​The Studios of Key West is thrilled to announce it has been awarded a generous grant of $10,000 from the First Horizon Foundation. This funding supports and expands our Schools at The Studios program, to include all three of Key West’s Title 1 elementary schools: Gerald Adams, Horace O’Bryant, and Poinciana. Schools at The Studios brings groups of students to visit The Studios’ galleries, theater and residency program, where they meet with professional artists and then produce their own artwork inspired by these encounters.
 
Schools at The Studios was launched in 2020 as a partnership with the public charter May Sands Montessori School, and has since expanded to include the Basilica School, the Children’s School and students from Take Stock in Children. It is the anchor program for an array of youth and family offerings at The Studios built on strong community partnerships. Other education partners include: Bravo Theatre, Bahama Village Music Program, The Music Room and more. 
 
First Horizon Foundation's Grants for Good campaign, in celebration of the bank's 160th anniversary, awarded $1.6 million to 160 nonprofits making significant impacts in their communities. First Horizon Market President Dwight L. Hill noted he’s particularly proud that four Monroe County nonprofits were selected out of a pool of over 3,000 applicants. “I am gratified that with these grants we were able to support community efforts in key areas of need, affordable housing, education, the environment, and the arts.” 
 
The other Monroe County beneficiaries of the Grant for Good program include: The Guidance Center’s Heron Mental Health Assisted Living Facility; Habitat for Humanity of the Upper Keys’ affordable housing initiatives; and scholarships program at the Marine Resource Development Foundation (Marine Lab).

On Saturday, August 10, from 10:00am – 1:00pm, artists of all experience levels can participate in a creative, relaxed, and fun outdoor “Paint & Sip” on the grounds of the Harry S. Truman Little White House, 111 Front Street, Key West Florida.

Led by artist Fran Decker, a long time Key West-based painter acclaimed for her vivid interpretations of local landmarks, conch houses, marine themes, flora and fauna, participants will be provided with an authentic 1911 Truman Little White House roof shingle as their canvas. Wine, champagne, and non-alcoholic beverages will be available, with the first one complimentary for participants.

Artists bring their own outdoor painting supplies, such as easel or plein air box and tripod, paint, brushes, brush washing container, etc. This is the final of three scheduled 2024 “TRU-ly Amazing Art” events, the proceeds of which benefit the Harry S. Truman Foundation and its mission to preserve Florida’s only presidential museum—the Harry S. Truman Little White House—and to provide programming that supports civic engagement, education, and the historical and cultural influences of the Truman era.
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TRU-ly Amazing Art events are presented with the support of the Monroe County Tourist 

Professionals from charitable organizations across the county will convene on Wednesday, September 11, for the third annual Florida Keys Nonprofit Day. The event will be held from 1-4:30 p.m. at the Marathon City Hall, 9805 Overseas Hwy, Marathon, FL 33050.
 
The event is presented by the Florida Keys Funders Alliance, a partnership of the Community Foundation of the Florida Keys, Ocean Reef Community Foundation and United Way of Collier and the Keys.
 
Tickets are free for paid staff and volunteers of nonprofit organizations, students, and community members interested in nonprofit service. Seats are limited and pre-registration at cffk.org/nonprofitday is required.
 
The afternoon will feature three sessions on presentations, branding and finance, followed by a reception sponsored by First State Bank of the Florida Keys.
 
Will Bowen - Nonprofit Presentations
Will Bowen, a Keys resident and internationally acclaimed nonprofit advocate, has authored five bestselling books with over four million copies sold in 35+ languages. Drawing from his 20+ years of professional speaking experience, Bowen will equip participants with strategies to articulate their missions effectively and improve donor presentations. His session promises to transform how local nonprofits communicate their value to stakeholders.
 
Bruce Turkel - Nonprofit Branding
Bruce Turkel, a world-renowned branding expert, specializes in helping organizations differentiate themselves and increase relevance to their audience. With a track record of revitalizing charity brands to boost awareness and donations, Turkel brings invaluable insights to Florida Keys nonprofits. His bestseller 'All About Them' was recognized by Forbes as one of the year's top ten business books, underscoring his authority in the field.
 
Westin Fengler - Nonprofit Finance
Westin Fengler, CPA, MBA, partners in a firm dedicated to nonprofit financial services. This highly requested session will cover accounting best practices, red flag identification, and strategies for leveraging financial data to impress donors. Fengler's expertise will empower staff and volunteers across all roles to navigate financial complexities and enhance their organization's fiscal transparency and appeal.
 
For more information, visit cffk.org/nonprofitday.
 
