“Help the Helpers Initiative” provides financial support for Community Based Organizations employees’ well-being
Hoy, casi trescientas organizaciones sin ánimo de lucro y otras organizaciones comunitarias de Miami-Dade han sido seleccionadas para recibir una parte de las subvenciones de 525.000 dólares "Help the Helpers", destinadas a apoyar el bienestar de los empleados de la zona. Una colaboración de fundaciones y financiadores del sur de Florida reunió este fondo de medio millón de dólares para permitir a las organizaciones comunitarias recompensar económicamente a los empleados de primera línea por prestar servicios críticos durante la pandemia. La iniciativa de Miami-Dade sigue el modelo de un exitoso proyecto piloto Help the Helpers 2021 dirigido por United Way del condado de Palm Beach, que reunió 433.000 dólares para minisubvenciones distribuidas a organizaciones de Palm Beach. Un esfuerzo similar está actualmente en marcha en el condado de Broward.
Grants for the Miami-Dade initiative will be distributed to local organizations in the form of mini-grants proportional to the number of individuals on staff. Organization CEOs will be given discretion to determine the best use of the funds for employee gift cards, self-care trainings, mindfulness courses, or stress reduction approaches. The Miami Foundation is the fiscal agent for Help the Helpers.
“The past two years have been extremely trying for community-based organizations. Their employees have become essential front-line workers, demonstrating profound selflessness and dedication throughout the pandemic. The emotional well-being of staff and volunteers who faced unprecedented levels of stress has been deeply impacted,” said Angelika Schlanger, Director of The Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation, which brought the concept to Miami-Dade after participating in the Palm Beach initiative. “Help the Helpers is the collective effort of local funders to honor our community heroes and extend gratitude for their unwavering commitment to supporting others. We hope these grants promote their self-care and let them know how deeply we appreciate them.”
Funding agencies include: Allegany Franciscan Ministries, The Children’s Trust, The Coral Gables Community Foundation, The Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation, Health Foundation of South Florida, The Jorge M. Pérez Family Foundation, The Key Biscayne Community Foundation, The Miami Foundation, and United Way Miami.
Grants will range from $300 to $6,100 and will be received in full by January 2022. Thehope is that this grant will further ongoing stress reduction efforts at community organizations and encourage their creation if they don’t already exist.