U.S. Virgin Islands, April 5, 2022 — The Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands (CFVI) has awarded $50,000 in grants to six USVI nonprofit organizations with funding from the Liberty Foundation. The funding supports operational needs and projects that provide direct services and opportunities within Liberty Foundation's focus areas of education, social and health well-being, culture, and environmental protection.
Liberty Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Liberty Communications, which serves mobile customers in the U.S. Virgin Islands since the acquisition of AT&T’s operations in the territory in October 2020.
"We are truly grateful to Liberty Foundation and Liberty Communications for their commitment to being a part of the communities they serve," said CFVI President, Dee Baecher-Brown. “We are so appreciative of their generous donations that support the work of USVI nonprofits and the opportunity for CFVI to serve as a trusted partner for Liberty's community benefit efforts here in the Virgin Islands."
The following organizations/programs have been selected to receive grant support:
My SISTAHS Keeper, Inc. - $10,000
Scholars With Ambitions and Goals (SWAG) after school and summer academy
Funding will be used for virtual and distance learning classroom sessions, in-person educational and cultural field trips, workshops, individual counseling sessions, career counseling sessions and career exploration activities in St. Croix.
St. Thomas Historical Trust - $10,000
Basket Weaving for Beginners: The Art of Making the VI Basket
Funding will be used to host two separate three-month workshops in St. Thomas where participants will learn the skills needed to produce a market basket reminiscent of those handmade decades ago.
YWCA USVI, Inc. - $10,000
Funding will support the following Y-TEENS VI, Inc. territory-wide programs:
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Girls Do TECH - engineering and coding series
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Youth Thrive: Building Resilience Against Anxiety, Depression and Social Isolation - half-day workshop and a series of learning circles
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Youth Get Fit Day - a full day of activities focused on youth health and wellbeing
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Youth Confidence Builders Speakers Club: Finding My Voice - a 12-session series over a six-month period that will include training, observational learning and individual practice in the art of public speaking and effective presentation skills.
Friends of Virgin Islands National Park - $7,000
Training the Next Generation of Culture Bearers in the Art & History of Moko Jumbie
Funding will be used to enhance the ongoing and growing program on St. John and to provide support for opportunities to perform.
Entre El Pueblo, Inc. - $9,000
Funding will be used to increase organizational capabilities and allow the organization to purchase much-needed equipment and supplies to start future initiatives, such as an English Basics program, that serve the Spanish-speaking population of St. Croix.
Virgin Islands Trail Alliance - $4,000
Preserving Nature, Heritage, Health and Adventure on Windsor Farm Trails
Funding will be used to expand the botanical signage and park features for public trails in a natural forest with communal spaces that preserve history, culture and ecology and promote stewardship in St. Croix.
“We are thrilled to continue expanding our community reach in the US Virgin Islands," said Yadira Valdivia, Executive Director of the Liberty Foundation. "At Liberty, we prioritize our communities, as well as our customers and employees. We entered the market about a year and a half ago and immediately became part of the philanthropic community. We are grateful for the consumers’ trust and look forward to continuing to give back. CFVI has been a responsible partner with whom we share a commitment to support education, environment protection, well-being, and the arts, among others.”
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