Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: Best Foot Forward Foundation, Inc
Legal Name (if Different): N/A
Also Known As: N/A
Mailing Address: 9080 Kimberly Boulevard, Suite 10
City: Boca Raton
State: FL
Postal Code: 33434
Main Phone: 561-470-8300
Main Fax: 561-922-6459
Organization Website: www.bestfoot.org
Employer ID Number: 30-0598378
Organization Tax Status: 501c3

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: 3/30/23
Requested Amount: $7,500

Project Title: Grounded for Life
Project Description:

The Best Foot Forward Foundation (BFF)’s
signature program, Grounded for Life proposes to address the academic needs of 125 foster youth from middle school to college by, 1) building long-term relationships with students and committed, caring adult advocates; 2) systemically monitoring students’ progress; 3) developing foster youth’s problem-solving and organizational skills; and 4) engaging with teachers, caregivers, case managers and community providers. Through year-round, one-on-one connections, Grounded for Life’s primary goal is to help each foster youth to create a plan for graduation and their future. Based on the evidence-based, drop-out prevention model Check and Connect, the program creates long-term relationships with the students through Graduation and College Coaches that provide weekly one-on-one academic and social support in schools and afterschool. They closely monitor school performance through academic assessments, comprehensive education plans, and individualized goals for each student’s success.

BFF’s weekly academic enrichment activities, tutoring, mentoring, credit recovery, and homework assistance. In 11th grade, students begin college-readiness programming where Coaches assist foster youth for their transition into college and connect them to post-secondary resources. BFF is specifically asking for funding to offset costs for students’ fees related to college preparation for SAT/ACTs, tutoring, and college applications, entrance exams, and scholarship applications. Only 4% of foster-youth graduate from college. BFF has a 75% college graduation rate.

BFF provides extensive wraparound support that include career readiness, student internships, resources to support the basic needs, housing and transportation. BFF’ mental health and wellness support connects students with behavioral health resources and mitigate issues that may escalate their anxiety and/or anger. For foster youth, traumatic experiences that resurface throughout their lives in the forms of behavioral issues, toxic stress, sporadic social connections, and learning difficulties that disrupt their educational success.

Total Project Budget: $844,853

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): City of Boca Raton, Jim Moran Foundation, Wanda and James M. Jr. and Moran Foundation, Boca Raton Regional Hospital Foundation, ChildNET, City of Boca Raton, Ibis Charities Foundation, Irving Stern Foundation, Mattfolk Family Foundation, Men Giving Back, Norman Shulevitz Foundation, WalMart Foundation, Make a Difference Foundation. Pending: Bank of America Foundation, Boca West Children’s Foundation, Hermanowski Family Foundation, Community Foundation of Palm Beach and Martin Counties, Geneva Group Foundation, Boca Rio Foundation.

Project Duration: One-year; corresponding with Palm Beach County School District calendar
Geographical Area Served: Palm Beach County
Age Group To Be Served: 12-21 (middle and high school and college)

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Ms.
Contact First Name: Donna
Contact Last Name: Biase
Contact Title: Executive Director and Co-founder
Contact Phone: 561-470-8300
Contact Email: dbiase@bestfoot.org