Port St. Lucie Business Women Award
grants to local nonprofits

Every year the Port St. Lucie Business Women awards grants from money raised in the organization's annual spring Fashion Show. Although the Fashion Show has been canceled for the past two years, the Business Women Community Action & Grants committee proceeded with plans to present grant awards in light of the desperate situation non-profits have encountered as a result of the ongoing pandemic.

Sarah’s Kitchen received a grant of $1,000 to purchase food and supplies. Sarah’s Kitchen has been serving our hungry neighbors since June 2009. The organization is the largest soup kitchen operation in St. Lucie County, with five feeding sites located in churches throughout St. Lucie County and a mobile feeding program that feeds the homeless. Last year, more than 70,000 hot nutritious meals were served to those who were hungry, including senior citizens and families. “Our goal is to never have to turn someone seeking a meal away,” says Executive Director Julie Summers.

St. Lucie County Education Foundation received a grant of $1,000 for its kindergarten structured play program called “Play with Purpose”. This new program for St. Lucie public schools is targeted at early intervention and is designed to enhance the early literacy skills of kindergarten students. “Play is critically important in developing the skills of a typical 5-year-old,” says President Thom Jones.

The grant will go towards the purchase of custom themed kits and will be doubled by the State of Florida Matching Grant Program. Each kit contains themed play sets. The Education Foundation was founded by the School Board and civic leaders to advance public education by connection community to classroom.

The Port St. Lucie Business Women's Community Action & Grants Committee will continue studying critical community needs to make decisions for future funding.