April 16, 2007 — Before a crowd of "angels" at Catharineberg Saturday night, Ricardo Charaf said he hoped that by 2010 the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands would have $10 million in assets.
It now has $5 million — a far cry from the $100,000 the organization had in 1999, when Sandy Halliday hosted 25 people at the first CFVI Angels reception, said Charaf, CFVI's chairman.
It was fitting, Charaf pointed out, that the event was held this year at the governor's mansion, as Gov. John P. deJongh Jr. preceded Charaf as CFVI board chairman.
Along with providing $1.2 million in grants in the last year, the organization was also instrumental in opening The Family Connection Center in Vitraco Mall on St. Thomas. The center offers training and developmental services to parents and childcare providers and fills a need left by the absence of any childcare centers accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children in the Virgin Islands. Establishing accredited childcare in the territory has long been one of the organization's goals.
Charaf and deJongh were both upbeat about the 400 angels — all of whom give upwards of $500 annually to the organization. When he spoke to the 250 people in attendance, deJongh said he was privileged to host the event at the people's house. The day after the election, he said, First Lady Cecile deJongh told him, "I'm not moving," adding that the proper use of the mansion — the former Danish Consulate that overlooks the town of Charlotte Amalie and the harbor — was to open it to the people.
And so it was Saturday night. Surveying the crowd scattered across the green lawns and broad verandas of the property, Catherine Mills, CFVI Board member, said, "We owe everything to these people."
Along with the recently opened Family Connection Center, CFVI Angels support:
— grants to grassroots organizations that work with children and families;
— scholarships to Virgin Islands students pursuing higher education;
— grants for health-related services and medical equipment;
— one-time grants to children and families whose emergency needs are not met elsewhere;
— grants to innovative teachers and counselors and programs that enhance the classroom experience; and
— the Fatherhood Collaborative, an ongoing initiative to promote responsible fatherhood.
CFVI currently has nearly 90 named funds.
The foundation charges no fees for the establishment, maintenance and administration of the funds. Angel contributions help support all of the funds.
For more information, go to www.cfvi.net.
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