11.10.2008 -  VENICE, FL (November 10, 2008) – Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice has been awarded a $5 million grant to assist military personnel from central and southwest Florida who are serving or have served in Afghanistan and Iraq.  The Foundation will work with local nonprofit organizations in a 25-county area to help serve the needs of these personnel and their families before, during, and after deployment.  Funds will be made available to nonprofits through a structured grant process beginning November 11.

“Florida is home to 11 active military bases and a host of other military installations, and there are a multitude of unmet needs arising among these service men and women and their families as a direct result of their deployment to Afghanistan and Iraq,” said Teri A Hansen, president and CEO of Gulf Coast Community Foundation.  “We are honored to be asked to help support those who are courageously serving our country.”

The grant to Gulf Coast Community Foundation was awarded through the Iraq-Afghanistan Deployment Impact Fund, which is administered by the Los Angeles-based California Community Foundation.  Additional IADIF grants were awarded to Dade Community Foundation and The Community Foundation in Jacksonville, for a total of $15 million statewide.  To date, IADIF has distributed over $200 million to more than 50 nonprofits across the country to provide such services as counseling, childcare, transportation, emergency financial assistance, support and recovery programs for the families of those killed in action, physical and mental health care, and more.  In addition, IADIF has funded a few select organizations to engage in research, advocacy, and public awareness initiatives to benefit the troops, the veterans, and their families.

Gulf Coast Community Foundation will provide grants in the counties of Brevard, Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota, Seminole, Sumter, and St. Lucie. 

“We also encourage those who want to make an impact on the community to help us sustain this initiative,” said Hansen.  For information about applying for a grant or making a contribution to The Florida BRAIVE Fund at Gulf Coast Community Foundation, visit gulfcoastcf.org.

About Gulf Coast Community Foundation

Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice builds strong communities through leadership, partnership, and endowed philanthropy. A public charity committed to improving the quality of life in the communities it serves, it is the largest community foundation in Florida with assets of nearly a quarter of a billion dollars. The Foundation was founded in late 1995 and has awarded $80 million in grants in the areas of arts and culture, health and human services, education, civic affairs, and the environment.

The Board of the Foundation envisions a region known for endowed philanthropy, a vital nonprofit community, and the ability to address emerging issues.

For more information about the Foundation, visit gulfcoastcf.org.