grant Archives - Diocese of Venice

Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice Inc. (CCDOV) has been awarded a $25,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County to support its Casa San Juan Bosco 2Gen Educational Program, expanding access to critical educational resources for families in rural DeSoto County.

The Casa San Juan Bosco program addresses the intergenerational barriers to education faced by low-income, primarily Spanish-speaking families, many of whom are agricultural, migrant, or seasonal workers. Through a two-generation (2Gen) approach, the program provides coordinated learning opportunities for both children and their parents – strengthening literacy, workforce readiness, and long-term family stability.

“Catholic Charities is honored to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Community Foundation of Sarasota County for their generous grant,” said Christopher M. Root, CEO of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice. “The vital funding will support our 2Gen Educational Program, furthering our mission to provide critical support to children and families in DeSoto County.”

Grant funding will support the addition of a part-time Educational Assistant and provide access to Renaissance educational software, a data-driven platform that delivers individualized learning pathways in reading and math. With this additional staffing support, the program will expand its capacity to serve children, increasing enrollment from 22 to 32 participants, while ensuring services remain free and accessible to families.

Children in the program benefit from afterschool tutoring and summer literacy enrichment, while parents participate in English language classes, workforce development, and life skills training. By equipping both generations with the tools to succeed, the program helps break cycles of poverty and builds a foundation for long-term success.

Looking ahead, CCDOV aims to further strengthen the program by improving emotional resilience and academic engagement among participants, expanding therapeutic and family support services, and demonstrating outcomes that can be replicated in other underserved communities.

Funding for this program was provided by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County through the Community Impact Grant.

By Kirsten Pederson, Special to the Florida Catholic

Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice, Inc., has received a $100,000 grant as part of The Cigna Group Foundation Healthier Kids For Our Future® initiative to help support the organization’s youth mental health programs that provide school-based services for youth in Lee County public schools.

The Cigna Group Foundation’s Healthier Kids For Our Future program is a nationwide initiative that provides funding to non-profit organizations that are working to improve the health and well-being of children and families.

“We are thrilled to receive this grant from The Cigna Group Foundation,” said Eddie Gloria, Catholic Charities Chief Executive Officer. “This funding will allow us to expand our Youth Mental Health Services Program in Lee County public schools and provide much needed support to struggling young people in our community. We are committed to using this funding to make a meaningful impact in the lives of young, and with the support from The Cigna Group Foundation and other donors, Catholic Charities is able to provide licensed mental health counselors to offer onsite one-on-one counseling in respective Lee County public schools.”

Joe McNair, Catholic Charities Director of Behavioral Health, added, “This grant provides the funds to eliminate barriers to access care, care that many families need but cannot afford, and provides an innovative model to address the mental health needs of our youth.”

“Today’s youth are facing many challenges that impact their mental health,” said Bonnie Mann, program officer for The Cigna Group’s Healthier Kids For Our Future grant program. “By providing Lee County students access to much-needed services, we can put them on a path to thrive, not only during their school years but their entire lives. The skills they learn now will help them become healthy adults. We are excited to be a part of this great program.”

For more information on Catholic Charities Diocese of Venice, Inc., and its Youth Mental Health Services program, please contact Joe McNair at joe.mcnair@catholiccharitiesdov.org.

Catholic Charities Diocese of Venice, Inc., is a nonprofit founded in 1984 by the Diocese of Venice in Florida and serves as a resource to the community, offering assistance in the area of health and human services, food pantries, counseling, legal assistance, rapid re-housing, education, and disaster response. Catholic Charities Diocese of Venice serves 10 Southwest Florida counties, including Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Lee, Manatee, and Sarasota. The mission of Catholic Charities is to provide help, create hope, and serve all. For more information, visit catholiccharitiesdov.org.

Tag: grant

Catholic Charities receives $25,000 Grant from the Community Foundation

Catholic Charities receives $100,000 grant