Nonprofits First Gives Away $200,000 to Local Agencies

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla., June 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Nonprofits First^®, Inc., presented sub-awards totaling $200,588 to twenty-one Palm Beach County nonprofit organizations  at a ceremony held yesterday at the United Way of Palm Beach County. The awards, part of the Nonprofits First's GoBuild and US Department of Health and Human Services Compassion Grant Project, were given for products and services to enhance or complement the agencies' capacity building strategies, and further the sustainability of the recipient organizations.

"This award makes it possible for us to grow in ways that we really need. As a grass-roots organization, to be able to receive this grant and use this opportunity to give back to the community is just phenomenal!" says Owen O'Neill, Executive Director of Clinics Can Help, an organization that provides durable medical equipment to financially needy patients, clinics, programs and schools in Palm Beach County.

Kenneth Jackson, Executive Director, Street Beat, Inc., an organization that trains individuals to become self-reliant by focusing on commitment, responsibility, accountability and personal development through the disciplines of the arts, agrees with O'Neill: "This grant process has caused us to 'stretch' as an organization. It has been such a challenge for us during this tough economic time, but this technical support and award are allowing us to look beyond to focus on a brighter future."

In 2009, Nonprofits First was awarded a grant of $498,857 by the Department of Health and Human Services to provide training and support services to community and faith-based organizations in South Florida. The project included: core competency training in board governance; financial management; human resource management; program planning and evaluation; community engagement; technical assistance and sub-awards. The ultimate goal of the grant is to support community and faith-based organizations that provide services to the most at risk populations in South Florida.

In less than a year, 184 individuals representing 59 organizations have taken classes with Nonprofits First. Thirty-nine GoBuild organizations have received 526 hours of one-on-one consulting. Finally, 21 nonprofit organizations qualified for the sub-awards:

Best Foot Forward

Chayel, Inc.

Community Back to School Bash

Community Compact

El Sol, Jupiter's Neighborhood Resource Center

Farmworker Coordinating Council of Palm Beach County, Inc.

Florida Fishing Academy

Florida Outreach Center for the Blind

iNspired Generation

Life Improvement for Tomorrow, Inc.

National Alliance on Mental Illness, PBC

New Community Development Group, Inc.

PACE Center for Girls of Palm Beach County

Palm Beach Medical Society Services, Inc.

Palm Beach County Disaster Recovery Coalition, Inc.

Positive Habitat for Aspiring Teens

Second Chance Workforce / Insight Alliance

Street Beat

The Clinics Can Help Foundation

Transitional Outreach Program, Inc.

West Palm Beach Library Foundation

Matching funds were also provided by the Harris Bank and the Community Foundation of Palm Beach and Martin Counties, while in-kind service was provided by United Way of Palm Beach County and KanterGrants.

The funds, received by the agencies, are to be used for capacity building and sustainability, not for direct services.  

Nonprofits First, is a 501(c)(3) organization established by a coalition of public and private funders to strengthen the administrative and operational capacity of nonprofit organizations in Palm Beach County.  Composed of experienced executives, consultants and volunteers, the vision of Nonprofits First is a community in which nonprofit organizations achieve their highest level of success.  For more information, visit www.nonprofitsfirst.org

SOURCE Nonprofits First