Kate Devine Palm Beach Gardens Fl
Above: Members of the Palm Beach County District of St. Vincent de Paul, Karen Bowdre, Alex Stevens and Kate Devine. TRACEY BENSON PHOTOGRAPHY
Quantum Foundation, Palm Beach County's largest health funder, is celebrating a major milestone with its 10th annual Quantum in the Community initiative, funding grassroots organizations in Palm Beach County. Recently, 112 nonprofits received their portion of $1 million in unrestricted funding to go toward such essentials as meals, hygiene products, rent/utility assistance, clothing, transportation and more.
"The COVID-19 pandemic brought forward longstanding health inequities in disinvested communities, exposing the impacts of the social determinants of health," Eric Kelly, president of Quantum Foundation, said in a statement. "Health equity is our way forward, and these vulnerable communities need their basic needs met, now more than ever. Quantum in the Community funding has helped many of these organizations survive this current crisis."
In 2011, the Quantum Foundation board of directors made a commitment to this annual program when surveys showed local nonprofits were struggling to keep their doors open in the troubled economy. Since then, Quantum Foundation has awarded a total of $7.5 million through this initiative, currently co-chaired by board members Ethel Isaacs Williams and Donna Mulholland, with support from Dr. Gerald O'Connor, board member.
Right: Church of the Harvest cofounder, Barbara Iderosa.
Quantum Foundation's mission is to fund initiatives that improve the health of Palm Beach County residents. In 1998, Quantum Foundation marked its rookie year as one of Palm Beach County's newest and largest philanthropic organizations with $7.6 million granted to more than 40 Palm Beach County projects. Just over 20 years later, with assets of approximately $155 million, the foundation's focus remains on keeping Palm Beach County healthy. The organization's awards to date total $145 million and have impacted hundreds of local nonprofit organizations.
Three of this year's QIC recipients explain what the grants do to help our community and how people can assist those efforts.
From a warm coat to a hot lunch or even a sofa for a single mom, Church of the Harvest serves the people of the Glades area. The pantry provides free food, clothing, furniture, household goods, diapers, ice and water, and anything else clients might need.
Barbara Iderosa and her husband, Pastor Rich Iderosa, started the nonprofit almost 20 years ago. Before the pandemic, Church of the Harvest was serving close to 400 people a week. That number has skyrocketed to nearly 2,000 people a month. An anonymous donor helps with most utilities, fuel and insurance; however, the QIC grant bridges the gaps that are needed to help keep the operation going. Mrs. Iderosa said her organization serves some of Palm Beach County's poorest residents.
"We would have a difficult time without being in partnership with Quantum Foundation," Mrs. Iderosa said a statement. "It is an especially important grant for us, and we are so grateful for it. There was no centralized pantry in the Glades area when we started back in 2000. Out here, it is an impoverished area where people do not have jobs or even access to jobs, leaving so many households without a way of earning money to live. There is some public transportation, but because there are very few jobs in the Glades, so many people have to take multiple buses into West Palm Beach, Wellington or Loxahatchee just to get to work every day, and they go all that way for minimum wage jobs. I have always said, 'We are 30 miles away from the West Palm Beach area, and 30 years behind.' So we do what we can to fill the need, and find another need."
The organization's greatest need is funding, but volunteers, food donations and other contributions are always welcome. To donate, volunteer or learn more, visit www.churchoftheharvestpahokee.com or call 561-924-7776.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul's (SVDP) mission is to support and help the poor, restore dignity and spread the love of Christ to everyone. Kate Devine, president of the SVDP District of Palm Beach County, says volunteers meet with each client, prioritize their needs and connect them to other services if they cannot help directly. All money remains in Palm Beach County, so neighbors are helping neighbors. The Quantum Foundation grant helps financially support clients who come to SVDP needing assistance with rent, utilities or other bills.
"Caroline" was living in the park a few weeks ago when it started raiing. She called Ms. Devine and was in a hotel room that night. Caroline has since moved into her own apartment and she credits the SVDP organization for changing her life. "They are my saviors," she said. "They were there for me without hesitation. They came in my life when I was giving up and they stepped up when I needed it and restored hope. I honestly don't know where I would be right now if not for Kate."
Although SVDP focuses primarily on bill pay, the mission goes further. "We are fulfilling the gospel and that is our mission," Ms. Divine said. "We are not just another social agency that pays the bills — we want to make sure our clients are successful."
Its largest need is money, but volunteer opportunities also are available. To learn more, donate or volunteer, visit www.svdp-palmbeach.org or call 561-401-9585.
Renette Verhaeghe was watching the news one night and learned that many Palm Beach County veterans were homeless, living in their cars or on the beach, and she felt that was unacceptable. That was three years ago when OPERATION120 started, and the organization has exponentially grown since then.
"We help clients with resumés, job placement, budgeting, credit repair and debt consolidation; we teach job and life skills, offer mediation, trauma counseling and brain mapping — all for free," Ms. Verhaeghe said. Once the clients graduate OPERATION120's 90-day program, the organization helps the women find a place to live, provides assistance with creating a budget and continues to offer mentoring. "We offer a whole health package, meeting all the needs that are more than medical," Verhaeghe said.
Miracle, an OPERATION120 client, is a disabled veteran who served 15 years in the U.S. Army. "The 90-day program was a good experience," she said. "OPERATION120 is a good opportunity for any female veteran who wants to better her life, whatever the situation. You could not ask for a better program."
The agency has a 3,000-square-foot home in Lake Worth Beach, operational since January, and QIC funding is a big part of keeping that building running. "The Quantum Foundation grant is amazing," Ms. Verhaeghe said. "The money helps us pay the rent, which takes care of that necessity, and it's one less thing we have to worry about."
OPERATION120 needs monetary donations and volunteers. To learn more, visit www.operation120.org or call 561-463-VETS (8387).
For more information about Quantum Foundation, or to learn about applying for grants, visit www.quantumfnd.org or call 561-832-7497. Applications for Quantum in the Community grants open in the spring and money is awarded each November. To learn more about the Quantum in the Community initiative, visit www.quanumfnd.org/quantum-inthe community. ¦
Source: https://palmbeach.floridaweekly.com/articles/quantum-distributes-1-million-to-112-nonprofits/
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