2017 FWE CHEFS & LINE UP

St. Croix, U.S.V.I. — The St. Croix Foundation for Community Development will celebrate 26 years of leadership and service in the Virgin Islands on Thursday, September 22nd, at their annual Birthday Block Party in the Sunday Market Square in downtown Christiansted from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM. The annual celebration is being held in conjunction with the St. Croix Chamber of Commerce’s Business After Hours.
Established in 1990, the Foundation has served as a conduit for over $37,000,000 in funding for community based projects throughout the Virgin Islands. With an incomparable track record of successful community development initiatives and national and international recognition for its work in education reform, small business development, and community revitalization, the Foundation is now directing focus on Four Pillars of Community Development: Public Safety, Public Service, Public Policy, and Public Will.
According to the Foundation’s Executive Director, Deanna James, those pillars represent critical intersection points and guideposts for holistic community development and strategic philanthropy. The St. Croix Foundation’s new focus is now linking all of its initiatives and priorities in innovative ways to ensure maximum impact and to leverage scarce resources. Executive Director Deanna James stated that, “Despite the challenges facing our community socially and economically, it appears that the seeds we have sown, the lessons we have learned, and the partnerships we have nurtured have all positioned the Foundation to be a bona-fide Territorial Civic Leader.”

The Foundation remains grounded in the philosophy of its founders, Phillip Gerard and Michael Neuburger, who believed that functioning as a hybrid operating foundation, which is both a grantmaker and a program administrator, was the single most effective format for serving a community with such significant needs and socio-economic disparities.
According to James, “in future months and years the Foundation will be working more intentionally and strategically with the nonprofit sector, which we believe will be the bedrock and foundation of leadership and social transformation in the Territory.”
The Foundation wishes to thank its committed donors and sponsors who make the organization’s work possible in conjunction with a multitude of community partners from the private and public sectors, past and present Board members, and volunteers for their immeasurable contributions over the years.
Special thanks also goes out to the St. Croix Chamber of Commerce, Chef Billy D and his catering team, Singhs, and Gary’s Bakery, the Virgin Islands Police Department, Department of Public Works, and the St. Croix Historic Preservation Committee for their support and contributions in preparing for the upcoming event. For more information on the St. Croix Foundation and to learn more about the exciting work being spearheaded by the organization, visit the Foundation’s website at www.stxfoundation.org or contact the St. Croix Foundation directly at 340-773-9898.

St. CROIX FOUNDATION INVITES NONPROFITS TO CONSORTIUM MEETINGS

St. CROIX, U.S.V.I. — The St. Croix Foundation for Community Developing is inviting registered St. Croix 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations to participate in a collaborative convening to shape a community-wide plan that will strengthen and sustain St. Croix’s nonprofit, civic organizations on August 31, 2016.

In fulfillment of the Foundation’s mission to encourage greater philanthropic activity and marshal resources to benefit the people of the Virgin Islands, over the next month the Foundation will be hosting a series of forums where nonprofit organizations will engage in conversations about creating a sustainable financial future for the civic sector. The forums will be facilitated by an experienced and dynamic development professional, secured by the Foundation, who will lead nonprofits in a conversation about strategic philanthropy and how, in a community with limited resources, organizations can collaborate to leverage financial, intellectual, and operational capacity.

According to St. Croix Foundation Senior Program Officer, Lilli Cox, “In a year of national and local elections, combined with a shared uncertainty about the local and global economy, nonprofits must think about our collective operational strategies and financial future.” “Through this process, organizations will have an opportunity to share, collaborate, and plan in ways never undertaken in our community to date and the Foundation is excited to facilitate and lead this process,” Cox continued.

The first convening took place on August 12th and will continue throughout September with the overarching objective to build a community wide action plan around strategic philanthropy.

The St. Croix Foundation wishes to thank all civic organizations who have participated thus far and contributed to the process. Nonprofits interested in joining in the forums should call the Foundation at 340-773-9898 to get more information and meeting details no later than Tuesday, August 30th.

FHC Loaned 75K from Denali SCFCD Fund_2016

St. CROIX FOUNDATION CELEBRATES 25th Anniversary at ANNUAL BLOCK PARTY & NONPROFIT STREET FAIR St. Croix, U.S.V.I. The St. Croix Foundation for Community Development will celebrate 25 years of leadership and service in the Virgin Islands on Thursday, September 24th, at their annual Birthday Block Party in the Sunday Market Square in downtown Christiansted from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM. The annual celebration is being held in conjunction with the Croix Chamber of Commerce’s After Hours and will also showcase the work of some of the community-based projects and initiatives currently operating under the Foundation’s 501(c)3 umbrella.

