Contact: Deanna James, Executive Director
(tel) 340.773.9898, djames@stxfoundation.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

St. CROIX, U.S.V.I., April 23, 2018 – The St. Croix Foundation is pleased to announce the establishment of the Patrick and Amelia Williams Opportunity Fund for St. Croix youth. Geared towards providing opportunities for St. Croix students to pursue their career goals through colleges or universities, scholarships not to exceed $5000 will be awarded to successful applicants. All applications will be reviewed on the basis of residency, school attendance, and GPA.

Graduates from a St. Croix public high school who have also attended a public junior high school and reside on St. Croix are eligible to apply. All applicants must provide proof of acceptance to an accredited college or university and must indicate and maintain a GPA of 2.0 or higher. Applications will be reviewed by the St. Croix Foundation Grants Review Committee and must be received no later than June 15 with awards announced by July 16.

The Patrick and Amelia Williams Opportunity Fund was established by their grandson Junior Gaspard, a native of St. Croix and graduate of Central High School and John H Woodson Junior High School, who wishes to honor his grandparents. Gaspard saw hard work and determination embodied in his grandfather’s spirit when he moved the entire family to St. Croix from St. Vincent while his grandmother’s resilience as she dealt with being blind provided a road map to overcoming anything with strength and perseverance. He has seen firsthand the drive and ability St. Croix youth and knows many of them just need the resources to seize the opportunity of higher education. Gaspard said, “There are talented students at a variety of income and GPA levels and we wanted to create a scholarship for students across the spectrum.”

To reflect the spirit of Patrick and Amelia Williams, this scholarship Fund also gives priority to young people who are involved in meaningful community service and who participate in extra-curricular activities. The Fund acknowledges the challenges that many young people face in becoming more involved in civics, however, and invites students to demonstrate in essays the reality of their socioeconomic issues to allow the Review Committee to better assess applications.

After visiting the island in December post-Hurricane Maria, Gaspard wanted to do something that could have a long-term impact. Knowing the challenges high-school students face preparing for and getting resources for college in a post-hurricane environment, this seemed to be most impactful way to help. “I remember going to double sessions and doing homework by kerosene lantern after Hurricane Hugo,” said Gaspard. “If this helps a few students who can persevere to get and stay in college, it will be a success.”

The Patrick and Amelia Williams Opportunity Fund will provide up to two scholarships a year with all scholarship recipients required to report on their successes and challenges throughout the year. This process will ensure that the Fund continues to meet current needs and to provide students with additional support if needed. Applications are due by June 15 and all applicants will be notified by July 16. The full application guidelines can be found on the Foundation’s website at www.stxfoundation.org. Applicants are encouraged to apply online; however, applications may also be mailed/delivered to St. Croix Foundation’s office at 1023 Market Street, Christiansted, VI 00820.

St. Croix Foundation wishes to extend its sincerest appreciation to Junior Gaspard, who is strategically giving back to the community and honoring those that provided him further opportunities that have led to his success! For more information about the Patrick and Amelia Williams Opportunity Fund, please visit the Foundation online or call at 340.773.9898.

Click here to read full press release: REVIVE & St. Croix Foundation Present 18,000 Pounds of Medical Supplies

 

 

Contact: Deanna James, Executive Director

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 18, 2017

St. CROIX FOUNDATION IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS,

ESTABLISHES HURRICANE CARE FUND TO AID RECOVERY AND RESILIENCY

 

St. Croix, U.S.V.I. — St. Croix Foundation for Community Development announces to the community at-large as well as to their Fiduciary Clients that the Foundation is open for business and fully-operational with electricity, phones, and internet connectivity. Sponsored Projects should feel free to contact the Foundation by phone or internet. The Foundation’s modified office hours are from 9:00am until 4:30pm.

In response to the catastrophic impact of Hurricanes Irma and Maria on the USVI and sister islands in the Caribbean, the St. Croix Foundation stands firm in its support of local and regional relief and recovery efforts and aims to work in partnership with organizations that are undertaking efforts to restore communities and families.

In support of local and regional relief and recovery efforts, the St. Croix Foundation has launched the CARE (Caribbean Assistance and Relief Effort) Fund. This fundraising effort is already providing direct support for front-line relief, rescue and recovery efforts undertaken by entities in the USVI and Caribbean Basin. The Foundation is currently collaborating with on-the-ground organizations that are delivering much needed services and goods, supplies, and equipment for immediate relief throughout the USVI, and this fund will support that effort for the immediate and long-term. Interested parties can visit the Foundation at www.usvigives.org to contribute gifts to the Fund.

