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Written by: Coral Gables In the Community

Coral Gables Community Foundation Awards Nearly $50,000 in Grants in 2014

While residents were busy buying presents for family members and friends, The Coral Gables Community Foundation was also in the spirit of giving. Recently awarding grants to seven local non-profit organizations, the Foundation brought its annual community giving through grants to $50,000. The Girl Scouts of Tropical Florida, Pridelines Youth Services, Actors Playhouse, GableStage, Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Merrick Festival, and Coral Gables Senior High School College Assistance Program, were the lucky recipients of these gifts.

Girl Scouts of Tropical Florida: Awarded $5,000
The Foundation awarded this grant toward the Girl Scout Leadership Development Program, which serves 200 girls in Coral Gables.  The funds will be used toward Girl Scout memberships, patches, activities and camperships for girls to attend camps (two of which are located in Coral Gables – Camp Mahachee and Coral Gables Little House). The Girl Scout camp scholarship recipients will be named for the Foundation and they will receive a special Coral Gables Community Foundation logo patch.

Pridelines Youth Services: Awarded $5,000
With their grant, The Pridelines Youth Services will provide support for LGBTQ youth (ages 14-24) living within Coral Gables and the surrounding areas by developing a weekly Rainbow Circle, a peer-led support group within the City limits. Pridelines currently operates Rainbow Circles throughout Miami-Dade County, including in Miami Shores, South Miami, Cutler Bay, and Coral Gables. Additionally, the organization seeks to collaborate with Safe Schools South Florida to ensure the success of their annual Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) Summit at Coral Gables Congregational Church and with the intention of assisting in the development of a GSA at Coral Gables Senior High School.

Actor’s Playhouse: Awarded $2,500
The winner of the Playhouse’s Young Talent Big Dreams talent contest will be the recipient of a scholarship set up by these funds awarded by the Foundation.  The objective of the contest is to provide youth from Miami’s diverse ethnic and socio-economic communities the opportunity to develop their artistic skills and talent by preparing and auditioning on a professional stage. Winners receive cash prizes for scholarships to arts programs. The Foundation will present the scholarship to the recipient on stage at Actor’s Playhouse in May 2015.

GableStage: Awarded $5,000
GableStage at the Biltmore was awarded this Foundation grant to support the upcoming 2014-2015 season as well as for Educational Programming. For example, productions of Choir Boy and Macbeth will be toured directly throughout Miami-Dade County Public Schools. All programs are offered through Miami-Dade’s Cultural Passport Program and are free of charge to the students. The Foundation will partner with GableStage on a special preview night on July 31, 2015, at the playhouse with proceeds going directly to the Foundation.

Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired: Awarded $5,000
This Foundation grant is earmarked for the Better Chance Music Production Program, which enables blind and visually impaired musicians to learn music production and the business of music. Miami Lighthouse for the Blind served 100 Coral Gables residents in the past 12 months.

Merrick Festival: Awarded $1,500
The Merrick Festival is known for its Caroling Competition. This grant funded the largest award of the competition, the Full Choir award, which was named the “Coral Gables Community Foundation Full Choir Award.”  A Foundation representative presented the check to the winning caroling team in December.

Coral Gables Senior High School College Assistance Program (CAP): Awarded $2,500
With the Foundation’s grant, The CAP program will purchase approximately 25 tablet computers and one charging station. The tablets will be used to register students for college financial aid and Bright Futures Scholarships. Over 70% of the students at Gables High are on free and reduced lunch and many of these students do not have access to computers or internet at home. The purchase of tablet computers for CAP office use will ensure that students are provided with the most up-to-date technology with which to prepare for college.

Led by community leaders, the Coral Gables Community Foundation provides the philanthropic conduit to connect individuals and corporations looking to positively impact the success of the community. The Foundation’s next application deadline is April 17, 2015. Grant information and applications can be found on its website, www.gablesfoundation.org.

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Last modified: March 2, 2015