| This year’s Virtual Giving Tree Project, launched in November 2022 by the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands (CFVI), once again brightened the season of giving for nonprofit organizations throughout the territory. The project distributed $56,266 to 21 USVI nonprofits to support holiday-related needs for children, youth, families and seniors. “It is heartwarming to see the amazing amount of love and support that exists in our community, and we couldn’t be more grateful,” said CFVI President, Dee Baecher-Brown. “Now in its third year, CFVI’s annual Virtual Giving Tree Project has provided more than $220,000 in gifts to USVI nonprofits so that they might bring holiday joy to the communities they serve.” It started with one random holiday request in December 2020 in the midst of the COVID pandemic, and developed into the launch of CFVI’s first Virtual Giving Tree Project. “Our thought was that CFVI could serve as a “connector” 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 provides an online form to ask USVI nonprofit organizations to submit specific needs and requests. Then, potential donors are 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 and a brief description of what the funding supported: Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Thomas/St. John – $200 for bookshelves for the Boys & Girls Club of St. Thomas. Caribbean Museum Center for the Arts – $1,050 for volunteer appreciation gifts. Catholic Charities of the Virgin Islands – $50 to provide additional items for the homeless and less fortunate. Coral Bay Community Council – $2,500 to provide 25 $100 grocery store gift cards to Coral Bay families with children. DFG Community Impact Foundation – $2,500 for holiday meals and gift bags for the elderly residents at the Celestino White Home and the St. John Community Center. Eddie Ortiz Annual Three Kings Tradition – $2,500 to host a holiday event with gifts, meals and live music for more than 400 children and their families from Estate Profit and other surrounding communities. Family Resource Center – $2,050 to provide fruit baskets for seniors and gift cards for families. Island Green Living Association – $1,500 to provide gift cards to low-income community members for clothing, household items, and toys. Leap and Learn Academy – $2,500 to provide gifts for low-income students. Liberty Place – $900 to provide haircut gift certificates for residents. Love City Pan Dragons – $1,541 to help cover costs related to holiday performances. Lutheran Social Services of the Virgin Islands – $6,000 to provide clothes and toiletries for infants/toddlers of Early Head Start families in St. Croix. Nana Baby Home, Inc. – $2,000 for items to fill 10 stockings, gifts for new children, new school uniforms, and holiday meal groceries. St. Andrews Episcopal Church – $3,125 to provide 50 seniors with a $50 gift certificate to purchase food items and 25 children with $25 gift cards for Christmas gifts. The Salvation Army (St. Thomas) – $10,000 to provide 250 toys for children, 20 gift cards for teens, and food gift baskets for 50 families. The Virgin Island’s Children’s Museum – $5,000 to provide gifts for 100 children under age 12 and their families. VI Resource Center for the Disabled – $5,000 to provide 55 holiday gift baskets for clients served. Virgin Islands Trail Alliance – $1,050 to provide gift cards for volunteers. Virgin Islands Village Academy – $3,500 to provide gifts for K-4 students and a Christmas party for students of the Jane E. Tuitt School. Women’s Coalition of St. Croix – $500 to provide gifts for children impacted by domestic violence and sexual abuse. Y-Teens VI – $300 to provide holiday gifts for Y-Teens participants. |
