John and Selene Devaney have a challenge for Key Biscayne -- one that could bring in hundreds of thousands of dollars for the island village.

The Key Biscayne Community Foundation has begun 2005 with new projects and grand plans. A new director, a new office and lots of new activities. First of all, Liz LaCorte has joined the group as its new executive director. Liz has most recently been manager of Special Events at the Miami office of the American Cancer Society. She has also worked for the Relay for Life fundraising program in South Florida. Her responsibilities included training volunteers and employees and planning events. Liz was promoted to associate director of the Broward office, where she supervised fundraising efforts and educational programs about cancer.

Liz is now in charge of the Key Biscayne Community Foundation’s office, and of managing special events. We sat down to talk to her in order to find out what she hopes to accomplish in 2005 and to get to know her better.

Liz, what are your plans at your new job?
I will be developing a new fundraising strategy along with the board of directors. It’s all aimed at improving the quality of life of Key Biscayne residents. I will also spend a lot of time getting to know the community, finding out its needs and getting potential donors, as well as helping out non-for-profit organizations.

Do you have a personal reason that made you work in humanitarian foundations?
It has been an interesting evolution. I never planned on working for a non-profit. I used to work in sales and I was good at it, but I never really felt what I was selling. When I moved to Miami five years ago, I saw an ad for the American Cancer Society. It happened just around the time my father passed away from a brain cancer, so I thought it was a good way to honor his life and remember him, while working for a good cause. While with the American Cancer Society I had to work a lot in Key Biscayne and I fell in love with this community. It’s a fabulous place. Honestly, I wasn’t looking for another job, but the members proposed this new position to me and I thought it was time for a change and new challenges. I’m pretty excited about it!

When do you move into the new office?
The new office has been donated very generously by John Devaney, who purchased it recently at the Sea Building. He donated the space, the furniture and the computer equipment. We should be moving during January.

What activities are you planning?
We are going to send out a direct mailing so people can get to know the Foundation and what we do. We will also organize a breakfast for non-for-profit organizations in order to explain to them the process of donations, how to apply for programs and to give them the necessary information. Throughout the year we are going to hold several events that will be announced.

How has the community responded so far?
We found several donors who have joined us. We have received tremendous generosity from this community.