The Key Biscayne Community Foundation carried out its third round of donations for the current fiscal year. The donations were given to the Key Biscayne Nature Center, the Key Biscayne Athletic Club and the Good Pastor Ministry of the St. Agnes Catholic Church.

Liz LaCorte, executive director of the Key Biscayne Community Foundation, told La Isla Times: “These organizations were selected based on the applications we received and how well they fit into the overall mission of the community foundation.”

The Key Biscayne Nature Center will be utilizing its funding to begin a Butterfly Corridor project for Key Biscayne, in order to reforest the key with butterflies and moths that once inhabited the island. This corridor would allow the butterflies to fly from the Bear Cut preserve to the Gardens of Crandon Park, into the Village of Key Biscayne, through various private gardens, down to Cape Florida.

The Key Biscayne Athletic Club’s, tackle football program, who is the recipient of two grants, will be using their funding for the purchase of a state-of-the-art hydration system to address the issue of dehydration in their athletes, as well as for both the salary and for an on-site trainer and a trainer first aid kit.

On the other hand, the Buen Pastor Ministry at the St. Agnes Catholic church received a second grant for this year. The ministry is dedicated to medical care, English lessons and immigration help for the domestic workers of Key Biscayne. LaCorte explained that the reason for giving a second donation to St. Agnes was based on several criteria: “We always ask to see a program’s operating budget, expenses, and other needs... Additionally, we may look at the number of people that the grant will impact.” [400 people].

LaCorte said that the Foundation does not donate money to religious organizations themselves, but rather to specific programs carried out anywhere in the Key, especially if it’s by non-for-profit groups. “We are very excited about the proposals we are getting and the opportunity that we have to invest in our community,” said Anne Rothe, Grants Committee Chair. “This grants cycle enables us to show the diverse ways in which we are able to impact our community.”

The Foundation, established in 2004, has handed out over $50,000 in donations and scholarships to members of the Key Biscayne community. Among the other organizations that have benefited are:

Rosenstiel School of Marine Sciences, City Theatre, Avante Theatre, Key Biscayne Community School-PTA, Arts in Public Places committee of the Village of Key Biscayne, Friends of the Miami-Dade Library, Rotary Club Foundation and the Coalition for the Good of the Children.