Mariner Sands Charity Week Blog

Congratulations!

Mon, 25 Mar 2024 14:45:13 GMT

“Friends and neighbors, you’ve done it again !!”

Give yourself a standing ovation, a pat on the back, and a thumbs up for another successful fundraising campaign.

Together we were able to raise an estimated $275,000.00 for the less fortunate of Martin County.

Our volunteers did an amazing job against internal and external challenges.

As is true every year we learn what works and doesn’t. We will attempt to make it fun and easy to be a part of this community effort to lend a hand to our neighbors in need.

The work isn’t complete until the Grants Committee determines what will be given to each of the eight Foscus charities. This is based on the charity's requests and available funds and when our Board votes on their recommendations.

We have a lot to be thankful for being a part Mariner Sands. You should be very proud of your community’s charitable tradition.

Charity Week 2024 Board of Directors

Project Lift

Mon, 25 Mar 2024 14:45:11 GMT

A struggling teen who was once told he wouldn’t amount to anything, is using his newly acquired carpentry skills to help build a cottage home that will provide transitional housing for a local homeless family.

A young woman who had to drop out of school to support her 3 young siblings walks proudly across the stage to accept her high school diploma. At Project LIFT’s Pathway Academy High School program, she was able to finish school while getting paid to learn a trade.

A licensed therapist peers under the hood of a car in the auto shop and chats with her young client as he is taught engine repair by a certified mechanic.

If you’ve visited Project LIFT’s headquarters in Palm City, you’ve seen these stories unfold in real time. The non-profit was founded in 2010 by licensed psychotherapist Bob Zaccheo, who believed there was a better way to reach troubled adolescents than standard counseling. His innovative approach combines evidence based mental health and substance abuse services with paid vocational training, instilling dignity, work ethic, and hope for a promising future.

Project LIFT serves approximately 800 teens and young adults annually, in its Martin, St. Lucie, and Palm Beach County locations. There is no charge for any of their services, and in fact, students are paid for their skilled trades work as long as they test clean for drugs and alcohol and meet behavioral expectations.

By removing the stigma associated with vocational training and empowering teens to cultivate the dignity that results from mastering a skilled trade, Project LIFT creates opportunity for teens who aren’t college bound. Job placement assistance is offered upon program completion, through strategic partnerships with local businesses who hire program graduates.

Mariner Sands’ support of Project LIFT’s Cottage Home program has enabled the non-profit to train its students in building tiny homes that will impact both the student and families in need in Martin County. It’s truly a win-win!

LAHIA

Tue, 23 May 2023 13:02:58 GMT

Love And Hope In Action, Inc. (LAHIA) has been operating as a faith-based 501c3 not-for-profit since 2007, and is located at 1760 SE Salerno Road in Stuart, FL.

LAHIA is a unique day center where individuals experiencing homelessness and/or extreme poverty can receive a wide variety of social services from nutritional assistance, showers, laundry, clothing, bedding, camping supplies, bicycles for workers, replacement identification, mail service, transportation, financial assistance and referrals to partner agencies that provide medical, dental, optical, and mental health care, rehabilitative and recovery housing, job referrals, Gospel services, Bible studies, counseling, friendship and more, 6 days a week, all year through.

Our staff of 11 and a healthy volunteer base of over 100 individuals, work well together to provide a personal and compassionate experience for everyone, no matter their circumstances. There are over 3000 individuals enrolled in LAHIA’s database that have received one or more services since 2019. In the first 5 months of 2023, 248 brand new people have come through our doors. All of this is made possible through the grace of God and the generosity of a community that heartily believes in this mission and ministry.

Charity Week funding continues to have a dramatic impact on the lives of those struggling in our community, changing lives from poverty to possibility, homelessness to whole – in a safe environment where all who enter are valued equally.

Grateful for Charity Week 2023

Sat, 29 Apr 2023 17:28:37 GMT

Charity Week 2023

Thank You, Grazie, Merci, Danke, Gracias. There are many ways to say it, but it’s what we constantly hear from the Martin County charities we support, and we want you to hear it as well.

