Summer 2014 - Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands

Community Foundation
of the Virgin Islands
SUMMER 2014
Where has the time gone?
It’s hard to believe that we are already at the end of summer! In compiling this newsletter, it has been such a
pleasure to reflect on all that has taken place thus far in
2014. Reflection truly is the overarching theme throughout
these next few pages. From KIDS COUNT encouraging us
all to “Pause for Review,” to the celebration of an entire
year of accomplishments from our young scholars. Reflection gives way to enormous gratitude. Gratitude for the
community support which enables CFVI to continue to tip
the scales in favor of positive outcomes for USVI children
and families.
As we prepare for our 2015 Angels Campaign we are also
energized by the special recognition that was given to our
wonderful network of CFVI Angels by executive order of
the Governor: March 22, 2014 was CFVI Angels Day in the
US Virgin Islands! How special it is to have our CFVI Angels
acknowledged by the entire Territory!
In the coming months we will continue to see the dividends
on the investments we have made in quality programming.
I cannot wait to see what the future holds and I’m excited
to share it with such a dedicated network of CFVI friends.
Thank You Angels!
On Saturday, March 22, CFVI celebrated our Angels at the16th
annual Angels Gala. It was truly a night to remember! Held at
the historic Grand Galleria at the Grand Hotel, over 200 guests
enjoyed a night of great wine, better company and even a
conch shell performance. CFVI is
very grateful for the 2014 Angels who
make so many projects possible.
(And it’s only August!!!)
In 2014…because of our Angels…
CFVI:

Gave $20,000 in Enrichment Grants
for quality programs for low– to
moderate-income youth!
Grand Galleria at Grand Hotel

Awarded over $140,000 in scholarships to 66 students!

Gave away over 10,000 books through The Family Connection
Book Bank on St. Croix and St. Thomas.

Received the VI Education Superintendent’s award “for many
years of consistent contributions to students and sponsorships of
programs that promote excellence.”

Was voted Best Community Organization in the VI!

Continues to provide grants to families with emergencies, eldDee Baecher-Brown, President
erly Virgin Islands, cancer patients, children with critical illnesses; assists smaller non-profits with financial reporting and
program management; and so much more!

Have you seen the CFVI
video?
As a member of the Community
Foundation family, how often do
you get the
question,
“What exactly is the
Community
Foundation of the
Virgin Islands?”
We get that all the time!
So we created a short video that
visually captures who CFVI is and the
role the organization plays in the community. If you haven’t yet, please
check it out.
Go to www.cfvi.net and click on the
video. And hopefully it proves useful
next time you get asked that question!
2 |
KIDS COUNT. . .They Really Do!
In July 2014, USVI KIDS COUNT released the
2013 USVI KIDS COUNT Data Book: Pausing
For Review, which presents findings from
1990 to 2010 and pinpoints areas of noted
improvement, among other trends. The full
report and executive summaries are available at www.cfvi.net, but see below for a
USVI KIDS COUNT also released a
Population Reference Bureau
(PRB) report which analyzes data
from the 1990, 2000, and 2010
Census. Find the complete report at http://www.cfvi.net/
programs/kids-count.php.
snippet!
The local release coincided with the
Annie E. Casey Foundation’s release of the
25th edition of the National Data Book
which can be found on the AECF website.
Giving “Our Town” New Meaning!
The Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands (CFVI), St. Thomas-St.
John Chamber of Commerce (Chamber), and Downtown Revitalization, Inc. (DRI) are pleased to announce two major gifts in support of
the important public-private partnership planning for the future of the
Charlotte Amalie waterfront in collaboration with the Government of
the Virgin Islands. In response to a request from the Chamber and
DRI, the Richard H. Driehaus Charitable Lead Trust has made a new
grant of $100,000 to CFVI.
In addition, International Capital and Management Company
(ICMC) has made an additional grant of $50,000 to the Chamber/DRI
Fund at CFVI. Both gifts will allow this public-private partnership to
continue as planning for Veterans Drive improvements progresses
through design, engineering, and implementation.
The Town's Blue Print effort was made possible by an initial $400,000
gift to CFVI in 2010 from the Richard H. Driehaus Charitable Lead
Trust. “It gives me great pleasure,” stated Richard H. Driehaus, “to support this important civic vision for St. Thomas’ waterfront and
historic downtown. This beautification effort, like my past support of Roosevelt Park, will enhance St. Thomas’ sense of place and
will, I hope, stimulate other such initiatives.”
Choosing to Get Involved
340-774-6031
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And the Award Goes to. . .
2014 Scholarship Recipients
Leila Armstrong
Jan-Alexis Barry
Lucas Berry
Andrea Burgess
Malori Callender
PJ Chemont
Evanna Chinnery
Cody Cook
Mahlayi DeFoe
Alliyah Dessout
Kielar Durant
Antonio Farchette
Anthonio Forbes
Brianna Hairston
Jared Hanley
Twanna Hodge
Rudel Hodge, Jr.
Naveida Huggins
Kairi Huyghue
Tori Huyghue
Jinell Industrioius
Sherika Jacobs
Laws of Life
Chenoa Lee
Shaquan Lewis
Ricardo Nieves
Patricia Piper
Colencia Smithen
Quiyanna Thomas
Gleason Thompson
Kalina Webster
Kamira Webster
Devon Williams
Arthur Williams, Jr.
...and 34 continuing scholars!