To aid in immediate recovery and provide an equitable response for the future, the Foundation’s current efforts include:

• Coordinating and convening diverse community partners, national philanthropic networks, fellow nonprofits and volunteers to foster collaboration and maximize impact of relief efforts.
• Launching its Survey on the Status of Households Impacted by Hurricanes Irma and Maria. This survey asks St. Croix residents about the damages to their homes, the ages and unmet needs of individuals living in their home, the impact to their employment and more. Survey results will help connect organizations with individuals who have critical needs as well as to more broadly assess and inform the community-wide dialogue about next steps in the recovery process.
• Sponsoring the shipment of critical relief supplies like water, hygiene products, baby supplies and more.
• Sponsoring the cost of security for keeping relief supplies safe.
• Supporting distribution of relief supplies including a neighborhood distribution effort this past weekend in Williams Delight, an area hit hard by Hurricane Maria
• Conducting a Nonprofit Damage and Needs Assessment Survey currently being completed by local nonprofit partners to help assess the impact of the storm on St. Croix’s civic sector and what resources are necessary to get these organizations fully operational.
• Providing temporary office space for a growing number of nonprofit organizations displaced by the storm including the Boys and Girls Club and the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Council.

As an operating foundation, St. Croix Foundation’s efforts are ultimately aimed at supporting disaster recovery and building resiliency for the long-term. The Foundation is focused on leveraging its 27 years of experience in holistic community development as they stand in solidarity and collaboration with community partners who are working hard to bring relief and ensure equity for those most severely impacted by recent storms.

As the Virgin Islands Community embarks on the long, steady journey toward recovery, the Foundation wishes our community a focused and forward-thinking recovery. According to St. Croix Foundation’s Executive Director, Deanna James, “St. Croix Foundation does not just FUND the work, it IS the work. We have our sleeves rolled up and are hard at work supporting a progressive and prosperous future for the people of St. Croix and the entire Virgin Islands.”

For more information on the St. Croix Foundation and to learn more about the comprehensive recovery work being spearheaded by the Foundation, visit the St. Croix Foundation’s website at www.stxfoundation.org or contact the St. Croix Foundation directly at 340-773-9898.

 

In response to the catastrophic impact of Hurricane Irma on the USVI and sister islands in the Caribbean, the St. Croix Foundation for Community Development stands firm in its support of local and regional relief and recovery efforts, and it aims to work in partnership with organizations that are undertaking efforts to restore communities and families.

To help support local and regional efforts, the St. Croix Foundation for Community Development has launched the CARE (Crucian Assistance and Relief Effort) Fund.

This fundraising effort will provide direct support for front-line relief, rescue and recovery efforts undertaken by entities in the USVI and Caribbean Basin. The Foundation will collaborate with on-the-ground organizations that are delivering much needed services and goods, supplies, and equipment for much needed use throughout the USVI and sister islands, and this fund will support that effort for the immediate and long-term.

Please look at the link below to make your gift today!  Also, a Hurricane Relief Line has been set up to receive messages this week.  Please leave a detailed message at 678-532-9924.

Donate Today

Press Release 2017 White Paper Release

2017 FWE CHEFS & LINE UP

St. Croix, U.S.V.I. — The St. Croix Foundation for Community Development will celebrate 26 years of leadership and service in the Virgin Islands on Thursday, September 22nd, at their annual Birthday Block Party in the Sunday Market Square in downtown Christiansted from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM. The annual celebration is being held in conjunction with the St. Croix Chamber of Commerce’s Business After Hours.
Established in 1990, the Foundation has served as a conduit for over $37,000,000 in funding for community based projects throughout the Virgin Islands. With an incomparable track record of successful community development initiatives and national and international recognition for its work in education reform, small business development, and community revitalization, the Foundation is now directing focus on Four Pillars of Community Development: Public Safety, Public Service, Public Policy, and Public Will.
According to the Foundation’s Executive Director, Deanna James, those pillars represent critical intersection points and guideposts for holistic community development and strategic philanthropy. The St. Croix Foundation’s new focus is now linking all of its initiatives and priorities in innovative ways to ensure maximum impact and to leverage scarce resources. Executive Director Deanna James stated that, “Despite the challenges facing our community socially and economically, it appears that the seeds we have sown, the lessons we have learned, and the partnerships we have nurtured have all positioned the Foundation to be a bona-fide Territorial Civic Leader.”

The Foundation remains grounded in the philosophy of its founders, Phillip Gerard and Michael Neuburger, who believed that functioning as a hybrid operating foundation, which is both a grantmaker and a program administrator, was the single most effective format for serving a community with such significant needs and socio-economic disparities.
According to James, “in future months and years the Foundation will be working more intentionally and strategically with the nonprofit sector, which we believe will be the bedrock and foundation of leadership and social transformation in the Territory.”
The Foundation wishes to thank its committed donors and sponsors who make the organization’s work possible in conjunction with a multitude of community partners from the private and public sectors, past and present Board members, and volunteers for their immeasurable contributions over the years.
Special thanks also goes out to the St. Croix Chamber of Commerce, Chef Billy D and his catering team, Singhs, and Gary’s Bakery, the Virgin Islands Police Department, Department of Public Works, and the St. Croix Historic Preservation Committee for their support and contributions in preparing for the upcoming event. For more information on the St. Croix Foundation and to learn more about the exciting work being spearheaded by the organization, visit the Foundation’s website at www.stxfoundation.org or contact the St. Croix Foundation directly at 340-773-9898.

