By LOIS KINDLE
lekindle@aol.com
Community Foundation Tampa Bay has awarded unrestricted, trust-based grants over three years to four of Sun City Center’s key nonprofit service organizations: the Emergency Squad; Samaritan Services; United Methodist Church Food Pantry and Security Patrol. The community’s Men’s Club was awarded a one-time grant for designated projects, including expenses related to its relocation.
The Emergency Squad’s award was $40,000 per year; Samaritan Services, $20,000 per year; United Methodist Church Food Pantry, $10,000 per year and the Security Patrol, $30,000 per year. The Men’s Club received a one-time grant of $20,000.
“These organizations are trusted nonprofits providing essential services to Sun City Center residents,” said Katie Shultz, CFTB chief communications officer. “These grants were awarded outside of our annual competitive grants process and come from legacy funds left with us.
“All have been funded in the past,” she added. “They’re known to us, we know the essential services they provide and the critical needs they address.”
Trust-based grants allow recipients to receive funding without having to compete for it and to use the funds at their discretion for operating expenses, specific projects, equipment purchases, volunteer appreciation and more.
“They provide great flexibility to use the funding for just about anything the organization needs — even things like replacing outdated office supplies or buying pizza for volunteers,” Shultz said. “
A team of CFTB leaders from its Community Impact department, which is responsible for ensuring that donor intent is honored, reviews the Foundation’s legacy funds and the community’s needs, then matches donor wishes and available funding to the nonprofits that address those needs.
Each organization has identified specific needs the multi-year funding will help address.
Samaritan Services offers safe and comfortable rides to SCC residents for in-town medical appointments, shopping, banking and similar needs, as well as out-of-town transportation for medical appointments only. The multi-year CFTB grant will be added to an already established five-year escrow fund set aside to replace its vehicles when needed.
Likewise, the SCC Security Patrol — which provides patrol presence to help deter crime in the community’s neighborhoods and business districts — will use the funding for its general operations to purchase another vehicle and help offset rising fuel costs, increased insurance premiums and ongoing vehicle maintenance.
The SCC Emergency Squad — which provides free basic life support and transportation services to the community — will use its grant funding for increased community outreach, including CPR, AED, fall prevention, Stop the Bleed and other free training, as well as public-awareness seminars and events and more.
The United Methodist Church of Sun City Center food pantry, which has seen consistently seen rising demand, will use its funding to purchase more of its most-needed items.
“This is the first time we’ve ever done this type of operational funding for three years,” said Brandi Sanchez, senior director, community investments. “We wanted to make consistent funding available to organizations that have received funding in the past, proven to be good stewards and clearly communicated their needs.
“These grants allow the nonprofits to be flexible in addressing their needs without having to apply for a specific grant,” Sanchez continued. “They provide intentional funding to benefit Sun City Center and its residents who have been so generous to the Foundation over the years.”
For more information on Community Foundation Tampa Bay, visit www.cftampabay.org/.