2014 Enrichment Grant Recipients
Artists Guild of St. Croix - Frederiksted Street Mural
Competent Counseling, LLC - Piano Tutorial
G-Clef Music Academy, Inc. - G-Clef 2014 Summer Music Camp
John's Folly Learning Institute - Summer Adventure Camp
Jr. Gardening & Ecology Academy - 2014 Summer Program
Music in Motion - School of Higher Dance Learning
My SISTAHS Keeper, Inc. - Summer Academy 2014
Pistarckle Theater, Inc. - Summer Musical Theater Production Camp
Rare Earth Studio - BE-SMART
School of Visual Arts and Careers - After-School Program
Seaside Adventures Camp - 2014 Summer Camp
St. Croix Jr. Bowlers, Inc - Youth Bowling Program
St. Croix Episcopal Deanery - Youth Musical Camp
St. Croix Reading Council - Mothers Cuddle and Read
St. Croix Sportsman Center, Inc. - After-School Program
St. Croix Women's Coalition - Project Link
St. Thomas Historical Trust - Student Tours of Hassel Island
St. John School of the Arts - After School Arts Programs
STAR Productions, Inc. - STAR Summer Theater Camp
UVI - Coral Reef Discovery Week
UVI - Mathematics Behind the Science Program
VI Ja Goju Jitsu-Ryu STT Fed. Parental Cmte - Education Connections
Young Life St. Thomas - Young Life Summer Camp 2014
YWCA of the US Virgin Islands - Project SOAR

