Liz LaCorte, the first executive director of the Key Biscayne Community Foundation has resigned from her job to pursue new horizons. She will join the Jim Moran Foundation in Deerfield Beach as Sr. program manager. “Key Biscayne has always had a special place in my heart,” she comments.

“When I was off ered the opportunity to be the fi rst executive director for the newly founded, KBCF I was honored and overwhelmed. I have had the opportunity to work with some amazing people on both our board and standing committees. I’ve learned so much from all of these people and will carry that with me to my next position,” she says.

In her new job Liz will be responsible for reviewing grant applications, making site-visits to both current and potential grantees and making recommendations on funding to the board of directors. “The Jim Moran Foundation makes grants to programs that help with issues close to Mr. Moran’s heart, such as, youth transitional living, literacy, education, domestic violence and meaningful after-school programming,” explains LaCorte.

Although she is happy with this new professional challenge, she is a little nostalgic. “I am excited about the new opportunity to follow my passion for grant making,” says LaCorte. “I am also sad to leave the Key and all that we are working towards. I have such mixed emotions, but I am proud that we are doing just what we said out to do, and that is make the Key a better place for all members of the community.”

Her achievements in the KBCF include organizing several successful fundraising events, such as the Aqua Party. During her tenure, the Foundation hosted three grantee workshops that helped local not for profits gain knowledge from experts in the areas of volunteer recruitment, governance and fund-raising. “We have also hosted three professional advisory committee luncheons, sharing critical foundation information with local attorneys, accounts and financial advisors. Additionally, we underwrote the coalition’s family fun picnic and hosted a fi nancial planning seminar free to local community members,” she explains.

Her efforts have not been in vain. By December 31 of 2006 the Foundation will have taken in its $1 million dollar gross and in long-term commitments they are closer to $1.2 million. Several thousands of these funds have already been granted to enhance the quality life of the key.

“In addition to the above-mentioned events that were free to the public, we have also made over $90,000 in grants in the past two years of existence,” states LaCorte. “We have made grants to several local organizations, including but not limited to, The Buen Pastor Ministry at St. Agnes, City Th eatre, Teatro Avante, Th e Nature Center, and the Friends of Bill Baggs State Park. We have tried to make grants that serve our community and its needs. We are also in development of a multi-faceted grant program that will target some of Key Biscayne’s bigger issues, such as teen drug and alcohol prevention, domestic violence and a heritage preservation program.”

LaCorte’s accomplishments are numerous. However, it wasn’t easy at the beginning, because the Foundation was newly created when she was hired. “Whenever you start something new, there are multiple challenges. For me, it was defi ning who we are and making a big impact with limited resources.”

She leaves a successful legacy. “I think a success is defi ned by leaving something better than you found it.

I think that certainly has happened here…I would say the bigger success is in the amount of grant funding, leadership convening and overall increase in awareness of the community foundation and what it can do,” she says.

They hadn’t found a new person to take the position at press time, but in the interim Anne Rothe, chair and board member, will be serving as a part-time consultant and leading the search for a new executive director.

LaCorte’s biggest satisfaction at the KBCF is that she helped Key Biscayners and herself to understand the need for a community foundation. “We have been more than a funding resource, we have really turned ourselves into a leader in convening groups around key issues,” she says.

And for the KBCF, she will be always remembered as the fi rst director, who brought the Foundation to the knowledge of all. “I really appreciate the support that this community has shown not only to the Foundation, but to me personally. I thank you, from the bottom of my heart and will cherish the memories of my time here.”