Bradenton Kiwanis awards almost $135,000 in grants to local non-profits

BRADENTON -- Manatee County's heroin epidemic has doubled the number of victims rarely discussed: the children of addicts, many who are abused, neglected and in need of child welfare services, a local behavior health care official says.

Centerstone of Florida, Manatee's behavioral health provider, will volunteer its services to more than 475 children this year who have been abused or neglected, said Mary Ruiz, president and chief executive officer of Centerstone.

The Bradenton Kiwanis Club -- whose stated mission is to help children -- has stepped in to help get the children where they need to be, Ruiz told nearly 100 members and guests of the Bradenton Kiwanis Club Tuesday.

"These children must be taken to school and appointments with doctors and dentists," Ruiz said.

The club in October approved a grant of $22,000 to Centerstone to purchase a reliable vehicle, Ruiz said.

Centerstone's grant was one of seven, nearly all child-related, totalling $134,991 that were awarded Tuesday at a special luncheon in the Kiwanis Ballroom at the Manatee Performing Arts Center.

The grants include:

$50,000 to South Florida Museum to become a learning destination and cultural hub in Manatee County.

$5,149 to PACE Center for Girls for replacement of an air-conditioner handler.

$22,000 to Centerstone for purchase of one vehicle.

$15,000 to Children's Guardian Fund to provide continuing education for 18- to 23-year-olds in state-supervised care.

$7,842 to State College of Florida Foundation for purchase of one GXS700 pediatric scanner to be used on child patients by the SCF dental hygiene program.

$10,000 to the Del Couch Education Foundation to purchase a master console mixing board, overhead projector and 30 multimedia speaker/headphones so students can pursue audio-related careers.

$25,000 to Manatee Community Foundation to enlarge its office.

"When you put 90,000 miles a year on vehicles, you burn them up fast," Ruiz told the audience. "So we are very grateful to receive this money so we can replace one of our vehicles. So when you think about us, know that you are helping us take these children who have been through a lot of trauma to places they need for care, and that your caring envelopes them in that car."

After accepting the $10,000 grant to purchase audio equipment, Couch told the audience that many students will be impacted.

"With this money we are buying specific equipment that is unique to the recording industry, so these kids can learn how to be audio engineers and have successful careers in the future," Couch said.

Amy Wick Mavis, executive director of PACE Center for Girls of Manatee County, told the audience that the grant will keep the students comfortable during Manatee summers.

"You are going to allow us to replace one of the nine air-handlers we have in our facility that we built back in 1996," Wick Mavis said. "As my daddy says, 'Nothing lasts forever,' and every time one of those air-handlers go down I have heart failure."

In accepting the grant for State College of Florida Foundation, executive director Cassandra Holmes made the audience feel special about the State College of Florida dental hygiene program and the new GXS700 scanner.

"Our dental hygiene program has a 100 percent pass rate on the state boards since inception," Holmes said, drawing applause. "This particular piece of equipment we have used through Manatee County Rural Health Services to distribute care to the most needy of children in our community."

Holmes said a pediatric scanner for smaller mouths is important because "this is the first time these children have experienced dental cleaning ,so we want it to be fun and engaging."

Richard Dymond, Herald health/social services reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7072 or contact him via Twitter@RichardDymond.

This story was originally published January 12, 2016 at 5:52 PM with the headline "Bradenton Kiwanis awards almost $135,000 in grants to local non-profits ."