Contact: Deanna James, President and Chief Executive Officer
St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands – On Thursday, June 23rd, the Council on Foundations (COF) in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced St. Croix Foundation for Community Development (SCF) as a recipient of the 2022 HUD Secretary’s Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships! The award was presented by Peter Kahn, Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy Development, during a virtual awards ceremony which briefly showcased the impact of each organization. St. Croix Foundation is one of five organizations from across the nation to receive this honor in 2022. A national partnership between HUD and COF now in its tenth year, the Secretary’s Awards are presented annually and recognize philanthropy’s work with government partners as a community strategy to increase the quality of life for low- and moderate-income residents across America.
St. Croix Foundation was recognized for their investment in Community Resilience Hubs in the aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and Maria. St. Croix Foundation projects, which were highlighted through this award, were a Farm Tienda (container farmstand) Initiative; a Solar-Supported Community Center and Workforce Development Initiative; and the renovation and retrofit of the historic Alexander Theater which is currently underway to transform it into a state-of-the-art performing arts center and a downtown Community Disaster Safe Room capable of housing over 300 people. This work would not be possible without the collaboration of countless nonprofit partners on St. Croix, all working together to nurture resiliency and help our community thrive.
According to St. Croix Foundation President, Deanna James, “This award is truly testament to the impact of Place-Based Philanthropy working in full alignment with Civil Society. Through this initiative, SCF continues to fulfill our fundamental role as a convener and bridge-builder, forging strategic partnerships between nonprofit, private, public and philanthropic sectors. The Foundation is especially grateful for our Nonprofit Consortium Partners who continue to inspire us and remind us each day that the real formula for community resilience lies in the power of community-rooted relationships! In fact, it’s our local Nonprofits who are collectively building real competency around how to effectively activate federal and philanthropic investments to serve the most vulnerable and underserved in our Community and who have been our thought partners and collaborators every step of the way.”
During a prepared statement during the award presentation, James extended her deepest appreciation to HUD and the Council on Foundations for the recognition. “Our Community Resilience Hubs were made possible through investments of time, talent and treasure from FEMA, Global Giving, the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency (VITEMA), and numerous other community stakeholders,” said James.
Established in 1990, St. Croix Foundation has served as a conduit for over 42 million dollars in funding for community-based projects throughout the Virgin Islands. With an incomparable track record of successful community development initiatives and national recognition for its work in education reform and small business development, the Foundation has also received international acknowledgment for its community revitalization initiatives and, today, continues directing its focus on energy independence, workforce development, education, youth and families, and of course, the broad-based support of nonprofits, including fiscal sponsorship, grantmaking, and the Nonprofit Consortium.
For more information on St. Croix Foundation’s impact and how to support this work, please phone 340.773.9898 or visit www.stxfoundation.org.
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About The St.Croix Foundation: St. Croix Foundation for Community Development (SCF) was founded 31 years ago in the wake of Hurricane Hugo. Since its inception, the Foundation has been unflinchingly dedicated to the issues of equity and holistic, rooted community development. SCF is equally committed to advancing a brand of progressive place-based philanthropy, as we direct laser focus on catalyzing systemic change through a myriad of philanthropic strategies including strategic grantmaking, direct services, program administration, and nonprofit capacity building.