Children need to come first in the community. The Coral Bay Community Council (CBCC) has been interacting with local nonprofit children’s programs, government and others to help assure that all of the children in Coral Bay have access to good options this summer — through a combination of offering transportation, scholarships, subsidizing staff and other assistance. Options for children remain limited since the storms and the organizations doing these programs are still working to rebuild their programs and locations.
CBCC has put out feelers into the nonprofit programs community and welcomes developing other connections so it can support providing opportunities to all children who live in remote Coral Bay. Of course, when they are involved in programs with other children, CBCC will support them collectively.
A few months ago, CBCC was given the opportunity to apply for a Global Giving disaster recovery grant. It chose to apply for $25,000 to support removing barriers for Coral Bay children to participate fully in children’s programs this summer and into the new school year. It received the full grant, and CBCC was accepted as a participant for fundraising on the Global Giving platform, which is a crowdfunding site for nonprofit organizations that has a lot of corporate sponsorship.
“Through our partnership with the Global Giving web fundraising platform, CBCC is reaching out to new donors who have a special affinity for supporting children’s programs. These are the kinds of programs that will be supported — and more is possible if nonprofit children’s program leaders work in partnership with CBCC.
“CBCC is delighted to become a partner with the Global Giving fundraising platform to expand the reach of our fundraising efforts to new donors who want to support the Virgin Islands’ long-term recovery and support of our youth.” Said Sharon Coldren, president and executive director of the Coral Bay Community Council.
CBCC has been trying to set up a taxi van transportation program for children’s transport this summer. However, it looks like parents and programs have worked to get the start and end times convenient for public bus or parent after job pickup. If there are still needs, please let CBCC know at cbcc@coralbaycommunitycouncil.org or 776-2099. Likewise, if there are other barriers to full participation, please let CBCC know.
Additional funds may be spent to get new or rebuilt facilities ready for full use, such as the finishing touches on the Guy Benjamin Community Center Sprung Structure building in Coral Bay in cooperation with the V.I, Department of Education. CBCC has also received a very generous $10,000 contribution from a donor, who wishes to remain anonymous, that is targeted for children’s programs.
With another grant, CBCC is working on developing actual conceptual construction project plans for future post-hurricane resilient community facilities in Coral Bay and locate the funding sources. See https://coralbaycommunitycouncil.org/community-facilities/
Children in the Dynamic Dancers program have taxi van transportation for their field trips and performances paid for under this Global Giving project. It cost $500 to get all of them to the St. Thomas Carnival Princess Contest at the University of the Virgin Islands. The Global Giving Initiative and the initial $25,000 grant paid for that.
Funds will be available for starting a children’s gardening program this summer and for new costumes for the 40 girls who are the Dynamic Dancers. It will pay for other summer program field trips and scholarships for children’s pottery-making classes.
Flexibility is important as recovery after the hurricane disaster evolves. Some programs are delayed in starting up – like the St. John Bookmobile, the Department of Education-sponsored Community Center, and John’s Folly Learning Institute. The Boys and Girls Club will start in the fall. St. John School of the Arts is running a summer program as is the Julius E. Sprauve Elementary School. CBCC is reaching out and will respond to any needs that are encompassed by this project.
July 18 is a special Global Giving Bonus Matching Fund Day for larger gifts, which is submitted online. If people want a large donation to support these children’s programs to be matched, it is important to make it shortly after 9:00 ET on July 18, since the bonus will end that day when the $250K in matching funds run out. Let’s work to get St. John’s share. People can use a credit card or PayPal at https://www.globalgiving.org/donate/61129/coral-bay-community-council/
These are the details for the Bonus Match day for large contributions – and another great bonus program if donors want to give dollars each month.
July 18th donations will be matched based on the amount:
· Donations $100 – $499 USD will be matched at 15 percent
· Donations of $500 – $749 USD will be matched at 30 percent
· Donations of $750 – $1,000 USD will be matched at 50 percent
· Donations under $100 USD will not be matched
· Donation above $1,000 USD will be matched on the first $1,000 at 50 percent.
Or donors can give a recurring monthly amount to sustain this CBCC Children’s program funding for the long term. Right now, new monthly Global Giving donations for up to $200 per donor per project will get an additional 100 percent match on the initial donation as long as it remains active for a minimum of four payments.
“Use these ways to make your donations for our children to go farther,” said the CBCC president.
For additional information, please contact Sharon Coldren, president of CBCC, at 776-2099.