Quantum Foundation awards $1 million to grassroots nonprofits
Palm Beach County organizations receive funds for basic needs
(West Palm Beach, Fla.) – Quantum Foundation, Palm Beach County’s largest health funder, is celebrating a major milestone with its 10th annual Quantum in the Community (QIC) 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,” said Eric Kelly, president of Quantum Foundation. “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, 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.
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 an impressive $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. 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,” Iderosa said. “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, Welllington, 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 funds remain 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,” an alias to protect her identity, was living in the park just a few short weeks ago when it started pouring rain. She called Devine and was in a hotel room that night. Caroline has since gotten her own apartment and she credits the SVDP organization for changing her life. “They are my saviors,” Caroline 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,” Divine said. “We are not just another social agency that pays the bills – we want to make sure our clients are successful.”
Their largest need is funding, but volunteer opportunities are also 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,” 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,” Miracle 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,” 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 or to get involved, visit www.operation120.org or vall 561-463-VETS (8387).
For more information about Quantum Foundation, or to learn about applying for grants, please visit www.quantumfnd.org or call 561-832-7497. Applications for Quantum in the Community grants open in the spring every year and funds are awarded each November. To learn more about the Quantum in the Community initiative, please visit www.quanumfnd.org/quantum-in-the-community.
###
A full list of the grantees is as follows:
2020 Quantum in the Community Grantees
- Belle Glade/Pahokee/South Bay
- Federation of Families of Florida
- Light House Café Ministries of the Glades, Inc.
- New Beginning Community Outreach, Inc.
- Pahokee Deliverance Christian Center
- Church of the Harvest
- Balanced Living Mentorship
- GCI Training and Empowerment Center, Inc.
- Kings Tutoring and Mentorship Foundation, Inc.
- Boca Raton
- The Jacob Zweig Foundation, Inc.
- Mercy and Compassion, Inc.
- Spirit of Giving Network
- Boynton Beach
- Hosanna Evangelical Alliance Church, Inc.
- Church of God of Palm Bay, Inc.
- Next Generations of Holocaust Survivors, Inc.
- Eglise De Dieu Agape
- Good Samaritan Alliance Church of Boynton Beach, Inc.
- Women Without Walls Empowerment Center, Inc.
- Delray Beach
- Cityhouse Delray Beach, Inc.
- Eat Better Live Better
- Emmaus Alliance Ministries, Inc.
- Family Promise of South Palm Beach County, Inc.
- Suits for Seniors, Inc.
- Wheels from the Heart
- Jupiter/Tequesta
- Bella’s Angels, Inc.
- Big Heart Brigade
- Chasen’ Tailz
- Chasin a Dream Foundation
- Clothing by Faith for Children, Inc.
- Connor Moran Children’s Cancer Foundation
- Hannah’s Home of South Florida, Inc.
- St. Vincent De Paul of St. Peter
- Vital Flight, Inc.
- Lake Park
- Club 100 Charities, Inc.
- Heart of God Missions International
- Joint Mission, Inc.
- Shammah Baptist Worship Center, Inc.
- Lake Worth/Lantana
- Arms of Hope Community, Inc.
- Chariots of Love
- Dress for Success Palm Beaches, Inc.
- God’s Army Raising Youth
- Haiti Cholera Research Funding Foundation
- OPERATION120
- Restoration Bridge International
- Salem Haitian Evangelical Lutheran
- South Florida Sanctuary, Inc.
- North Palm Beach/Palm Beach Gardens
- FFA Foundation, Inc.
- Hands Together of the Palm Beaches, Inc.
- Little Smiles, Inc.
- Metropolitan Community Church of the Palm Beaches
- Palm Beach Children’s Chorus, Inc.
- Riviera Beach
- Children and Family Charity, Inc.
- Children’s Outreach, Inc.
- Faith Missionary Temple Corporation
- Four Corners of Faith, Inc.
- The Giving Closet Project, Inc.
- Holy Ground Shelter for Homeless, Inc.
- Life Center of Palm Beach County, Inc.
- Lil Jesus Ministry
- Parianna Precious Hands, Inc.
- Riviera Beach Community Outreach, Inc.
- St. George’s Center, Inc.
- Wellington/Greenacres/Royal Palm Beach
- Angels for Friends Corp.
- Back to Basics, Inc.
- Bi-Wi “Because I’m Worth It” International, Inc.
- Dezman Fleury Foundation, Inc.
- Family First Community Outreach Services
- Hope 4 Mobility, Inc.
- Kids Cancer Foundation
- National Council of Jewish Women, Palm Beach
- The Talented Teen Club
- Wellington Cares
- Wellington Community Foundation, Inc.
- West Palm Beach
- A&A Workforce, Inc.
- A Barry Safe Place, Inc.
- A Different Shade of Love
- Adiva Cares Foundation, Inc.
- AHOP A Way Community Outreach
- Angel Flight Southeast
- Buccan Provisions Non-profit Corp.
- Do Right Church of Jesus Christ, God & The Holy Ghost
- Donation and Charity Center, Inc.
- EmpoweHer of the Palm Beaches
- Extended Hands Community Outreach
- Family Promise of North/Central Palm Beach County, Inc.
- Feeding the Hungry, Inc.
- Feed the Hungry Pantry of Palm Beach County
- Florida A&M University National Alumni Association, Inc.
- HACER Ministry Corp.
- Hands of Love Community Development Center, Inc.
- Heart, Health & Healing Ministries, Inc.
- Hospitality Helping Hands
- Ladies of Futurity, Inc.
- The Leroy Freeman Evangelistic Association, Inc./More Than Conquerors
- LTTG Fund for the Needy, Inc.
- My Own Home Project, Inc.
- Martin Luther King Jr. Coordinating Committee
- Northwest Community Consortium, Inc.
- Palm Beach Harvest, Inc.
- Philanthropy Tank
- Police Athletic League of West Palm Beach
- Redemptive Life Urban Initiative Corp.
- The Sock Drawer
- Sojourners with Healing Hearts, Inc.
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Palm Beach District Council
- The Pink Queen Foundation
- Trinity United Methodist Church of West Palm Beach, Inc.
- True Fast Outreach Ministries, Inc.
- We Care About People, Inc.
- West Palm Beach Police Foundation
- Youth Empowered to Prosper
- Organizations based outside Palm Beach County with service to its residents
- Miami Diaper Bank, Inc., Miami
- Carebag, Port St. Lucie