Charities We Support

Guardian Trust Foundation, Inc.

The Trustee for the various Guardian Trusts is the Guardian Trust Foundation, Inc., a non-profit, Florida corporation. We support organizations who serve the disadvantaged and persons with disabilities. The Guardian Trust Foundation, Inc. promotes and supports charitable activities and organizations that provide goods, services, or funding for the underprivileged, and for individuals of any age who are disabled. A few of the non-profit organizations that have been supported in the past are listed below.

Advocare Trust, Inc.

Advocare Trust, Inc. meets the needs of the beneficiaries in Pinellas, Pasco and Hillsborough county Florida, by providing advocacy to assure their comfort, continued care, nurturing and education.

Advocare Trust, Inc. is dedicated to the lifelong best interest of the sons and daughters of those who enroll their children. At last there would be someone to assist the disabled adult in their decision making, someone who can make medical decisions, act as guardian, monitor their care and review their financial situation, someone who does not work for the state or facilities to make sure their resources are utilized for their benefit, someone who will fight for them as hard as their parents did during their life time.

http://www.advocaretrust.org

Aging Solutions- Office of Public Guardian

The Office of the Public Guardian is committed to ensuring that wards receive appropriate care, protection and servcices in the least restrictive manner possible.

Aging Solutions, Inc. is currently serving Brevard County, Hillsborough County, Pinellas and Pasco County.

http://www.aging-solutions.org/

Aging True

Aging True is a non-profit, charitable organization enabling home-based senior independence in Northeast Florida. Through their services they are able to provide seniors with the care and assistance they need to live independently. Their health, nutritional and financial care programs are designed specifically to serve and educate the frail elderly and disabled in the NE Florida region.

Aging True’s mission is to provide essential and innovative services and care for individuals, families and communities throughout Northeast Florida to prepare for and support graceful aging. Aging True services reach more than 6,000 Northeast Florida seniors each year.

http://www.agingtrue.org/

Alvin A. Dubin Alzheimer’s Resource Center

The Alvin A. Dubin Alzheimer’s Resource Center is a local United Way organization which provides assistance and support to persons with Alzheimer’s and related dementia and their caregivers. The Dubin Alzheimer’s Resource Center is operated with a staff of five which includes the Executive Director, Executive Assistant, Health Education Specialist, and two Masters Level Social Workers. The Dubin Alzheimer’s Resource Center is also assisted by a host of volunteers who make it possible to provide services to the local residents affected by Alzheimer’s disease. The Dubin Alzheimer’s Resource Center offers assistance through information and referral, counseling, health education, and crisis intervention.

http://www.alzheimersswfl.org/index.asp

The Alzheimer’s Association – Florida Gulf Coast Chapter

The mission of the Alzheimer’s Association is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health.

The Alzheimer’s Association – Florida Gulf Coast Chapter is a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) nonprofit, donor-supported organization. Programs and services are made possible through contributions from individuals, corporations and foundations. The chapter uses 83% of all funds raised for programs, services and research efforts.

http://www.alz.org/flgulfcoast

Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas, Inc.

The Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas, Inc. (AAAPP) is a 501(c)(3) private non-profit agency serving seniors and their caregivers in Pasco and Pinellas counties in Florida since 1974. Designated by the Department of Elder Affairs as the Area Agency on Aging for Planning and Service (PSA) Area 5, the agency’s focus is on funding, advocacy, services and programs for seniors in the two-county area of west central Florida.

Currently, the AAAPP is one of eleven Area Agencies on Aging in Florida, and there are over 600 nationwide. Each AAA is responsible for administering a network of community and in-home services for older persons within their assigned PSA. With 387,568 persons age 60 and over (2005 Pop. projections) residing in Pasco and Pinellas counties, the planning and service area ranks as the fourth largest senior population in Florida.

http://www.agingcarefl.org/

Big Bend Hospice Foundation

Licensed since 1983, Big Bend Hospice provides expert health care, encouragement, hope, compassion and companionship to people with a limited life expectancy so that they can complete personal goals and find spiritual and emotional peace. The Big Bend Hospice Foundation was established in 1996 in order to raise the funds necessary to build the Hospice House. The Foundation continues today as the fundraising arm of the organization.

http://www.bigbendhospice.org/foundation.html

CIT International

CIT International is a non-profit membership organization whose primary purpose is to facilitate understanding, development and implementation of Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) programs throughout the United States and in other nations worldwide in order to promote and support collaborative efforts to create and sustain more effective interactions among law enforcement, mental health care providers, individuals with mental illness, their families and communities and also to reduce the stigma of mental illness.

