The Community Foundation of the Florida Keys’ Lower Keys Advisory Council has awarded $8,000 in grants to organizations headquartered in the Lower Keys, supporting projects that will benefit residents in communities from Big Coppitt to Big Pine Key.

The Jose Wejebe Memorial Foundation received $3,000 to provide boating outings for Lower Keys at-risk youth and the Rotary Club of the Lower Keys received $3,000 to purchase fishing rods and reels for youth ages four to 12. Both of these projects were funded by the Community Foundation last year as well.

Two first-time grantees received $1,000 each. The Monroe Emergency Reserve Corp will use the funds to recruit and educate volunteers, specifically by covering expenses of its web site and training classes. The Key Deer Protection Alliance will use the grant for public education initiatives to protect key deer.

“The Community Foundation’s Lower Keys Advisory Council is proud to renew our support for two nonprofit partners who demonstrated that they invested the funds for the good of the community,” said Heidi Morris, board member of the Community Foundation of the Florida Keys and chair of its Lower Keys Advisory Council. “We are also pleased to support two Lower Keys-based nonprofits who have never before received a Community Foundation grant, in our 27-year history of giving.”

Grant applications are scored by 10 local residents comprising the Lower Keys Advisory Council. Funding is made possible by donors to the Community Foundation’s Lower Keys Future Fund. Contributions to the Lower Keys Future Fund are currently being matched dollar-for-dollar by the Community Foundation and grants are available for critical needs on an ongoing basis. Learn more at cffk.org/lowerkeys.