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Charlotte Amalie
Thursday, March 28, 2024
HomeNewsArchivesCommunity Foundation Doles Out Quarter-Million-Plus to Students

Community Foundation Doles Out Quarter-Million-Plus to Students

Attendees at the CFVI meeting learn about volunteer opportunities.The Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands honored the territory’s students with over $271,000 in scholarships at its annual meeting on Friday.

Nearly 200 people attended the meeting at Antilles School, cheering as winners took the stage for congratulations. The board reviewed over 200 applications and almost half were awarded scholarships.

From the scholarship fund, $250,000 went to assist 86 students entering college, $5,000 for two graduate scholarships and nearly $17,000 was awarded to seven high school students who will attend various off-island summer enrichment programs.

Lucinda Davis, mother of Isaac and Rebecca Paiewonsky Scholarship winner Seymour Dawson, was thankful for the program.

“I’m glad the foundation can help because it’s hard,” she said speaking of Dawson’s out-of-state tuition as he plans to attend Florida Memorial University.

The organization has provided $1.5 million in scholarships since 1996. But scholarships are only a small portion of $1.9 million in grants, scholarships and services dispersed this year.

After sharing scholarship finances, Chairman of the board Ricardo Charaf said a complete financial report for 2011 will be available in September. He noted CFVI continues to meet with success as assets have grown to more than $7.5 million.

“The foundation’s annual meeting is an opportunity to celebrate together with the many friends and neighbors who have been with us from the very beginning, working with us to build a better future for our community,” said Charaf.

Many of the scholarships and donations which assist students and community organizations come from people CFVI has termed Angels. Speakers thanked Angels and as well as young Junior Angels for their commitment to serving the community with donations and volunteer hours.

A majority of the Junior Angels are graduating this year. CFVI encourages high school students to get in touch with them about volunteer and scholarship opportunities.

“Angels provide the basic support for CFVI, all of our programs and more than 110 funds. Because of Angels, we provide all our services at no cost to the community,” Charaf said.

CFVI also updated guests on projects. Guests were curious about cards on their tables displaying words like “commitment” and “respect.”

President of the organization, Dee Baecher-Brown, explained that the cards represented 52 virtues which CFVI is encouraging residents to uphold. The Virtue Project has developed significantly over the last 18 months, she said.

According to Baecher-Brown “the international project brings to communities the thoughtfulness and carefulness of how we do business with one another.”

CFVI hosted two training sessions, one on St. Thomas and one on St. Croix, for members of the community to learn about virtues and pass them on to family and friends.

“They gave a week of their lives to learn this training and how to implement it in our schools, faith communities, businesses, homes,” said Baecher-Brown

Among its projects, CFVI also supports several community organizations. Over 20 were set up around the perimeter of the room for guests to explore volunteer opportunities. Everything from the Island Horse Welfare Foundation to the Caribbean Genealogy Library was represented, covering a range of options for everyone, Baecher-Brown noted.

“We always try at the annual meeting to highlight the different products of donor generosity. It was also celebrating the not for profit organizations. If we don’t have good ones to support, we wouldn’t be here,” said Baecher-Brown.

Along with clerical matters, CFVI invited Bertha C. Boschulte Middle School students to perform routines that they learned in after-school programs which received assistance from the organization. Baecher-Brown was excited to show donors what their contributions have meant to the students.

“Today is about celebrating all the wonderful people in our community who come together and make our community richer and the place it is today,” she said.

CFVI was established in 1990 with a donation of $540,000. According to the organization’s background information, CFVI manages more than 100 named funds, administers scholarships, awards grants, administers community programs and coordinates the establishment of memorial funds.

Call 774-6031 for more information about the opportunities CFVI offers.

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