawn from our BallenIsles community and neighborhood businesses to help these valuable local programs in the towns where we live, volunteer and use services, shows how we can make a difference together and that continues to mean a lot to us,” said BallenIsles Charities Foundation President, Fred Corrado.

Download a printable copy of this press release.

 

MEDIA CONTACT:

Mark Hopkinson, NewsMark Public Relations

561-852-5767 [email protected]

#   #  #