Virtual Giving Tree Project Distributes $115,450 to 27 USVI Nonprofits
U.S. Virgin Islands, January 5, 2022 — This year's Virtual Giving Tree Project, launched in November 2021 by the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands (CFVI), once again brightened the holidays for nonprofit organizations throughout the territory this season. The project distributed $115,540 to 27 USVI nonprofits to support holiday-related needs for children, youth, families and seniors.
More than $66,000 in donations from generous private donors and the general public provided additional dollars to funds at CFVI allocated to the project.
"We couldn't be more grateful to everyone who donated," said CFVI President, Dee Baecher-Brown. "The fact that we were able to double the amount of donations from our inaugural Virtual Giving Tree project speaks to the overwhelming amount of love and support that exists out there in our Virgin Islands."
It all started with one random holiday request in December 2020 that developed into CFVI's launching the first Virtual Giving Tree Project.
"Our thought was that CFVI could serve as a broker to help donors who wanted to assist with our nonprofit community's holiday-related needs for children, youth, families and seniors," said Baecher-Brown.
To make things easy, CFVI created an online form to ask USVI nonprofit organizations to submit specific needs and requests. Then, potential donors were contacted by CFVI via email, social media and personal outreach.
"Finally, donors are matched with requests, the checks are cut, and happy holiday wishes are extended to all," said Baecher-Brown.
Below is a list of CFVI Virtual Giving Tree gift recipients:
All Saints Cathedral School - $5,000
To thank teachers and staff for going above and beyond during the pandemic
Provide incentive awards for students taking on the challenge of academic competitions
Purchase an industrial toolbox and appropriate equipment to address small repairs around campus
- Catholic Charities of the Virgin Islands - $5,000
Purchase shoes, undergarments and toiletries for 200 homeless clients - Cruz Bay Seventh-day Adventist Church - Community Services Program - $5,000
Purchase non-perishable foods and personal care products - DFG Community Impact Foundation Inc. - $3,000
Provide a Christmas luncheon for the elderly residents at the Celestino White Home and provide personal care items to both the Celestino White Home residents and the elderly residents of the St. John Community Center - Eddie Ortiz Annual Three Kings Tradition, Inc. - $5,000
Purchase toys and other gift giveaways - Family Resource Center - $19,000
Holiday gift baskets for seniors, laptops/tablets/iPads for children/youth, and gift certificates/cards for families
Adopt a family/toy drive - Friends of Virgin Islands National Park - $1,400
Turtle program volunteer appreciation - Leap and Learn Academy - $2,350
Purchase age appropriate gifts for 49 low income students - Long Path Garden Street Community Association Inc - $6,000
Provide and serve food packages for 75 families within the Long Path Garden Street community during the holidays - Lutheran Social Services - $4,000
Purchase light sweaters and toiletries for infants/toddlers and masks for children and adults for Early Head Start families in St. Croix - Marine Vocational Program - $1,050
Water for swimming pool - Methodist Training and Outreach Center, Inc. - $3,000
Purchase toiletries for the homeless and families in need, school uniforms for children, and pantry items to help with feeding programs - Nana Baby Children's Home, Inc. - $2,500
Purchase Christmas pajamas, cookware/kitchen items, and a couch - Prison Fellowship USVI - $500
Purchase Christmas gifts for children - Project Hope Outreach Ministries - $1,000
Purchase food, clothing, laundry supplies, personal hygiene items - St. Croix Animal Welfare Center - $2,500
Provide medical and animal care supplies for one month to support community outreach service providing preventive care and treatment to pets in underserved communities. - St. Thomas Reformed Church - $5,000
Provide Christmas gift distribution for 50 children who live in the neighborhood of the Church and provide holiday meal baskets for 50 families - St. Thomas Rescue - $2,500
Provide basic hygiene kits to the elderly during the holidays to augment a "Healthy for the Holidays" campaign, which included visits to facilities to offer blood pressure, temperature and diabetes screening - The Children's Museum of St. Croix - $2,500
Purchase ingredients for play dough and slime for pop-up events, art materials for activities, agriculture fair tent rental, and light pixel-wall exhibit - The Salvation Army (STX) - $12,100
Purchase toys and food boxes for families, gifts and food for senior home visits, clothing and care packages for the homeless - The Salvation Army (STT) - $5,000
Purchase toys and food baskets for 80 children and their families - University of the Virgin Islands, Center for Excellence in Leadership and Learning - $5,000
Purchase Christmas gifts for the children of incarcerated individuals on St. Thomas and St. Croix - Urban Strategies, Inc. - $5,000
Purchase toys and food baskets for children and families residing in the Louis E. Brown community - Virgin Island's Children's Museum - $1,850
Provide one-year memberships to the VICM for 10 families - Virgin Islands Village Academy Inc. - $3,000
Support the Jane E. Tuitt School by providing a social etiquette evening event for the Christmas holidays where students can dress up, have dinner, dance and engage with peers - Youth Arise, Inc. - $900
Purchase student curriculum materials and instructor training manuals in Spanish in order to expand vocational training to the Spanish-speaking population on St. Thomas and St. John - Y-Teens VI, Inc. - $1,300
Purchase holiday gifts for Y-Teens participants