As a critical component of the Foundation’s programmatic portfolio, fiscal sponsorship services have provided a reliable and accountable vehicle through which grassroots organizations can pursue their mission under the guidance of the Foundation’s established nonprofit status. Today, as a preeminent provider of fiscal sponsorship services in the Territory, the Foundation has managed over $20 million dollars and has served an impressive number of over 200 projects over the past 25 years. The Foundation is encouraging their partners and friends to come out and support these worthwhile community projects, including the Artists Guild of St. Croix, the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Fund, Christiansted Community Alliance, Crucian Heritage and Nature Tourism, Diane Hampton Breast Cancer Project, Friends of Ham Bluff Lighthouse, St. Croix Pirate Adventure, St. Croix Seashell Society, the Virgin Islands Good Food Coalition, and the Virgin Islands Humane Learning Center.

Established back in 1990 in the wake of Hurricane Hugo, one of the most costly natural disasters in American history, the St. Croix Foundation’s founders, Phillip Gerard and Michael Neuburger recognized that the critical needs of the community required more than a mere grantmaker and chose a broader mandate. Today, the St. Croix Foundation for Community Development functions as a hybrid organization that is both a grantmaker and an operating foundation administering programs and providing direct services.

According to Executive Director, Deanna James, “Since the Foundation’s inception, we have served as a conduit for over $37,000,000 in funding for community based projects throughout the Virgin Islands. In fact, over the past 15 years, SCFCD has developed an incomparable track record of successful initiatives in a broad range of programmatic areas from economic development, historic restoration, public safety and public education reform as well as supporting our nonprofit community.”

“As a nonpartisan, apolitical community development organization, for 25 years, SCFCD has demonstrated strong leadership, serving as an agent of social transformation by brokering partnerships between diverse stakeholders to forge innovative solutions for deeply entrenched systemic problems,” James continued.

The Foundation would like to thank all of their community partners from the private sector, the public sector, donors and past and present Board members for their immeasurable contributions over the years. Special thanks also goes out to the St. Croix Chamber of Commerce, the Virgin Islands Police Department, St. Croix Administrator, Stephanie Williams, the Department of Public Works, Reliable Rentals, Cruzun Rum, Chef Anton Doos, Singhs, and Gary’s Bakery for their support and contributions in preparing for the upcoming event. For more information on the St. Croix Foundation’s BELIEVE CAMPAIGN and to learn more about the exciting work being spearheaded by the Foundation, visit the Foundation’s website at www.stxfoundation.org or contact the St. Croix Foundation directly at 340-773-9898.

St. Croix, USVI- The St. Croix Foundation for Community Development announces the commencement of its second National Center for Construction Education & Research (NCCER) Youth Training and Beautification Program. The Program will run from May 4, 2015 to July, 2015, after which time, students will have a certification in hand and be work-ready. First launched in 2012, through a collaborative partnership between the Foundation and the V.I. Department of Labor this training program provides local unemployed young adults with core construction and work-related skills, as well as on-the-job training (OJT).

Cycle 2 students Denis Matthew, Vitalis Mathurin, Jr., Dwight Barker, and Kadeem Phoenix, were selected by the St. Croix Foundation and the Department of Labor to participate in this twelve (12) week learning program which is administered using best standards & practices set by the (NCCER).  Upon successfully passing the NCCER test, each participant will become NCCER CORE Certified; which is a prerequisite to continue with the additional craft curriculum and the OJT phase of the program.

During Phase 1 of the Program students received classroom based instruction provided by Mr. Gregory Christian of Penntium Technical Training, located in Peter’s Rest.  The curriculum included practical, in depth education on basic safety knowledge, “safe-work” practices, proper use of hazardous materials and machinery, and the usage of construction materials and supplies. NCCER training also provided students basic communication and interpersonal skills, how to interpret construction designs, and critical thinking skills to prepare them for the real workforce.

Over the course of the program, students will put their new skills to work under the supervision of Contractor Dennis Smith who serves as their OJT instructor. Mr. DeAndre Harris, NCCER Core Certified and training program alum, has also returned to serve as a foreman and mentor to our students.

