grand harbor community outreach: investing in the future

THE GRAND HARBOR COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM PROVIDES HOPE AND HELP TO NEIGHBORS IN NEED

Grand Harbor Community Outreach: INVESTING IN THE FUTURE

VOLUME XIX, NUMBER 4

Grand Harbor Community Outreach recipients included Camp Haven’s hydroponic garden program.

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Susanne and Doug Sweeny, Bill Hamlin and Charlene Friedman were

strangers when they moved to Grand Harbor. That changed once

they became involved with Grand Harbor Community Outreach

Program, working together on fundraising events and eventually joining the

board of directors.

Today they frequently gather around a table to discuss ways to further

funding efforts of the nonprofit organization founded in 2001. Susanne is

president; Doug is vice president, philanthropy; Bill is immediate past pres-

ident; Charlene heads up the annual fund. Along with over 100 other volun-

teers, they contribute their knowledge, skills and energies to a member-driven

organization engaged in addressing unmet needs in the areas of health, educa-

tion and human services throughout Indian River County.

“The majority of people who live at Grand Harbor are from someplace else,

and like us, began helping others when they were young, following examples set

by our parents and role models,” says Doug. “You really don’t know the needs

that are out there until you get involved with Outreach. We bring together the

caring nature and collective generosity of the Grand Harbor community.”

Susanne nods and says, “Thanks to our members and corporate sponsors,

WRITTEN BY ANN TAYLOR

THE GRAND HARBOR COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM PROVIDES HOPE AND HELP TO

NEIGHBORS IN NEED.

The officers of the Grand Harbor Community Outreach Program include (front) Charlene Friedman, Kathy McGinnis, Inge Lorenzoni, Susanne Sweeny, (back) John Gijanto, Jerry Reichert and Doug Sweeny

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Some of the many volunteers for the Evening of Giving Event included (front) Nancy Forlines, Barbara Leggett, Ruth Schamback, Bridget Hyslop, Ruth Farrell, Liz Crowther; (back) Betty McShane, Sally Pearse, Event Co-Chairs Pat Simm and Catherine Reichert, Maryanne Dilella, and Betty Jacobs.

Past Presidents of Community Outreach are John Phipps, Bill Hamlin, Peg Keller, Liz Melnick and David Warren. Mike Harrell is not pictured.

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over the years we’ve been able to distribute over

$3 million to worthy nonprofit agencies. Without a

paid staff and with all of our operating costs cov-

ered by corporate and event sponsors, every penny

contributed goes to help transform lives, strength-

en families and improve our community’s way of

life. In this way, we are assisting people who are

suffering adversity get back on track and lead a

more rewarding life in the future. We’re making a

real difference.”

Yes, they are, and it all started with a cook-

book. Sixteen years ago members of the social

and recreation committee decided to put together a collection of

residents’ favorite recipes. Spearheaded by Peg Keller, The Taste

of Grand Harbor was a delicious read and a run-away best-seller,

raising $17,000. Elated members voted to donate the proceeds to

charity. The following year the program was incorporated, with

Peg serving as the fledgling nonprofit’s first president. In 2004,

she was followed by Liz Melnick, who’s still very involved.

Since then fundraising efforts have increased, thanks to an

annual fund drive, special events such as An Evening of Giving, a

Bridge - Mahjong Luncheon, a Gala Dinner and Live Auction and a

Golf Classic as well as significant sponsor support.

“Corporate sponsors are essential,” Bill points

out. “We wanted to have a system in place so that

all of our members’ contributions go directly to help

others. Grand Harbor Golf & Beach Club is our larg-

est and most generous sponsor, contributing club

facilities free of charge and underwriting major

events. Every year we have around 20 to 30 major

corporate and individual event sponsors, including

Alex MacWilliam Real Estate, Creative Landscaping

and AR Choice Management. We wouldn’t be able to

do what we do without their support.”

Nor could they do without monies raised during the annu-

al fund drive that kicks off in mid-October. “We send a letter to

Grand Harbor club members, asking for their financial support

and letting them know how their dollars are being spent in the

community, and we give them concrete evidence,” says Charlene.

“For example, we’ve been a longtime sponsor of The ARC [of

Indian River County Inc.]; and when their latest grant proposal

came in requesting funds to pay for new vans, we made a site

visit, asked a lot of questions and got good answers. We were able

to provide the funds.”

Dale Jacobs of Grand Harbor, along with a number of Grand Harbor volunteers, presents a grant award to Richard Notargiacomo of Habitat for

Humanity. The event celebrates the funding of Grand Harbor’s 13th house.

We make a living by

what we get, but we make

a life with what we give. - WINSTON CHURCHILL

TERRY LEGGETT

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The ARC is one of over 30 charitable agencies or “com-

munity partners” Outreach has supported over the

years. The agencies not only respond to the imme-

diate needs of those less fortunate, many provide education,

training and family support services. In the fall, members of

the philanthropy committee begin reviewing grant requests for

specific capital projects, programs and operating expenses. The

vetting process is thorough, ensuring that the agencies selected

will be the best stewards of the resources they receive.

