Mayor Teri Johnston and the City Commission this week honored the Community Foundation of the Florida Keys (CFFK) for its 25th anniversary.
CFFK started with a small group of citizens with a vision of using collective charitable giving and collaboration to build a better future. It has grown into a valued resource for philanthropy, serving a wide range of causes including health and human services, education, environment, arts and culture, animal welfare, and more.
One of the founding board members, Dr. Shirley Freeman, spoke of the contribution the foundation has provided for the community.
“It directly services charities and non-profits in the community,” she said. “It helps donors do their job more easily. If you give your money through the foundation, you get that good feeling you get from giving. Then when the Community Foundation takes your money and gives it to a non profit --under your direction, of course-- then you get to feel good again!”
Dr. Freeman noted that, over the past 25 years CFFK has awarded $31 million in grants and program services.
In the photo: City Commissioner Gregory Davila; Community Foundation Founder Tom Clements, incoming CFO Elizabeth Miller; CFFK founding member Dr. Shirley Freeman; CFFK Board Chair Dr. Susanne Woods; outgoing CFO Mark Songer; Commissioners Mary Lou Hoover (at the dais) and Jimmy Weekley (also a founding member), CFFK Executive Director Jennifer McComb; Mayor Teri Johnston; Board member Jodi Weinhofer; CFFK Treasurer Tom Swain; Board member Rosi Ware; and Commissioners Sam Kaufman, Clayton Lopez, and Billy Wardlow.