For their first OJT project, they are painting the exterior walls of some historic properties throughout downtown Christiansted, including, Joe’s Tailoring, 1101 King Street (former People’s Drugstore), and the Christiansted Lutheran Church. The Foundation is delighted to assist the Church with their restoration activities in preparation of their 150^th Anniversary slated for 2016. According to St. Croix Foundation Program Officer, Ms. Jermaine Connor, “The NCCER Program will not only provide these young men with a paid summer job opportunity, but will also provide the beloved Christiansted properties with a long overdue facelift”.

Today, recognizing the critical need for more targeted job opportunities for our community’s youth, the Foundation encourages the private sector, corporate citizens, and local government agencies to partner with them, by offering full –time employment opportunities to students once the training program is complete. The St. Croix Foundation is also seeking to expand the program throughout the Territory by securing additional funding to provide more rigorous training for a larger pool of young men and women seeking to tap into a broader range of professional fields.

For more information on how to support this Initiative, contact the St. Croix Foundation at 340.773.9898.

  

2015 ST. CROIX FOOD & WINE EXPERIENCE

St. Croix, US Virgin Islands – April 2015 – The St. Croix Foundation announces the start of St. Croix Food & Wine Experience, 2015.  This culinary, wine and spirits festival held in the US Virgin Islands, is scheduled to run from Sunday April 12 through Saturday, April 18. The weeklong event will consist of an impressive roster of guest chefs including well-known TV personalities, cookbook authors, James Beard winners and corporate chefs.

Guest chefs will participate in multiple events during the culinary series, working alongside students from the Career and Technical Education Center (CTEC) culinary program as well as with local chefs. Through a deepening partnership with the Department of Tourism, the event also brings to the Territory a variety of travel writers, bloggers and media representatives, expanding St. Croix’s national and international position as a culinary and tourism market.

As an outgrowth of the wildly successful, A Taste of St. Croix, which celebrates its 15^th anniversary this year, funds raised from the St. Croix Food and Wine Experience support the St. Croix Foundation for Community Development, enabling the Foundation to continue its work in the areas of community revitalization, public safety, public education, and economic development.

According to St. Croix Foundation’s Executive Director, Deanna James, “Beyond, being a fundraiser for the Foundation, the Food and Wine Experience is also—at the core, a celebration of the rich culinary industry in the Territory.” “Named one of the top 10 international food and wine events by Forbes Travel.com, the event features a majority of St. Croix’s restaurants and wine purveyors, giving guests an unprecedented opportunity to really get a taste of local cuisine,” James continued.

The line-up of guest chefs for the 2015 St. Croix Food & Wine Experience includes:

Tony Castellucci – Executive Chef at Facebook and third time participant in the St. Croix Food & Wine Experience.

Sam Choy – Author, James Beard winner, restaurateur, Iron Chef winner, TV personality, “Godfather of Poke,” and the ambassador for Hawaiian cuisine. 

Tiffany Derry – TV personality, national spokesperson for the Art Institute’s Culinary Arts Program, Top Chefs All Stars fan favorite and finalist, most recently appearing on Spike TV’s Hungry Investors and Bar Rescue.

Duff Goldman (Ace of Cakes) – Founder of Charm City Cakes in Baltimore and Los Angeles, Chef Goldman starred in Food Network’s Ace of Cakes, a reality show named after his bakery, and now hosts his current hit, Duff Till Dawn.

Kevin Fonzo – Owner and Executive Chef of K Wine Bar, a James Beard nominee and acclaimed by Zagat and Bon Appetit, Fonzo is also known for his extensive work with First Lady Michelle Obama’s Chefs Move to Schools and the Edible Schoolyard.

Ray Lampe (Dr. BBQ) – Author, expert Judge on Travel Channel’s “American Grilled” and “World Food Championships,” frequent TV show guest and the newest inductee to the BBQ Hall of Fame.

Dean Spinks – Executive Chef at Facebook and third time participant in the St. Croix Food & Wine Experience.