This year’s Focus Charities are Family Promise, Hope Rural School, House of Hope, Kindoo, LAHIA, Little Lights Dentistry, Project Lift, Safe Space. I encourage you to watch the individual group’s videos on our website (Marinersandscharityweek.org) made so our members can be better informed regarding their contributions.

These community-based groups continue to serve and make an enormous impact on the lives of others through your generosity.

Mariner Sands Charity Week once again had a successful fundraising campaign raising $275,000. Charity Week’s Grants Committee is in the process of distributing funds to the Focus Charities so they can continue their vital work.

Mariner Sands Charity Week is widely recognized as one of Martin County’s leading charitable communities and the groups we support are forever grateful because they can continue to provide the basic needs our neighbors are lacking.

Next year's campaign faces many challenges with the construction of a new clubhouse and temporary facilities and we are considering modifications to the current format. We hope you will continue to be supportive. More details to follow.

Thank you to our volunteers, golf, tennis, security, grounds, food & beverage, and admin staff for all their help. We could not do it without you. Please support the corporate sponsors that have contributed once again to our efforts.

Jack Flanagan

President

Mariner Sands Charity Week

Family Promise

Mon, 03 Apr 2023 17:48:52 GMT

Together we will end childhood homelessness in Martin County

The Family Promise model is founded on a community-based response to homelessness. Faced with the difficult challenge of opening during the pandemic, the Mariner Sands community was one of the first to invest in the future of children facing homelessness in Martin County during unprecedented times. You were our partner and gave us a fighting chance to transform the lives of hard-working parents and their children in our community that were in crisis. Without Mariner Sands and an anonymous foundation, we would not have been able to provide shelter, transitional housing and intensive case management that kept families experiencing homelessness together and ultimately re-housed permanently. All in a much better place financially.

Since we opened in March of 2020 we have served over 300 families in need of services related to the homelessness. We are able to help first by providing prevention services before families reach crisis, shelter when homelessness is inevitable, transitional housing and stabilization efforts to help families become and remain independent. At any given time we average a total of 30 families we serve through our various programs. We provide very family specific solutions to long-term housing and stability.

With the help of Mariner Sands this year, we will be able to help low-income families (single fathers, single mothers and dual parenting families) increase their earning power. This helps make the American Dream a reality for families that have been working so hard just to pay their rent and for basic needs, they've nothing left over to help cover the cost of furthering their education and earning potential. This grant will help us not only meet the needs of vulnerable families, but to create a better path to self- sufficiency and long-term success. It will create a sense of pride for the parents we serve and that pride will be the model their children will mirror as they grow and become young adults someday. Thank you for your consideration and for your desire to help so many in our community.

With Gratitude

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 17:29:52 GMT

Cherished Members

Dear Charity Week Boardmembers,

By now you should have received a $5000 check from The Edward A. & Janet B. McGavock Charitable Fund at Vanguard.

My name is Joe McGavock. My wife, Sharon and I moved into Mariner Sands in late 2020, but my family has a long history with Mariner Sands.

I would like to explain the relationship my parents had with Mariner Sands. Ed & Janet McGavock bought a lot here in 1979. They moved from Stuart Yacht & Country Club into their brand new home on Burning Tree Circle in 1980. Janet was Ladies Club Champion in 1980 & 1983. Big Ed was one of the original Bandits and started the Gin game in the locker room. Mom (Boomer) had various leadership roles in the 18 Hole Ladies Golf Association and Interclub golf league.

Mariner Sands served as the backdrop for a number of major life events for our family. 41 years ago, Sharon and I had our rehearsal dinner at the clubhouse. Two of my brothers also had wedding events at the club in the early 80’s. In 1991 Dad’s funeral was held in the chapel and the wake was in the clubhouse.

Mom had some health issues and moved to be closer to family in Orlando in 1997. Mom passed away in 2000.

Six of us siblings decided to honor our parents by allocating a portion of our inheritance into a donor advised Charitable Fund. The fund has been around for 22 years and over the years my brothers and sisters have recommended various worthy charities.

