A Message From the Manatee Community Foundation After Hurricane Milton
MCF has established partnerships with several organizations to support individuals in need
We are thinking of you. MCF has always been Manatee County’s partner in philanthropy, now and forever. We stand ready to support our people through the recovery efforts that will give us back our slice of paradise.
To address the devastation left behind by Hurricanes Helene and Milton in Manatee County and surrounding areas, MCF has established partnerships with several organizations to support individuals in need, and opened the MCF Disaster Relief Fund, which will focus on supporting medium and long-term recovery efforts led by local nonprofits in areas impacted by the storm.
A fund with Southern Smoke Foundation was set up to directly fund the needs of those under-or-unemployed in the food and beverage industry, which fuels our destination economy.
MCF has also received a generous gift from The Knight Foundation of $100,000, and nearly $100,000 from our local donors and are working on partnerships with businesses including Amazon. Eight meaningful grants have been issued to nonprofit partners serving immediate needs, including the Rubonia Community Center, The Center of Anna Maria Island, Bring on the Ministry, United Community Center, and Meals on Wheels among others, yet the needs are far greater with the impacts of another storm in such short period.
We are grateful to continue to partner with our sister foundation, Community Foundation of Sarasota County, to fund Season of Sharing and help provide a financial bridge for those who could be displaced from their homes or face disruptions from work.
And we are thankful to the Realtors Association of Manatee County, which is also directly supporting those unhoused as a result of the heavy hurricane activity we have seen in a short few week.
Donations to MCF’s Disaster Relief Fund, Southern Smoke Foundation, and Season of Sharing Manatee County can be at the link below or by sending a check (payable to MCF Disaster Relief Fund or Manatee Community Foundation) to 2820 Manatee Avenue West, Bradenton, FL 34205.
Together, we will remain the strong, resilient, and caring Manatee community.