Guest chefs of the St. Croix Food & Wine Experience participate in at least three events during the week, which range from relaxed to elegant options for foodies. Guest wine makers, spirit companies and breweries are paired with each event. The 2015 schedule of events is:

Sunday, April 12 – Cuisine on the Green golf tournament and tasting (at Carambola Golf Club)

Tuesday, April 14

• Gourmet Vintner Dinner (at Tutto Bene) featuring Chef Tiffany Derry
• City Crawl (Christiansted dine around) featuring Cafe Christine, Rum Runners, and desserts by Chef Duff Goldman at Zion Modern Kitchen

Wednesday, April 15

• Icing on the Cake, held at the Buccaneer for an intimate cake decorating class with Duff Goldman
• Food Fight on the Beach with Chefs Sam Choy, Dr. BBQ, and Dean Spinks (at Renaissance St. Croix Carambola Beach Resort & Spa)

Thursday, April 16 – A Taste of St. Croix (15^th Anniversary Celebration) at the Divi Carina Bay Resort

Friday, April 17

• Intimate Cork & Fork dinners featuring Chef Tony Castellucci and the St. Croix Culinary Juniors, Kevin Fonzo and Digby Stridiron
• Sunset BBQ (on the Frederiksted Pier) featuring Sam Choy, Billy Desimone, Dr. BBQ,  Dean Spinks, and Chef Doos with the culinary students from the St. Croix Educational Complex

Saturday, April 18

• Kids Cooking Event (at Pearl B. Larsen) with Chefs Ashley McKinnon and Frank Robinson
• Wine in the Warehouse (at Leeward Islands Warehouse) fine wine tasting and appetizers
• Food & Wine Experience has also led to the development of a dynamic Culinary Internship Program that provides St. Croix youth annual spring internships at participating guest chefs’ establishments. To date, CTEC students have interned at Facebook’s Headquarters in Silicon Valley California- an opportunity which translated into full-time jobs in California for the first two interns in 2014. Two more interns recently returned from a three week internship, which included a two week stint at Facebook and one week in Hawaii at the restaurant of James Beard award winner, Sam Choy. Next year, a lucky student will intern at the world famous bakery of guest chef Duff Goldman, Charm City Cakes.

“Despite St. Croix’s economy and declining population, the Foundation is grateful to all the organizations and individuals that sponsor the Food & Wine Experience, and to the guests who return each year to make this the preeminent food and wine event in the Caribbean,” stated James. “Even more consequential than the fact that most of the events in this year’s line-up are sold out, is the fact that the St. Croix Food and Wine Experience is now providing rich career pathways for local youth and in turn opening doors and transforming lives,” she concluded.

For information about tickets, events, and sponsorship visit https://www.stxfoodandwine.com or call the Foundation at 340-773-9898.

Major sponsors of St. Croix Food & Wine Experience, 2015 are U.S Virgin Islands’ Tourism; Leeward Islands Management Company; Divi Carina Bay; Glazer’s Premier Distributors, LLC; Reliable Rentals; Crucian Point; Innovative; H. Douglas & Jeannine Schrock; Seaborne Airlines; The Buccaneer; and Team Consultants.

St. Croix, USVI – The St. Croix Foundation announces the launch of the 2^nd annual island-wide Christmas Lights Competition to usher in the 2014 Christmas Season.

As an extension of the Foundation’s “Believe …” Campaign, the contest seeks to inspire and unify residents and businesses to come together and spread good cheer by lighting up our community. Through this contest, the Foundation hopes to revive the ‘ole time’ tradition where families toured the island at night to enjoy Christmas decorations.

Residents and businesses who wish to participate in the competition should contact the Foundation at 773-9898 to fill out an application form. The decorative theme should reflect Virgin Islands culture and should be creative, eye-catching, and incorporate the “Believe…” theme. Judging for the Christmas Lights Competition will take place Saturday, December 20^th through Tuesday, December 23^rd and all displays must be visible from the street. The competition is open to St. Croix residents and businesses only.

The Foundation kindly encourages everyone to use high efficiency LED lights for their displays, but this is not a requirement. There will be a maximum of six winners with prizes ranging from $75 to $400 to offset energy costs. Applications are currently available at the St. Croix Foundation’s office at 1023 Market Street, Christiansted, VI 00820 (or on the Foundation’s website at www.stxfoundation.org) and must be turned in by Tuesday, December 16, 2014.

The Foundation would also like to encourage businesses and individuals to donate to this festive celebration of the Season. For more information about the St. Croix Foundation’s “Believe …” Campaign or how to support the Foundation’s work in public safety, education, and community revitalization, please contact the Foundation directly at 340.773.9898 or visit their website.

The St. Croix Foundation Board of Directors announces that President Roger W. Dewey is stepping down from his role after 22 years of leadership. Deanna James, Chief Operations Officer, who has co-directed the Foundation with Mr. Dewey for the past 12 years, will be guiding the Foundation’s transition with Board and Staff.