“Six years ago we got together with some of the other fund-

ing organizations like the United Way, John’s Island Community

Service League, the Indian River Community Foundation and the

Indian River Club and found we were all doing many of the same

things, so we formed the Funders’ Forum,” says Bill. “One of

the first projects we did was to put together a common grant

application to streamline the request process and make it easier

for the agencies to apply for grants. The Funder’s Forum meets

quarterly to talk about ways we can maximize our impact in the

community. We’re investing in people’s futures.”

Scholarship Foundation of Indian River County award recip-

ient Manhar Dalah can attest to that. After earning a bachelor of

science in mathematics education from the University of Central

Florida, the Vero Beach High School graduate could have gotten

a job anywhere; instead, he opted to stay close to home, teaching

algebra and pre-calculus at Seminole High School.

As Manhar wrote in his thank you letter, “I have received

awards for my teaching and my students have won state and na-

tional awards in mathematics, an area that is critical to Florida’s

and America’s future. I am living my dream and changing young

lives, thanks to you. Without the support of SF [the Scholarship

Foundation] and Community Outreach, I don’t know how I

could have pursued my dream of going to college and becoming

a math teacher.”

With a philanthropic focus that puts an emphasis on chil-

dren and family support services, Outreach is in the business of

making dreams come true. “I think we’ve all come to the conclu-

sion that we have to impact children early on in order to help

them lead successful lives,” Susanne emphasizes. “We want to

put our energies into breaking the cycle of poverty.”

It’s hard to believe that so much poverty exists in our

community, but there’s no denying the facts. A 2014-

2015 Indian River County Children’s Needs Assessment

report showed that 18.9 percent of households are in pover-

ty and 21.3 percent of children 18-and-under live in poverty.

Nearly 1,000 homeless individuals live in our county. The report

Chuck Bradley and Heather Dales of The

Arc accept funding for much needed

transportation from Grand Harbor’s Doug

Sweeny and Dale Jacobs.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ARC, INDIAN RIVER COUNTY

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also identified five pockets of poverty: Fellsmere, Highlands,

Wabasso, part of central Vero Beach and Gifford.

“We share the 32967 zip code with Gifford. There are around

1,000 doors here at Grand Harbor and here’s a pocket of poverty

within a stone’s throw. I could reach it with my seven iron, it’s so

close,” says Doug. “So many of the people here who donate money

to Outreach are also hands-on, helping build houses for Habitat,

working with Every Dream Has a Price to provide housing for

veterans and serving meals at Our Father’s Table Soup Kitchen.

We’ve been encouraging other agencies, like Special Equestrians,

to expand their services and programs into the Gifford commu-

nity, and the response so far has been rewarding.”

In February, Outreach sponsored “Perspectives on Gifford,”

an in-house forum featuring community leaders Angelia Perry

and Freddie Woolfork from Gifford Youth Achievement Center,

Antoine Jennings of Crossover Mission, and Julianne Price and

Deputy Sheriff Teddy Floyd of Every Dream Has a Price.

As they shared their histories and plans for progress, Grand

Harbor residents got an up-close look at what is going on in

their neighboring community and how Outreach is investing

in agencies focused on expanding services and programs that

transform lives through economic self-sufficiency. “We’re very

interested in career development; and in a sense, we’re been

urging the agencies to offer programs that help people develop

specific skills so they can go out and make a living,” says Doug.

In her latest president’s message to members, Susanne

recommended they read The Conservative Heart: How to Build

a Fairer, Happier, and More Prosperous America by Arthur C.

Brooks, noting that the best-selling author’s research and mes-

sage are consistent with Outreach’s values and mission. People

are assets, not liabilities; work is a blessing, not a punishment;

values matter most in lifting people up; and help is important,

but hope is essential.

“This job has long hours and no pay and yet it’s extremely

rewarding because of the impact we are having!” says Susanne.

“We feel fortunate to live in a community with such a caring and

generous group of friends and neighbors, and we’re thankful

that years ago some visionary club members and residents had

the foresight to establish our very own charity to address the

many unmet needs in our county.”

Bill agrees and adds, “We understand that we’re in the right

place at the right time to help others. I would hope that our story

inspires others to do something, whether it be in their organiza-

tion, neighborhood or individually. I hope they realize that here

are ordinary people who got together, and look what they’ve

been able to do.” ❀

Attending the Outreach Forum: “Perspectives on Gifford” are Detective Teddy Floyd and Julianne Price, co-founders of Every Dream Has A Price; Antoine Jennings, co-founder of Crossover Mission; and Angelia Perry and Freddie Woolfork of the Gifford Youth Achievement Center.

TERRY LEGGETT

grand harbor community outreach: investing in the future

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