Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

---

Organization Name: First Serve
Legal Name (if Different): Palm Beach Area Tennis Patrons, Inc.
Also Known As: First Serve USA
Mailing Address: PO Box 1353
City: West Palm Beach
State: FL
Postal Code: 33402
Main Phone: 561-203-5525
Main Fax:
Organization Website: http://firstserveusa.org/
Employer ID Number: 65-0400164
Organization Tax Status: 501(c)(3)

Proposal Information

---

Today’s Date: 1/22/2023
Requested Amount: $10,000

Project Title: First Serve—Transforming Communities Through Youth Development
Project Description:

First Serve has positively impacted the lives of over 600 Palm Beach County youth as reflected in improved grades, graduation rates and postsecondary pursuits. Our proposed project sustains and expands our successful youth development programs chapters in at-risk communities—Boynton Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, West Palm Beach, Belle Glade, South Bay. Our 2-pronged system entails: 1) developing youth leaders through an intensive mentoring program; and 2) employing these youth at a competitive wage to serve as role models to primary/middle school students in structured afterschool activities. Trained, dedicated mentors are paired with selected local teens (ages 16-19) and deliver an intensive 15-part Wisdom-Based Education program. The education is built on 9 pillars—emotional reactivity, teamwork, authentic leadership, critical thinking generosity, self-esteem, responsibility, anti-bullying and self-awareness—that combined, have proven effective in catalyzing personal growth and positive community impact. The education is reinforced by 1:1 weekly mentor/mentee “check-ins” and supplemented by individualized postsecondary education planning sessions with a career counselor, with 5 of the Coaches awarded scholarship support (based on performance) at the program’s end. The mentored youth are concurrently employed by First Serve to Coach local 1st-8th grade students in a free afterschool program (~600 hours/school year) that focuses on academic tutoring, life skills/character education, sports activities and arts/creativity development. Recently, community residents and stakeholders expressed the need to expand our services and reach greater numbers of primary/secondary school students following the pandemic’s disproportionate impact on families living in poverty. We have heeded this request, extending our program from 10 months to a full year and adding a 6-week/full-day program during the summer at our Belle Glade Chapter. Hermanowski Family Foundation funding will enable us to not only to maintain our newly enhanced year-round program, but also to explore bringing it to other First Serve Chapters.

Total Project Budget: $490,000

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County ($34,500); First Baptist Church of Belle Glade (in-kind use of space); The William C. & Joyce C. O’Neil Charitable Trust ($75,000); National Association of Police Athletic/Activities Leagues (PAL) ($25,000); Private Donors/Supporters ($250,000); Palm Beach County Library System (in-kind use of space); Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (in-kind program delivery); Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Law Enforcement Trust Fund ($25,000); Rosengard Van der Grift Family Foundation ($50,000); School District of Palm Beach County (in-kind use of space); Volunteer Mentors (in-kind program delivery); Volunteer 15-member Board of Directors (in-kind program guidance)

Project Duration: 1 year
Geographical Area Served: Palm Beach County (Boynton Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, West Palm Beach, Belle Glade, South Bay)
Age Group To Be Served: Children and Youth, ages 6 through 18

Contact Information

---

Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Mr.
Contact First Name: Mario
Contact Last Name: Mercurio
Contact Title: President/Executive Director
Contact Phone: 914-582-6682
Contact Email: mariovmercurio@gmail.com