M E M O R A N D U M
To: Honorable Mayor and Town Council
From: Rafael G. Casals, ICMA-CM, CFM, Town Manager
Date: May 20, 2020
Re: Resolution Awarding Grant Funding to
Village Church Miami - Village Backpack Program
RESOLUTION
title
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF CUTLER BAY, FLORIDA, APPROVING AN AWARD OF $2,500.00 IN GRANT FUNDING FROM THE CUTLER BAY COMMUNITY FUND TO SUPPORT VILLAGE CHURCH MIAMI’S VILLAGE BACKPACK PROGRAM; PROVIDING FOR AUTHORIZATION; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
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BACKGROUND
On July 17, 2013, the Town of Cutler Bay (“Town”) entered into an agreement with the Miami Foundation to establish the Cutler Bay Community Fund (“Fund”). This donor-advised fund allows the Town to support non-profit organizations that serve Cutler Bay residents. The mission of the Fund “is to support nonprofit organizations that endeavor to improve the life of residents in the Town of Cutler Bay through educational, aesthetic (community beautification), environmental, cultural, social services and other philanthropic programs and services.” The Fund’s balance for the quarter that ended March 31, 2020 is $41,462.28 (Attachment “A”).
The Town accepts grant applications throughout the year and reviews the applications quarterly. For the first quarter, funding cycle that ended on March 31, 2020, the Town received one (1) grant application. A review panel consisting of three (3) Town employees reviewed the funding request and found that the project is aligned with the Fund’s strategic plan primarily under the “Social Services” service category.
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The applicant’s mission and history statement read:
Village Church Miami started at Cutler Bay Middle School led by Pastor John Michael Gibson, and his wife Brittany. We have designed and implemented an active program where our homeless and displaced students will have seven meals that they can take home with them every weekend inside of a backpack. We call this mission our Backpack Program. By receiving this grant, we believe that this program will change the way that students in need perceive school, increase test scores, their overall mood and outlook on life, and better the community of Cutler Bay as a whole.
Village Church Miami’s grant application included the following: (Attachment “B”)
|
Requesting Agency |
Amount of Request |
Total Project Cost |
Purpose |
|
Village Church Miami - Village Backpack Program |
$2,500.00 |
$2,500.00 |
Village Church Miami’s request for $2,500 will fund its Village Backpack Program which is designed to meet the needs of students in poverty on a weekly basis by filling the backpack with seven (7) meals that students can take home every Friday. The seven meals include 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 3 dinners plus 2 sets of snacks to supplement the meals. The Backpack Program ensures that students do not go hungry while away from school. We have been actively running about 30 to 40 students per week and have plans for growth through this continued support. |
|
Total Request |
$2,500.00 |
$2,500.00 |
|
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Town Council approve the Resolution authorizing an award $2,500.00 to Village Church Miami’s Village Backpack Program.
ATTACHMENT(S)
Ø Attachment “A” - Cutler Bay Community Fund Balance Sheet
Ø Attachment “B” - Village Church Miami Village Backpack Program Application