The Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands has given more than $60,000 in direct grants to the community in the past year.
The foundation has also received more than $400,000 to fund programs since last June. This funding includes a $150,000 grant from the Annie E. Casey Foundation to involve the Virgin Islands in KIDS COUNT, a national project to assess the well being of children and provide communities with tools to improve the outcomes for children and families.
At the annual meeting of CFVI on Friday at Zorba's Restaurant on Government Hill, CFVI President John deJongh Jr. said the foundation has total assets of $1.3 million.
Seven organizations were honored at the meeting for their efforts to enhance the lives of children, youth and families in the U.S. Virgin Islands. They were: Citibank NA; Hebrew Congregation of St. Thomas; Peter Gruber Foundation; Loomis, Sayles & Co.; Marie Keese Lelash Foundation; Kmart; and the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association.
Also honored were Ambassador Henry L. and Mrs. Charlotte Kimelman, CFVI's founding benefactors.
During the meeting, the foundation's 1998-99 slate of officers were re-elected. They are:
— John de Jongh Jr., president.
— Penny Feuerzeig, first vice-president.
— Alda Monsanto, second vice-president and chair of Our Children Now! task force.
— Sue Robinson , secretary.
— Chris Brathwaite, treasurer.
New directors on the CFVI board are:
— Mulo Alwani.
— Ricardo Charaf.
Continuing board members include:
— Kristine Brunt
— Henry Feuerzeig
— Maria Hodge
— Norma Levin
— Mark Marin
— Catherine Lockhart-Mills
— Joseph Potter
— Susan Seipel
— Ruth Thomas
— Henry Wheatley