Dewey took the helm of the Foundation two years after its inception in 1990. The Foundation was established by two community activists, Philip Gerard, leader of the municipal government movement, and Michael Neuberger, retired aerospace executive. They desired to create a flexible, responsive organization that could address critical community and socioeconomic needs after Hurricane Hugo devastated the US Virgin Islands.

Since Dewey took the helm of the Foundation and with the leadership of Ms. James, the Foundation has been recognized for its work on the local and national stage by the National School Boards Association, the National Youth Leadership Council, the US Center for Disease Control, the US Small Business Administration, the International Downtown Association, and the Council of Foundations. Additionally, with the vision and dedication of many longstanding and productive partnerships, the Foundation’s annual fundraiser, the St. Croix Food and Wine Experience is now an internationally known event, named one of the Top 10 International Food and Wine Festivals by Forbes Travel Magazine, contributing to countless charitable projects and serving as an economic engine for the hospitality industry.

The Foundation’s scope of work, spanning from youth and education to community revitalization, public safety, economic development, and fiscal services encompasses all three islands and supports both critical services as well as impacts public policy. Dewey stated, “It has been a true honor to serve our community side by side with committed staff and Board members. The partnerships we’ve built over the last 22 years are the bedrock for the Foundation’s success and are testimony to our motto that “together we can make a difference.”

For more information on the St. Croix Foundation, please call the St. Croix Foundation at 773-9898 or visit their website at www.stxfoundation.org.

Together, We Can Make A Difference!

The St. Croix Foundation is pleased to announce over $28,000.00 in   Educational Grants awarded to public schools on the island of St. Croix.

As an extension of the Foundation’s Model Schools Initiative, the Sprint To Excellence (STE) Grant alone awarded $23,000 in 2014. Launched in the fall of 2011, STE offers grants to public schools for projects in the following priority areas: 1) Innovative Instruction and Professional Development; 2) Literacy Enrichment and Assessment; 3) Classroom Management & Discipline and; 4) Mentoring and Personal Development.

After a comprehensive review and selection process, the Foundation’s Grant Review Committee awarded grants to four(4)programs based in local public schools for the implementation of high-impact, academic-based initiatives that support the whole child. Grants under the Sprint to Excellence title were awarded to the following schools:

Ricardo Richards Elementary School – $15,000.00 for their Berry Core Ready Project

VI Department of Education – $5,040.00 for the Advancement via Individual Determination (AVID) Program

Arthur Richards Junior High School – $1,000.00 for a Classroom Management Initiative

V.I. Ja Goju Jitsu-Ryu Federation St. Thomas Parental Committee, Inc. – $2,500.00 for a Charles H. Emmanuel Afterschool Education Connections Program

The Foundation also awarded $1,777.00 in Teacher Grants to public elementary school teachers for projects that enliven students’ creativity and provide students with a broad, interactive learning experience that incorporates the world around them. Grants were awarded as follows:

Ricardo Richards Elementary School- $299.99 for their Foreign Language Club

Alexander Henderson School -$500.00 for a Kindergarten Authors Project

Eulalie R. Rivera School – $489.99 for an Interactive Reading Project

Alexander Henderson School – $488.84 for an Arts and Craft Studio Project

The St. Croix Foundation’s Grant Review Committee has established strict grant reporting measures and phased disbursements, seeking to ensure that schools stay focused on meeting self-identified programmatic goals and timelines. In demonstration of their commitment to each school’s success, the Foundation is providing ongoing support and guidance throughout the duration of the project with the hope that successful initiatives will serve as models for other schools in the future.

In addition to the Sprint to Excellence and Teacher Grant awards, the Foundation also awarded Dove Memorial Art Scholarships totaling $3,000.00 to four students. Scholarships were awarded to the following students for enrichment opportunities ranging from music and dance to the culinary arts:

Tariq Lionel, University of the Virgin Islands Music Summer Enrichment Program

Keyshawn Hardy, Interlochen Arts Camp in Michigan

Kaylisha Ann Jerris, Skills USA Conference in Kentucky for the culinary arts

AnutMeri Kahina Christopher, Dance Theatre at Harlem School

According to St. Croix Foundation’s Chief Operations Officer, Deanna James, “The Foundation is firmly committed to supporting our students and teachers through innovative and targeted grants and scholarships. In these challenging economic times, our organization is acutely sensitive to how critical the funds provided through our grants are for students and schools.”

For more information on the Foundation’s educational grant programs or to donate to a scholarship fund, please call the St. Croix Foundation at 773-9898.

Together, We Can Make A Difference!