June 2012           A monthly e-newsletter for people interested in Florida philanthropy      FPN News      Florida Philanthropic Network and Donors Forum of South Florida Announce Merger Donors Forum of South Florida, a regional association of funders in South Florida, has reached an agreement to merge with Florida Philanthropic Network. The merger brings together the two largest philanthropy associations in Florida. The organization will maintain the Florida Philanthropic Network name and logo, and will continue to be led by FPN President and CEO David Biemesderfer.         From the FPN Blog Florida Grantmakers Walk the Talk on Collaboration In a new post on FPN's Florida Philanthropy Blog, David Biemesderfer shares some key lessons learned from the eight-month process that led to the merger of FPN and Donors Forum of South Florida. Among the critical success factors he cites: start the process with everyone demonstrating a positive spirit of doing what was best for the field, keeping personal agendas out of the discussions; and take the time to let the organizations get to know each other, do the necessary due diligence and get the details right.      Headlines      Jaguars Make $1 Million Commitment to Veterans The Jacksonville Jaguars have made a $1 million financial commitment and will take a leadership role in supporting aid efforts for military veterans in assimilating back into the community when they return from service. Through the development of a Veteran's Guidance Center, these veterans will have access to critical resources for skills development, job transition counseling, and assistance with transitioning into housing.             Knight Foundation Funds New KaBOOM! Play Spaces in Miami The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation is providing $1.5 million to support the development of nine KaBOOM! play spaces in Miami and three other cities. While the nonprofit KaBOOM! helps communities build playgrounds in a matter of weeks, the impact goes beyond a healthy play space for kids. A new Knight Foundation report finds that the projects help volunteers and local organizations cultivate the skills, confidence and inspiration to get more involved in their communities.     > Wells Fargo Pledges $30 Million for Homebuyer Help in Florida, $3.5 Million for Community Initiatives Well Fargo's foundation has pledged $30 million to help homebuyers purchase homes in four Florida cities: Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando and Tampa. The company also announced its plans to provide $3.5 million to Florida nonprofits to support local neighborhoods.      > Walt Disney World Resort Invests $1.5 Million to Help 70,000 Central Florida Children Walt Disney World Resort distributed $1.5 million in "Disney Helping Kids Shine" grants to 59 organizations throughout Central Florida that are closely aligned to its goal of improving children's lives in on one or more of the following areas: creativity & innovation, compassionate neighbor, and caring for ourselves, our community, our world.     > CSX Helps Deliver Self-Esteem to Children in Guardian ad Litem Program CSX Corporation partnered with Dignity U Wear to provide 2,000 pieces of clothing worth more than $10,000 to Jacksonville-area school children with the Guardian ad Litem Program.      > Indian River Community Foundation Helps Create New Homes in Gifford Community Indian River Habitat for Humanity received a $30,000 grant from the Indian River Community Foundation to renovate and revitalize seven homes in and around the Gifford Community.      > Community Foundation Changes Name to Reflect Expanded Focus Gainesville Community Foundation has changed its name to the Community Foundation of North Central Florida, to better reflect the foundation's expanded focus and commitment to serving all of Alachua, Levy, Gilchrist and Bradford counties.      Focus On: Education Funding         Helios Education Foundation, Gates Foundation Help Bring Education Nation to Miami Helios Education Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation worked with NBC News and other organizations to bring an education "power week" to Miami. Beginning Friday, May 18 and running through Friday, May 25, Education Nation Miami included a series of education-focused events and programming across NBC 6, Telemundo network and Telemundo 51.   > Group of Grantmakers Aims to Raise $100 Million for Duval Schools A group of grantmakers has announced their goal to raise $100 million to help Duval County schools and teachers, led by The Chartrand Foundation and The Community Foundation in Jacksonville. The money would go to support the local schools in three areas: help school administrators and teachers, work on state policy and boards of governance, and boost the administrative infrastructure at the central offices.     > Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties Awards Record $1 Million in Scholarships to 113 Students      Honors         Gulf Coast Community Foundation Honored for Communications Excellence Gulf Coast Community Foundation received a Wilmer Shields Rich Award for Excellence in Communications from the Council on Foundations. The awards recognize and encourage excellence in communications by foundations and corporate giving programs and showcase the way they use communications strategies and techniques to advance their grantmaking goals. Gulf Coast received a silver award for annual or biennial reports.      People        Jeffrey R. McCurdy          > Jeffrey R. McCurdy, Manual (Manny) Pineiro, Jr. and Alyssa Sweeney have joined the board of directors of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. McCurdy is founder and principal of Guardsman Private Capital Management; Pineiro is senior director of capability and optimization of PepsiCo and Sweeney is a student at Riverview High School. Margaret L. Callihan, president and CEO of SunTrust Bank, Southwest Florida is the foundation's new chair. She succeeds Diane McFarlin, publisher of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Philip A. Delaney, Jr., president and CEO of Northern Trust Florida was named 1st vice chair. Patricia Courtois, president and COO of Clarke Advertising and Public Relations is 2nd vice chair/secretary and Orion Marx, private wealth manager at Atlas Financial Services is treasurer.      Jobs Recent job postings on FPN's Jobs Board:      > Development Consultant: Southern Philanthropic Growth Assessment, Planned Parenthood Federation of America - National Office.     > Executive Leader, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Jacksonville.     > Information Officer, The Chartrand Foundation.     > Office Manager/Executive Assistant, Florida Philanthropic Network.     > Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer, The Miami Foundation.      Blog Posts We Like     Funders Provide Catalysts for Collaboration Conversations Pam Truitt, who leads The Patterson Foundation's Collaborative Restructuring Initiative, highlights several (relatively new) funding sources for nonprofits looking for technical assistance for collaborative conversations. All of the sources provide funding for neutral facilitators.      Welcome New FPN Member     > Johnson Scholarship Foundation, West Palm Beach.        Follow FPN on Twitter @flphilanthropy    Follow FPN on our Facebook page      Follow FPN's New Blog: The Florida Philanthropy Blog      Florida Philanthropic Network is a statewide association of grantmakers working to strengthen philanthropy through research, education and public policy.