St. CROIX FOUNDATION INVITES NONPROFITS TO CONSORTIUM MEETINGS

St. CROIX, U.S.V.I. — The St. Croix Foundation for Community Developing is inviting registered St. Croix 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations to participate in a collaborative convening to shape a community-wide plan that will strengthen and sustain St. Croix’s nonprofit, civic organizations on August 31, 2016.

In fulfillment of the Foundation’s mission to encourage greater philanthropic activity and marshal resources to benefit the people of the Virgin Islands, over the next month the Foundation will be hosting a series of forums where nonprofit organizations will engage in conversations about creating a sustainable financial future for the civic sector. The forums will be facilitated by an experienced and dynamic development professional, secured by the Foundation, who will lead nonprofits in a conversation about strategic philanthropy and how, in a community with limited resources, organizations can collaborate to leverage financial, intellectual, and operational capacity.

According to St. Croix Foundation Senior Program Officer, Lilli Cox, “In a year of national and local elections, combined with a shared uncertainty about the local and global economy, nonprofits must think about our collective operational strategies and financial future.” “Through this process, organizations will have an opportunity to share, collaborate, and plan in ways never undertaken in our community to date and the Foundation is excited to facilitate and lead this process,” Cox continued.

The first convening took place on August 12th and will continue throughout September with the overarching objective to build a community wide action plan around strategic philanthropy.

The St. Croix Foundation wishes to thank all civic organizations who have participated thus far and contributed to the process. Nonprofits interested in joining in the forums should call the Foundation at 340-773-9898 to get more information and meeting details no later than Tuesday, August 30th.

FHC Loaned 75K from Denali SCFCD Fund_2016

St. CROIX FOUNDATION CELEBRATES 25th Anniversary at ANNUAL BLOCK PARTY & NONPROFIT STREET FAIR St. Croix, U.S.V.I. The St. Croix Foundation for Community Development will celebrate 25 years of leadership and service in the Virgin Islands on Thursday, September 24th, at their annual Birthday Block Party in the Sunday Market Square in downtown Christiansted from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM. The annual celebration is being held in conjunction with the Croix Chamber of Commerce’s After Hours and will also showcase the work of some of the community-based projects and initiatives currently operating under the Foundation’s 501(c)3 umbrella.

As a critical component of the Foundation’s programmatic portfolio, fiscal sponsorship services have provided a reliable and accountable vehicle through which grassroots organizations can pursue their mission under the guidance of the Foundation’s established nonprofit status. Today, as a preeminent provider of fiscal sponsorship services in the Territory, the Foundation has managed over $20 million dollars and has served an impressive number of over 200 projects over the past 25 years. The Foundation is encouraging their partners and friends to come out and support these worthwhile community projects, including the Artists Guild of St. Croix, the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Fund, Christiansted Community Alliance, Crucian Heritage and Nature Tourism, Diane Hampton Breast Cancer Project, Friends of Ham Bluff Lighthouse, St. Croix Pirate Adventure, St. Croix Seashell Society, the Virgin Islands Good Food Coalition, and the Virgin Islands Humane Learning Center.

Established back in 1990 in the wake of Hurricane Hugo, one of the most costly natural disasters in American history, the St. Croix Foundation’s founders, Phillip Gerard and Michael Neuburger recognized that the critical needs of the community required more than a mere grantmaker and chose a broader mandate. Today, the St. Croix Foundation for Community Development functions as a hybrid organization that is both a grantmaker and an operating foundation administering programs and providing direct services.

According to Executive Director, Deanna James, “Since the Foundation’s inception, we have served as a conduit for over $37,000,000 in funding for community based projects throughout the Virgin Islands. In fact, over the past 15 years, SCFCD has developed an incomparable track record of successful initiatives in a broad range of programmatic areas from economic development, historic restoration, public safety and public education reform as well as supporting our nonprofit community.”

“As a nonpartisan, apolitical community development organization, for 25 years, SCFCD has demonstrated strong leadership, serving as an agent of social transformation by brokering partnerships between diverse stakeholders to forge innovative solutions for deeply entrenched systemic problems,” James continued.

The Foundation would like to thank all of their community partners from the private sector, the public sector, donors and past and present Board members for their immeasurable contributions over the years. Special thanks also goes out to the St. Croix Chamber of Commerce, the Virgin Islands Police Department, St. Croix Administrator, Stephanie Williams, the Department of Public Works, Reliable Rentals, Cruzun Rum, Chef Anton Doos, Singhs, and Gary’s Bakery for their support and contributions in preparing for the upcoming event. For more information on the St. Croix Foundation’s BELIEVE CAMPAIGN and to learn more about the exciting work being spearheaded by the Foundation, visit the Foundation’s website at www.stxfoundation.org or contact the St. Croix Foundation directly at 340-773-9898.