2012 Homestead Charity Tour Highlights

More than a dozen members of the Ocean Reef Community participated in the first of two charity tours this season in January. A second tour of Key Largo charities will be held on Wednesday, March 28th; call 305-367-4707 to reserve your seat on the motor coach!

Members on a tour of the Chapman Partnership for Homeless facility visited the dining space where Ocean Reef Club's surplus foods are served -- providing about 900 meals a week for homeless families -- through Feeding South Florida's Extra Helpings program, thanks to funding and collaboration from the Foundation and Ocean Reef Club.

At MUJER, Inc. members learned about domestic violence services and got an update on the Foundation's 2011 grant which provided funds for workshops and follow-up therapy for child and teenage victims of family violence. The group heard directly from the mother of a child who participated who spoke about the positive results her son experienced and a young woman whose

life was dramatically changed by the program.

The Children of South Dade Child Development Center displayed colorful banners and performed several songs as a "thank you" to the Ocean Reef Community for the new covered walkways (in the background) which now allow them to walk between between buildings in inclement weather as the tour group looked on. The Foundation awarded a $21,500 matching grant for the walkways in 2011 and they were installed when the match was achieved over the winter holiday break.

The final stop on the tour was to KIX After School Program in West Homestead. KIX has made its first grant application this year and it was the Foundation's first site visit. The group heard testimonials from two former students who are now successful adults, including one who recently earned a Master's degree.

Member feedback from the Homestead and Key Largo tours will be taken into account as the Grants Committee goes through the decision process for 2012.