Junior Philanthropists Grant Awardees
John Hopkins Summer Camp
Island Clean-up for Earth Day
College Visits (support for students with need)
Israel Tennis Centers
Kidscope Inc.
My Brother’s Workshop
Pistarckle Theater
Virgin Islands Environmental Resource Station (VIERS)
www.cfvi.net
More than 600
students from the
four public high
schools in the Territory submitted essays addressing a STX 1st Place Winners (from left to right): Eric Hennemann, Cassim
Vitalis, Amal Bryson, Jashaune Graham, Shawn Abel, Chasen
Law of Life which
Richards, Sherise Gumbs, Sojourna Ferguson
had personally
affected them in some way and explained what they have
learned from it. These laws are simply the “values” by which
we should live. Ninety-one students were selected as winners from Central High and Educational Complex on St.
Croix, and Charlotte Amalie High and Ivanna Eudora Kean
High on St. Thomas. The essays contained powerful themes
including self-acceptance, forgiveness, learning from one’s
mistakes, and treating others with respect. First place winners read their essays aloud to an audience of family members, teachers, school administration and friends of the
Community Foundation. Here are excerpts from winners:
Chasen Richards (St. Croix), The Invisibility Cloak: “After I graduated from Jr. High, my mom enrolled me in a six week program, specializing in medical research and technology. With no books to rely on,
my invisibility was revoked, and though my mind still behaved unnoticeably, my body was quite visible. This means that by the third day, I
was faced with a choice: to remain as a self-induced pariah, or to use
this summer as my springboard into a new start, and remake myself in
a better image... Today, I am proud to say that I’ve shrugged off my
invisibility cloak. And though my former self would never have believed
that he would one day become the charismatic captain of the tennis
team… Being seen after years of hiding in plain sight can sometimes be
disconcerting, but even on my worst days, when I haven’t done well on
a test, grew a new pimple, or even missed the winning point in a set, I
know that I am worthy of the same love and respect that every human
being deserves...”
Brianna Hairston (St. Thomas), My Letter of Acceptance: “I had
always heard that putting the pen to paper and expressing your feelings
is one of the best forms of therapy. I took it upon myself to do this and
wrote a letter to myself… In exactly three years, I promised myself that
I would open it and read it again and so I did. I could not believe the
things that I had written… My world had completely changed between
then and now. I was able to open up and find some true friends in the
school that I once considered a “prison,” but now see as the best thing
that could have ever happened regarding my education and personal
growth.”
Let us know if you’d be interested in helping us judge next
year’s essays or if you’d like to join us at next year’s LOL
Celebrations and
hear all the students read their
winning essays!
STT 1st Place Winners: (from left to right) Jah'Shylah Davis, Kaisma
Henry, D' Shanique Walters, Shaedaya Varlack, Devante Bartlette,
Brianna Hairston (Kyu Matthews not pictured )
Choosing to Get Involved
I’M F IRST !
BOARD OF DIRECTORS George H. T. Dudley, Chairman Alda Monsanto, First Vice‐Chair Victoria B. Saunders, Second Vice‐Chair Trudie J. Prior, Secretary Mark Robertson, Treasurer Scott Barber Angelina Daswani Letty Hulsman Lawrence Kupfer Catherine L. Mills Margaret Sprauve‐Martin Claire Starkey Next Generation Scholars (NGS) Program First Graduation
NGS, funded by the Lana Vento Fund for the Virgin Islands at CFVI, provides first
generation college-bound students enrolled in public high schools on St. Thomas
with the coaching and support to prepare for higher education. This past school
year was an exciting one, celebrating the high school graduation of our first NGS
cohort. There were also visits from college admission directors to speak of their
own experiences as first generation students navigating both the college application and financial aid process. Our Saturday Academy focused on career
choices, summer internships and shadowing opportunities, how to analyze financial aid award letters, and much more. The excitement continued this summer
as rising seniors participated in a month-long workshop on how to write great
college essays and personal statements.
Founders Ambassador Henry L. Kimelman† Charlotte Kimelman Chairman Emeritus Ricardo J. Charaf Directors Emeritus Henry L. Feuerzeig Penny Feuerzeig CFVI STAFF Dee Baecher‐Brown, President Mandkhai Campbell, Accountant Esther Caraballo, Admin. Asst./Network Coord. Nicole Wheatley, Special Projects Manager Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands Physical Address 5600 Royal Dane Mall, Ste. 19 St. Thomas, VI 00802 Office: (340) 774‐6031 Fax: (340) 774‐3852 Mailing Address P.O. Box 11790 St. Thomas, VI 00801 www.cfvi.net email: [email protected] 
About CFVI. . . In 1990 the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands (CFVI) began with a $540,000 gift from Henry and Charlotte Kimelman. Since then, hun‐
dreds of local residents have added their gifts, and CFVI has given away more than $17.7 million. Today, CFVI’s assets are at $10 million. Anyone can help. Your gift to CFVI can help meet the community’s immediate needs, and because CFVI has many permanently invested funds, your gift or fund can grow to meet tomorrow’s chal‐
lenges. You can make a difference by establishing a new fund, making a gift to an existing fund, naming CFVI as a beneficiary of your estate plans through the Mahogany Legacy program or becom‐
ing an annual CFVI Angel supporter. First graduation celebration: Aliska Tavernier, Bershel Joseph, Patricia Swan
(CFVI College Coach), Gail Vento (donor), Rachael Joseph, Nirisha Commodore,
Onisha Luck

The Family Connection Summer Camp
The Family Connection put on its very first summer camp this year! The purpose
of the TFC Camp was to help children transition of children into kindergarten.
And to have fun! The camp served a group of approximately 20 campers who
will start, or retake Kindergarten at the Emanuel Benjamin Oliver Elementary
School this fall. The workbooks and requirements of school were abandoned in
favor of a child-led, interactive learning approach, students become familiar
with the school, the personnel and the routines.
Children explored their surroundings and participated in skill acquisition through
experience. Children learned through play and were exposed to opportunities
to learn about themselves, their neighborhoods, and their communities. For students and educators alike, it was a jumpstart to the work that will ensure that the
children succeed in school.
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PRB Report
2013 KIDS COUNT
Databook
2014-2015 Directory of
Community Organizations
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