The Marco Island Community Fund of the Collier Community Foundation has awarded Better Together a $5,000 grant to support the expansion of its programs to Marco Island.
The grant from the Marco Island Community Fund of the Collier Community Foundation will help provide a variety of resources to meet the growing needs of Southwest Florida families and children. Through this funding, Better Together is partnering with local churches to train 30 new volunteers in the Marco Island region, enabling the nonprofit to serve 100 children through hosting and mentoring.
To date, Better Together has served over 5,400 children and kept 98% of families together, while helping nearly 39,000 job seekers find employment through church-based job fairs across 22 states.
“We are grateful for the support of the Marco Island Community Fund of the Collier Community Foundation and thrilled for this opportunity to expand Better Together’s programs to reach more families in Collier County,” said Megan Rose, CEO of Better Together. “Parents should not lose their children because they have money problems, or had the courage to seek treatment, or got hospitalized without child care. All these challenges can be overcome – while keeping children safe – with the right support system in place.”
The Marco Island Community Grant Fund provides funding to nonprofits that demonstrate measurable results in addressing community needs. Grant dollars will be invested in the areas of arts/culture, environment, education/employment, health care/mental health and human services.
“The Marco Island Community Fund was created by Marco residents to support Marco’s vital nonprofits. A competitive grantmaking process addresses Marco’s most pressing needs to help improve the quality of life on Marco Island for now and forever,” said Allyson Richards, Marco Island Community Fund Chair. “The essential programs of Better Together are a perfect example of what this fund was designed to support.”
The Collier Community Foundation is a tax-exempt, public, charitable organization established in 1985 to increase and focus on local private philanthropy. Today, the Collier Community Foundation manages more than 850 funds, works with hundreds of nonprofits, and has granted over $310 million to nonprofit organizations, community programs, and scholarships.