Twenty two years later, I made my first recommendation for a charity, Mariner Sands Charity Week! What could be better than to support the charity born out of the community that was so loved by Mom and Dad. As one of the pioneer families at Mariner Sands, it is only fitting that thru the Edward A. & Janet B. McGavock Charitable Fund, Mom & Dad can support the philanthropic efforts of Mariner Sands Charity Week.

It is my hope that my siblings will consider making this an annual donation in our parents memory.

Thanks to all of you for what you do for Mariner Sands and serving those in need in Martin County!

Sincerely,

Joe McGavock

Charity is not pity.

Tue, 21 Feb 2023 20:53:15 GMT

LOVE CANNOT WAIT

CHARITY is not pity, it is LOVE.” These powerful words of Mother Teresa speak about the true meaning of reaching out to those most in need of support. Another name for Charity Week could be Love Week for the fruit of love is service, which is compassion in action. Reflecting on what moves and inspires the Mariner Sands Community to keep their eyes on the underserved, brings us to the truest definition of community, which is to be “one with, united with, sharing same values.”

The only way Non-Profits can exist and flourish is to find benefactors who share their sense of mission. How blessed that so many Non-Profits in Martin County have found a community that cares so deeply and becomes one with them in bringing about change. As God would have it and as Ralph Waldo Emerson encouraged, “Be an Opener of Doors.“ That is exactly what Mariner Sands Charity Week is for Non-Profits.

Words and thoughts come easily when talking about the impact that Mariner Sands Charity Week has had on KinDoo Family Center since opening the mission eight years ago. As one walks through the building, the fruit of their love is evident behind every door:

the beautifully renovated Kitchen that creates a welcoming space and offers women the opportunity to explore food culture and learn ways to incorporate healthy eating at home
the Sewing Room where an additional staff person is able to expand and grow the program allowing the women to enhance their basic sewing skills
the Literacy Room that now offers the women the ability to confront their fears of speaking and writing English thanks to the addition of an ESL Conversation Teacher

These precious resources contained within the walls of KinDoo are the direct result of the generosity and kindness of the Mariner Sands Community. Thank you for being an “Opener of Doors” especially the KinDoo Door.

Light of the World Charities, Little Lights Dentistry

Thu, 12 Jan 2023 18:03:00 GMT

Light of the World Charities, Little Lights Dentistry

Little Lights Dentistry provides free dental care to uninsured, low-income children from their first birthday through high school graduation. Emphasis is placed on maintaining consistent oral health routines with regular dental appointments starting at the child’s first birthday or as soon as their first tooth appears, brushing with fluoride toothpaste twice per day, flossing daily, and avoiding alcohol, drugs, smoking, and vaping to create healthy habits for life.

Little Lights Dentistry provides preventive, acute, and routine dentistry, including a dental home, cleanings, x-rays, fillings, the application of sealants, and fluoride, extractions, root canals, conscious sedation, education on oral health home care routines, and nutritional guidance for the family, all designed to support continuity of care and create healthy habits for life. Transportation is provided by Uber Health or Mona’s Transportation, and funded by private donations, to ensure families with no other travel options have a safe and reliable way to bring their children to and from their dental appointment. Children complete the program when they graduate high school, obtain Medicaid/dental insurance, or move out of the area. Little Lights Dentistry follows the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, American Dental Association, Centers for Disease Control, OSHA, and the Surgeon General’s best practice guidelines for providing pediatric dental treatment and is recognized by the State of Florida as a free and charitable clinic.

In 2022, Little Lights Dentistry provided a dental home for 1,005 children; 724 in Martin County, 250 in St. Lucie, 16 in Northern Palm Beach, 12 in Okeechobee, and 3 in Brevard. A grant from Mariner Sands will increase access to comprehensive, long-term pediatric dental care for 50 new children, help overcome food insecurity through nutritional education and referrals to local food pantries, and provide fluoride treatments and dental sealants to reduce cavities in children living in communities without fluoride in the drinking water.

For more information, go to Light of the World Charities, Little Lights Dentistry

Submitted by:

Lori Sang, M.S.

Executive Director

Light of the World Charities, Little Lights Dentistry

lsang@lotwc.us

772-223-9784