Community Foundation to Honor Nonprofit “Hero” Volunteers in Virtual Celebration Feb. 5th 

Community Foundation to Honor Nonprofit “Hero” Volunteers in Virtual Celebration Feb. 5th 

The Community Foundation of the Florida Keys (CFFK) will honor the incredible efforts of volunteers from 83 Keys nonprofits at its Unsung Heroes Virtual Celebration on February 5th at noon. Everyone can join in this year’s party, which will be a free virtual celebration livestreamed on Facebook and at cffk.org. No reservations are necessary.

The list of this year’s Volunteers of the Year, nominated by nonprofits based in and serving the Keys, is attached.

In addition to the honorees, the virtual event will feature a special tribute to the late Cheryl Cates, honored by four nonprofits she volunteered for, Florida Keys Children’s Shelter, Samuel’s House, Wesley House, and Kids Come First. The event will also include national philanthropy expert, Dr. Sara Konrath from the Indiana University School of Philanthropy. Dr. Konrath will share surprising reasons why giving is good for people and can actually improve their health.

The Unsung Heroes celebration is sponsored by the Lower Keys Medical Center and promotes civic engagement throughout the Keys.

David Clay, CEO of Lower Keys Medical Center, said, “The not-for-profit organizations and their volunteers being recognized are so vital to the health and well-being of our communities, providing food, shelter, financial assistance and health and human services to our residents in need. The Unsung Heroes event is our chance to celebrate the giving nature of the Keys and the people who work tirelessly to help their neighbors.”

Nearly 1,400 volunteers have been recognized since the event was started 21 years ago. Keys volunteers donate their time and services to our community, including cleaning up beaches, supplying food to children and families in need, fostering animals, mentoring students, assisting at homeless shelters, and much more.

More information is available at cffk.org.

Your Community Foundation of the Florida Keys, In Paradise for Good, is celebrating its 25^th anniversary this year. Since 1996, the Community Foundation has been connecting people, resources and needs through philanthropy. CFFK helps individuals and families leave a legacy in the Keys by inspiring giving and by investing in people and solutions to benefit every resident from Key Largo to Key West. Over $30 million in grants have been made to student scholarships, arts and culture, beautification and preservation of the Keys, health and human services, hurricane relief, and youth programs. The Community Foundation is known for its signature “Unsung Heroes” event which honors nonprofit volunteers. For more information, call (305) 292-1502 or visit cffk.org.

 

2021 Unsung Heroes

A Positive Step of Monroe County: Rob Derouse

A.H. of Monroe County: Steve Torrence

Anchors Aweigh Club: Lori Marshall

Anne McKee Artists Fund: Dani Holliday

Bahama Village Music Program: Sally Binard

Boys and Girls Clubs of the Keys Area: (Adriene) Lynne Casamayor

Conch Republic Marine Army: Steve Estes

Coral Restoration Foundation: Patti Gross

Cornerstone Resource Alliance: Peter Bennett

Domestic Abuse Shelter: Jennifer Powell

Educational Coalition of Monroe County: Tina Belotti And Christina Belotti

FIRMKeys: Mel Montagne

First Baptist Church of Islamorada: Heather Neal

Florida Keys Assisted Care Coalition: Joan Higgs and Edwin Swift III

Florida Keys Children’s Shelter, Kids Come First, Samuel’s House, and Wesley House:

Cheryl Cates (Posthumous)

Keys Community Land Trust: Maggie Whitcomb

Florida Keys Council of The Arts: Marycarlin and Bill Porter

Florida Keys Drowning Prevention Task Force: Susan Mitchell

Florida Keys Foster Adoptive Association: Lori Stikes

Florida Keys Healthy Start Coalition: Commodore Rosemary Thomas

Florida Keys History and Discovery Foundation: Vivian Morrison

Florida Keys Outreach Coalition: Ruth Cahoon

Florida Keys Spca: Sara Houben-Van Gerner

Friends of The Key West Library: Denison Tempel

Fringe Theater Key West: Janet Bengel

Girl Scouts of Tropical Florida: Jacqueline North

Good Health Clinic: Pamela Molinaro

Guidance/Care Center: Dr. John Norris

Habitat For Humanity of Key West and Lower Fl Keys: Rich Fielder

Habitat For Humanity of The Middle Keys: Vicki Stead

Habitat For Humanity of The Upper Keys: David Helwig

Island Dolphin Care: Wendee McCue

Just Older Youth: Betsy Baste

Key West Art & Historical Society: Teo and Loretta Chapa

Key West Art Center & Gallery: Haley Herriott

Key West Community Sailing Center: Mike Vickery

Key West Garden Club: Dave Deck

Key West Impromptu Classical Concerts: Lynn Williams

Key West Orchid Society: Frank Smith

Key West Sunrise Rotary: Marty Hirsch

Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden: Pat Borgens

Key West Writers Guild: Laura Knight

Keys To Be The Change: Margit Bisztray

Last Stand: Diane Beruldsen

Leadership Monroe County: Leah Stockton

Legal Services of Greater Miami: Richard Malafy

Literacy Volunteers of America-Monroe County: Mary Casanova

Living Springs Counseling: Sylvia Maltzman

Lower Keys League of Women Voters: Joan Wallin

Mangrove Mike’s Endeavors: Sheriff Rick Ramsay

Marathon Garden Club: Linnea Cunningham

Marrvelous Pet Rescues: Annie Johnston

Matecumbe Historical Trust: Clay Crockett

Metropolitan Community Church (Cooking With Love): Mark Lenkner and Jarrett Nyschick

Monroe Association For ReMARCable Citizens: June Klausing

Monroe County Education Foundation (Take Stock In Children): Mark Funt

Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium: Clayton Pelkey

Navy League of The United States Key West Council: Kathy Russ

Old Island Restoration Foundation: Linda Downs and Angela Majors

One Island Family – The Southernmost Unitarian Universalist Congregation: Amelia Hanley

Red Barn Theatre:  Tanna Jones

Reef Environmental Education Foundation (Reef): Nancy Perez

Rotary Club of Key Largo: James Hack (Posthumous)

Rural Health Network of Monroe: Vivian Roberts

Save Our Pines: Brewster Chamberlin (Posthumous)

Sister Season Fund: Valerie Edgington

Southernmost Coconut Castaways: John and Sandy Grouten

Southernmost VFW Post #3911: Rod Delostrinos

Special Olympics Florida Monroe County: William (Bill) Anderson

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church: Ken Bagge

The Studios of Key West: Shelli Chase

The Basilica School of Saint Mary Star of The Sea: Christina Mattheessen

The Salvation Army – Florida Keys: Suzie Puskedra

The Waypoint Foundation: Christine Morgan

Tropic Cinema: Benjamin Egnatz

United Way of Collier and The Keys: Mike Forster

Unity of The Keys Spiritual Center: Nancy Callihan

Upper Keys Community Foundation: Robert Stuart

Upper Keys Humane Society: K. Shylon Martin and Lisa Slaydon

Zonta Club of Key West: Bonnie Helms

[livemarket market_name="KONK Life LiveMarket" limit=3 category=“” show_signup=0 show_more=0]