Funds to support the nonprofit’s expansion to Marco Island
The Marco Island Community Fund of the Collier Community Foundation has awarded Better Together, a nonprofit dedicated to families and children, with a $5,000 grant to support the expansion of its programs to Marco Island.
The grant from the Marco Island Community Fund of the Collier Community Foundation will support the local nonprofit in its efforts to provide a variety of resources to meet the growing needs of Southwest Florida families and children. Through this funding, Better Together is partnering with local churches to train 30 new volunteers in the Marco Island region, enabling the nonprofit to serve 100 children through hosting and mentoring.
Better Together is made up of two programs – Better Families and Better Jobs – that help parents who are going through a hard time to keep their kids out of foster care, find work and address the root causes of their struggle so that they can reunite as a family with the tools and support system to thrive. To date, Better Together has served over 5,400 children and kept 98% of families together, while helping nearly 39,000 job seekers find employment through church-based job fairs across 22 states.
“We are grateful for the support of the Marco Island Community Fund of the Collier Community Foundation and thrilled for this opportunity to expand Better Together’s programs to reach more families in Collier County,” said Megan Rose, CEO of Better Together. “Parents should not lose their children because they have money problems, or had the courage to seek treatment, or got hospitalized without child care. All these challenges can be overcome – while keeping children safe – with the right support system in place.”
The Marco Island Community Grant Fund provides funding to nonprofits that demonstrate measurable results in addressing community needs. Grant dollars will be invested in the areas of arts/culture, environment, education/employment, health care/mental health and human services.
“The Marco Island Community Fund was created by Marco residents to support Marco’s vital nonprofits. A competitive grantmaking process addresses Marco’s most pressing needs to help improve the quality of life on Marco Island for now and forever,” said Allyson Richards, Marco Island Community Fund Chair. “The essential programs of Better Together are a perfect example of what this fund was designed to support.”
To learn more about Better Together and its mission, visit BetterTogetherUS.org.
ABOUT THE COLLIER COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
The Collier Community Foundation™ is a tax-exempt, public, charitable organization established in 1985 to increase and focus on local private philanthropy. Today, the Collier Community Foundation manages more than 850 funds, works with hundreds of nonprofits, and has granted over $310 million to nonprofit organizations, community programs, and scholarships. Informed giving. Powerful results.™ Learn more at colliercf.org or call 239-649-5000.
ABOUT BETTER TOGETHER
Better Together is a nonprofit organization that helps parents going through a hard time keep their kids out of foster care, find work and address the root causes of their struggle so that they can reunite as a family with the tools and support system to thrive. A privately funded and professionally supported organization, Better Together is made up of volunteers who believe helping people help themselves is the best way to restore dignity and bring families together. Through the Better Families program, families are offered a preventive alternative to foster care while they get the help they need. To date, the program has kept 98% of children served out of foster care. The Better Jobs program was created to address the 76% of families that come to Better Together because of economic hardship tied to unemployment. In addition to community job fairs, the program offers job seekers coaching, guidance, support and encouragement through local church partners. For more information, visit BetterTogetherUS.org.
