Gifts stay in Monroe Co.
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The following successs stories illustrate the many ways your donated funds have helped your local friends, neighbors, employees and their families in times of economic distress and personal turmoil.
A testament to how funds from the United Way grant were used:
A child has been receiving services from Easter Seals since she was born. Due to an injury at birth, she is severely physically and verbally challenged.
Despite her challenges, she is one of the most social children you could ever hope to meet. She enjoys exploring her surroundings and playing with her friends. This child was in dire need of a device that could help her walk so that she could participate in games with her friends at school and get around in her home.
How could this child be subject to a whole childhood in a wheelchair when she has the ability to walk if she was given the proper support? Her insurance company denied the request and it was due to funds from United Way that helped this child to be able to walk.
The device was purchased and within weeks, she had mastered how to use it and was even going to the tennis courts with her family after school and engaging in family fun activities. Thanks to the funds from this grant, this child has been able to experience a whole new world and enjoy the freedom of walking that many of us take for granted.
The funds benefit another child in Monroe County who receives services through Easter Seals. She was born with a condition in which her brain is affected and she is physically, verbally and cognitively challenged.
The United Way funds are used to offset the costs of therapy for this child. Additionally, her mother is unable to drive her to the clinic for her therapy and the funds help provide the services she desperately needs right in her home.
Wesley House Family Services is a COA accredited, not-for profit organization, working with over 2,800 children and families annually throughout Monroe County. Wesley House has an enduring commitment to quality, adhering to the “Best Practice” concept of developing and implementing the most efficient and effective way of delivery our services. Community services include:
Wesley House Family Services utilizes our funding from the United Way of Monroe County for our School Readiness program to provide financial assistance to income eligible families to help pay the cost of child care for low income families entering or re-entering the job market. This assistance allows the critically-needed working families of Monroe Country to place their children in a safe and enriching environment while the parents work and allow this community to continue functioning.
The Early Learning Coalition of Miami/Dade-Monroe requires that local match dollars be raised which eventually bring into Monroe County a 16 to 1 match for this funding. Our current year local match for School Readiness funding totaled $126,025 which supplied $1,958,725 in funding to working families in the Florida Keys. In order to enter this program, family income must be at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines ($21,000 for a single parent with one child) and families can continue to receive funding up to 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Wesley House was able to provide financial support to 1,256 Florida Keys children during the last fiscal year.
These are the 2008 Gold Award Recipients from Miami-Dade and Monroe counties. The Gold Award is the highest award a Girl Scout can earn. They use the three leadership keys, Discover, Connect, Take Action to identify a need in their community, and create a long-term solution to address this need.
Girl Scouts participating in a Veteran’s Day Parade in the Keys.
Girl Scouts in the Keys has manned the water station at the Noname Key Walk/Run since the race began, seven years ago. Money raised from the race goes to the Domestic Abuse Shelter of Monroe County.
The troop runs the bunny coral when they have open community events. They control children in the bunny coral, catch the rabbits and put them in a temporary fenced-in area. The children sit and Girl Scouts give them a bunny to hold and pet.
Myrna, a 2008 graduate, whose home life was filled with violence and drug use during her time in the program, had to say this about PACE/The Keys Center and its affect on her life:
"Things are going very well for me up here. I like it a lot (job corp). I am president of my class and room captain of my dorm. I am also a tutor becase my T.A.B.A. test scores were high. In addition, I am running for secretary of the Student Government Association (S.G.A.). The Culinary Arts class is full until January. So I'm thinking about doing computer technology but I'm not quite sure yet.
I was just writing to tell you how much I appreciate everything that the entire PACE staff has done for me. You all have helped me so much that words can't explain. You have taught me positive behaviors that I use every day in my daily routine.
Whenever I was having trouble or the slightest doubt about any situation you were always there to lend a hand. Because of your kind and helping heart and postiive feedback I'm staying out of trouble and doing something with my life.
Thank you so much for everything. It's highly appreciated and because of you I feel that I am highly favored and blessed. Once again thank you so much!!!