Community Foundation Awards Over $480,000 to Continue Hurricane Irma Relief Assistance

The Community Foundation of the Florida Keys (CFFK) is providing an additional $480,650 to continue to assist with relief efforts in the Keys following Hurricane Irma. To date, CFFK has provided nearly $620,000 from the Florida Keys Emergency Relief Fund and the Landau Family Hurricane Relief Fund for the Upper Keys to support much-needed relief for individuals from Key West to Key Largo.

The $480,650 in grants supports 35 nonprofits providing direct assistance to foster children, families, students and teachers, police officers, commercial fishers, veterans, and other individuals throughout the Keys. The grants provide temporary housing, rent, mortgage and utilities assistance, food, clothing, household supplies, medical care, counseling, daycare services, home repairs, rebuilding efforts, and more. A complete list of all grantees in this round is attached and available online at cffk.org.

“One of the Community Foundation’s most important roles is to help with our community’s critical needs,” says CFFK Chair Susanne Woods. “We’re pleased that through these grants, we are able to aid hundreds of individuals, families and businesses throughout the Keys for immediate needs and rebuilding efforts following the devastation of Hurricane Irma. We’re grateful for the incredible generosity of so many people and businesses around the country that contributed to the Relief Fund and joined us in this effort.”

Four community Advisory Committees representing areas of the Keys (Key West, Lower, Middle and Upper Keys) reviewed all applications to determine how to best meet the local area’s needs. The committees made recommendations to CFFK’s Grant Committee for final determination.

These 35 grants complement the $138,000 provided over the past six weeks by CFFK for immediate relief with housing and rent issues. Additional grants will be made in the coming months to address longer-term recovery and rebuilding efforts. Applications for assistance and more information will be available at cffk.org.

Contributions to the Florida Keys Emergency Relief Fund are still needed to meet the huge demand for longer-term recovery efforts throughout the Keys. CFFK is distributing 100% of funds raised. Donations may be made online at cffk.org. All donations are tax deductible.

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About the Community Foundation of the Florida Keys: The Community Foundation serves the needs and philanthropic aims of donors who wish to better the Keys. For more than 20 years, CFFK has been making Key West and the Florida Keys a better place to live now and in the future by encouraging philanthropy and matching these acts of caring to the community needs.  CFFK and its funding partners have granted more than $22 million to the community since 1996 helping residents from Key West to Key Largo through grants to our local nonprofit partners, scholarships and program services. CFFK currently manages over 140 funds and endowments for individuals and other nonprofits and causes throughout the Florida Keys. More information is available at www.cffk.org or by calling 305-292-1502.

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