The Needs Committee

The Needs Committee is by far the Foster Care Council of Southwest Florida's (FCC) busiest day-to-day committee. Its function is to distribute the monies collected from various sources, to our beneficiaries, the children in foster care in Southwest Florida. Requests received are funneled through this committee.

The case manager for each child is one of the avenues through which the requests are sent to the Needs Committee. The case manager perceives needs, which would enhance the lives of the foster child. Requests are also received from numerous agencies such as the lead agency, Children's Network and the two case management organizations, Family Preservation and Lutheran Services. Guardian Ad Litem and the Citizens Foster Care Review Board also submit requests.

The completed requisition forms are then mailed or faxed to our office where they are collected on a daily basis. Each individual request is then evaluated by one of our Needs Committee members. Each request is considered on its merit and a decision is made whether to fund this activity. A request above $500.00 requires approval by the Board of the FCC.

The Needs Committee shops carefully for items requested; they approach vendors to see if discounts can be obtained or items donated. They have been able to negotiate significant reductions in many circumstances, for example summer camps, clothing, music and recreational lessons.

The committee's busiest times are at the beginning of the summer when requests come in for summer camps. Then, when children are getting ready to go back to school, we receive requests for clothing, school uniforms and school supplies.

Fundraising and Endowment Committee

The Fundraising and Endowment Committee is responsible for setting the annual fundraising goals and executing the annual campaign. A sub-committee has been created to focus on the development of the Endowment Fund.

The Fundraising & Endowment Committee manages one large event per year, the Comedy Gala. The Comedy Gala is an elegant evening of laughs held at Sugden Theatre in Naples on the first Sunday of December each year. Two top nationally recognized comedians donate their time and talent for the evenings. Guests enjoy wine and hors d’ouerves reception with an upscale silent auction before the laughter begins. In 2007, the 7th Annual Comedy Gala raised more than $92, 000 net.

Grants Committee

The Grant Committee has been very successful in generating funds, merchandise and services. The committee is constantly researching available local, regional and national grants. The Grant Committee is also responsible for administering the grant money as the grant stipulates. Each grant is assigned a reference code once the grant is received. All expenditures that meet the requirements of the grant are assigned the reference code in the accounting and tracking systems. This allows the administration to pull accurate records at any time on each grant.

Education Train

Many children in the foster care system suffer from delays in their education because of the turmoil in their lives and are performing under grade level. The Education Train was formed to enrich the educational aspects of the lives of the children in care.

The Education Train has a part-time Education Coordinator that administers the program with the assistance of the Chair and Administrative Director. The Education Coordinator manages and develops a highly qualified and motivated tutor pool. Each student is matched with the appropriate tutor that can help his or her specific educational needs. All tutors are independent contractors. Currently, 90 percent of our tutors are employed within the public school system.