 

Key Largo Resident Laura Lietaert Named First Upper Keys Board Chair Robyn Still and Isis Wright Elected to Board 

The Community Foundation of the Florida Keys today announced significant changes to its Board of Governors, marking a milestone in its 27-year history. Laura Lietaert, principal of Coral Shores High School, will become the organization's first board chair from north of the Seven Mile Bridge, effective July 1. Additionally, business owners Robyn Still of Marathon and Isis Wright of Key Largo have been elected to three-year terms on the board.
 
Lietaert, a Key Largo resident and experienced educator, brings a wealth of community leadership experience to her new role as board chair. "I'm honored to lead the Community Foundation into its next phase of growth," she said. "Our goal is to continue expanding our impact across all of the Florida Keys, addressing the unique needs of each community."
 
The Board is responsible for the organization’s efforts countywide including managing 226 charitable funds totaling over $30 million and making grants exceeding $1.5 million annually to support Florida Keys nonprofits. 
 
Lietaert is principal of Coral Shores High School where she was named Monroe County School District “Principal of the Year” in 2023, after receiving the same award at Key Largo School in 2018. She currently chairs Monroe County’s Human Services Advisory Board which annually grants over $2 million to local nonprofits. She served two terms as president of the Rotary Club of Key Largo and is active in The Upper Keys Business and Professional Women, Key Largo Chamber of Commerce, and the Islamorada Chamber of Commerce. Lietaert was the Community Foundation’s first board member from Key Largo when she joined in 2020 and served as chair of the Foundation’s Upper Keys Advisory Council for two years.

Robyn Still serves on the Community Foundation’s Middle Keys Advisory Council. She and her husband, Chris, own The Tackle Box, a bait and tackle store in Marathon. Currently the Mayor of Marathon, Still has been a resident of the Keys since 2016, moving from north Georgia after a 20-year career in law enforcement. She holds several community leadership positions, including past chair of the Greater Marathon Chamber of Commerce, board member of the Rotary Club of Marathon, advisory board member for the Domestic Abuse Shelter, and member of Zonta. She is a graduate of Leadership Monroe County and a mentor for Take Stock in Children.
 
Wright has been an inaugural member of the Community Foundation’s Upper Keys Advisory Council since 2021, serving as council chair since 2022. With over 20 years of professional experience in business development and marketing, Wright recently launched two Keys-based brands: B. Ready, a travel and leisure wellness online marketplace, and Italian Food Company, an authentic Neapolitan pizzeria. She is a board member of the Islamorada Chamber of Commerce and has served with the Rotary Club of Key Largo, Rotary Interact, and Junior Achievement. Wright holds an MBA from the University of Miami and is a graduate of Leadership Miami.

“Laura Lietaert has an in-depth understanding of the needs of our residents, having graduated from Coral Shores, raised her own family here, and worked for the school system for three decades,” said Community Foundation board president and CEO Jennifer McComb. “With the addition of Robyn Still and Isis Wright, our board now better represents the geographic diversity of the Keys. This aligns perfectly with our strategic goal of becoming a truly countywide organization."

Other Community Foundation board members are Andrea Spottswood (treasurer and finance chair), Jodi Weinhofer (secretary), Marian Buccafurni (investment and grants chair), Bobby Highsmith (governance chair), Warren Leamard (development chair), Larry Nolt, and Ken Silverman. Will Langley and Ron Burd will transition to advisory roles after completing their nine-year terms of service.
 
Your Community Foundation of the Florida Keys, In Paradise for Good, has granted over $32 million to benefit every resident from Key Largo to Key West, supporting arts and culture, beautification and preservation of the Keys, health and human services, disaster relief, scholarships, and youth programs. The Community Foundation helps individuals and families leave a legacy in the Keys by inspiring giving and by connecting people, resources and needs through philanthropy, The Foundation is well-known for its signature “Unsung Heroes” event which honors nonprofit volunteers. For more information, call 305-292-1502 or visit cffk.org.

 KEY WEST, FL, June 20, 2024— The College of the Florida Keys Foundation recently received a donation from the Trust of the late Paula Jean Carbonell for $495,976.30. The bequeath will be used to create an endowment to support students in the Marine Environmental Technology and Marine Engineering Management and Seamanship programs. By endowing the funds, only the interest earned is expended, allowing the gift to support students in perpetuity and create a lasting legacy for Carbonell.
 
For more information about planned giving and donations to benefit CFK students and programs, contact Lana Gaspari, CFK Vice President of Advancement and CFK Foundation Executive Director, at 305-809-3214 or [email protected]. Gifts to the CFK Foundation are tax-deductible.