Community Spotlight: Junior League of Manatee County Receives Grant From Manatee Community Foundation

BRADENTON – The Junior League of Manatee County (JLMC) was recognized with a $1,000 Grant from the Manatee Community Foundation (MCF), specifically the Weichel Family Fund, for support and development of its community project, “Junior League Gives Back,” at Orange Ridge-Bullock Elementary School. 

During the first year of its new Honor Roll program, Junior League Gives Back, JLMC hosted four reward parties this 2012-2013 school year at Orange Ridge-Bullock Elementary. The program distributed during the school year $2,500 in incentives and prizes to the achieving students. The incentives have ranged from educational games, books, art supplies, to fitness equipment. JLMC also donated an additional $350 in nonfiction 3rd grade level books for the school library to aid in FCAT preparation.

Marilyn Howard, Executive Director of MCF, explains, “The Manatee Community Foundation supports the ‘Junior League Gives Back’ project not only because it supports positive attitudes toward academic achievement, but the Junior League members are “hands on” leading activities and providing positive role models for the students.”  

JLMC hopes to expand the program in 2013-14 to include 4th-graders, and to provide more one on one tutoring and support for students. 

According to JLMC Grant Committee Chair, April Speck-Ewer, “JLMC is thrilled and honored to receive this grant. We know that MCF has a vigorous vetting and application process, and we see this grant as a vote of confidence and empowerment for our collaboration with the students and staff at Orange-Ridge. With the help of this resource, we look forward to building and strengthening the program for the 2013-4 school year.”

On April 4, 2013, Manatee Community Foundation Board Members present a grant award to the Junior League of  Manatee County project, ‘Junior League Gives Back’. Pictured left to right, MCF Board Member/Grants Committee Chair, Karen Miller, JLMC Grant Committee Chair April-Speck Ewer, and MCF Board Member, Nick Drizos.

About the Junior League of Manatee County

The Junior League of Manatee County is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable. For more information, visit www.jrleaguemanatee.org.