Pictured left to right: Coral Shores High School Principal Laura Lietaert, Ocean Studies Charter School Principal Trish Woods, Key Largo School Principal Darren Pais, Plantation Key School Principal Lisa Taylor and Community Foundation CEO Jennifer McComb (not pictured: Treasure Village Montessori Charter School Principal Kelly Mangel).

Community Foundation Grants $12,000 for Youth Mental Health

KEY LARGO TO ISLAMORADA, FLORIDA – Students in five Upper Florida Keys public schools are the beneficiaries of a total of $12,000 in grants through the Upper Keys Future Fund of the Community Foundation of the Florida Keys to support mental well-being of students. Funding will serve several purposes including rewarding good student behavior through fun activities and events to help students develop new skills for problem solving and more.

Monroe County Superintendent of Schools Theresa Axford stated, “We are grateful to the Community Foundation for partnering with us and recognizing the needs of students at this time.  We have seen many different behaviors that have emerged in our students in the post pandemic era and we know that support for students both financially and emotionally is a critical element of success in moving forward.”

Grants were awarded to Key Largo School, Plantation Key School, Coral Shores High School, Treasure Village Montessori, and Ocean Studies Charter School based on a recommendation by the Upper Florida Keys Advisory Council to the Community Foundation of the Florida Keys.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and Prevention defines mental disorders among children as “serious changes in the way children typically learn, behave or handle their emotions, causing distress and problems getting through the day.” Nationally, CDC reports behavioral problems, anxiety and depression as the “most commonly diagnosed” mental disorders in children.

A report issued by Monroe County in 2019 following a Youth Risk Behavior Survey said students reported that:

  • 66% had one or more adverse childhood experiences with 24% experiencing three or more;
  • 32% felt sad and hopeless almost every day for two or more weeks in a row that they stopped doing usual activities; and
  • 38% had serious difficulty concentrating, remembering or making decisions because of mental or emotional challenges

The Upper Keys Advisory Council has selected Mental Health of Students as an initial focus for its work. The Council will host a public symposium on causes, impacts and ways that schools, families, and other constituents can help students with mental health disorders. The event will be held on the evening of Wednesday, February 2, 2022, at the Performing Arts Center at Coral Shores High School.

Donations to the Upper Keys Future Fund will continue work with Upper Keys Schools to strengthen programs that support student mental health. All gifts are currently being matched one-to-one up to $25,000 by the Community Foundation and can be made online at cffk.org/upperkeys.

Individuals serving on the Upper Florida Keys Advisory Council are:

  • Laura Lietaert, Chair, Principal, Coral Shores High School
  • Tim Ervin, Nonprofit, Business and Government Consultant
  • Billy Hart, Real Estate Professional, Ocean Sotheby’s International Realty
  • Joe Molinaro, Entrepreneur and CPA
  • Elizabeth Moscynski, President, Key Largo Chamber of Commerce
  • Pasta Pantaleo, Artist and Gallery Owner, Art By Pasta
  • Wil Peña, Financial Planning Consultant
  • Dr. Aimee Stough, Nurse Practitioner, Florida Keys Pediatric and Adolescent Center
  • Isis Wright, Brand Developer and Digital Marketing Executive
  • Suzi Youngberg, President, Upper Keys Business and Professional Women

Your Community Foundation of the Florida Keys, In Paradise for Good, is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Since 1996, the Community Foundation has granted over $31 million to benefit residents from Key Largo to Key West through scholarships, arts and culture, beautification and preservation of the Keys, health and human services, hurricane relief, youth programs and more. The Foundation is known for its signature “Unsung Heroes” event honoring nonprofit volunteers. To create a personalized fund or find out how your donation can be doubled, visit cffk.org or call 305-292-1502.

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