CIT International works to accomplish this purpose by raising public and stakeholder awareness through education and outreach, establishing and disseminating recommended standards for developing, implementing and sustaining crisis intervention programs, providing assistance to communities interested in developing CIT programs, supporting research, improving public health and safety, evaluation of CIT programs and partnering with CIT programs in various localities to hold annual International CIT Conferences.

http://www.citinternational.org

Clearwater Free Clinic

The Mission of the Clearwater Free Clinic is to deliver comprehensive medical care to uninsured families through volunteerism and community partnerships. . . . .building healthy communities.

Patients have access to a full range of medical services that are provided on-site within the primary care setting. Other services, including diagnostic procedures, are provided by community partners.

http://www.clearwaterfreeclinic.org/

Fifth Circuit Public Guardian Corporation

The Public Guardian Program Marion County is registered with the Statewide Public Guardian Office and is one of sixteen Public Guardian offices operation Statewide. Their mission is to help the elderly and mentally incapacitated citizens of Marion County who are indigent and without family or friends who are willing to assist them.

The Fifth Circuit Public Guardian Corporation supervises and monitors legal, medical, financial, social and psychiatric care for individuals who have been adjudicated incapacitated and indigent by a court of law. With an accounting system in place, we protect both the Ward and his/her property.

http://www.publicguardianprogram.com/

Florida Children’s First

Florida’s Children First, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the rights of at-risk children and youth; the organization seeks full representation of children and youth and meaningful and sustainable improvement in Florida’s child-serving systems using a range of strategies including public policy development, on-going training and technical assistance, and where necessary, strategic litigation.

FCF works to improve the government and private systems that exist to serve children. Florida’s Children First was founded by child advocate attorneys from around the State of Florida who have been fighting their own individual battles on behalf of children at risk. But the new organization allows those efforts to be coordinated, strengthened and built into a powerful force. The advocates each have their own specialties and together are ideally positioned to effect real change.

http://www.floridaschildrenfirst.org/

Florida Guardian ad Litem Foundation

The Florida Guardian ad Litem Foundation works to support the Florida Guardian ad Litem Program through private fund-raising.

Advocacy

The Foundation advocates for the Florida Guardian ad Litem Program. An example of this advocacy is Guardian ad Litem Day, held each spring at the Florida State Capitol. This is a time when the Guardian ad Litem Program staff and volunteers, child welfare professionals, and other stakeholders come together for a luncheon to celebrate the Guardian ad Litem Program and raise awareness to the needs of dependent children. The Foundation also provides advocacy training for the program staff, volunteers and local non profits.

Volunteer Retention and Recruitment

The Foundation promotes statewide Guardian ad Litem volunteer recruitment and retention through a variety of activities. Annually, it hosts a Guardian ad Litem awards Banquet celebrate the achievements and honor the commitment of the Programs outstanding volunteers and community advocates from each of the twenty judicial circuits. The Foundation also produces an annual conference which includes speakers and workshops that inspire and educate Guardian ad Litem volunteers and staff. Volunteer recruitment is increased by creating and maintaining partnerships with corporations, other state agencies and service organizations throughout the state.

Financial Support

Currently, the Florida Guardian ad Litem Program represents close to 27,000 abused and neglected children, but more than 4,600 children are still in need of the voice in court. A Guardian ad Litem can provide that voice. Through additional financial support of the Florida Guardian ad Litem Program, The Foundation is helping to create a new reality – where every abused, abandoned and neglected child in Florida has a voice in court through their Guardian ad Litem. This support is available to the program because of funds donated by individuals, non profits, corporations, and foundations.

http://flgal.org/

Freedom Sailing Camp of Florida Inc.

Freedom Sailing Camp of Florida’s mission is to provide safe, enriching and affordable sailing for high-functioning individuals within the autistic spectrum disorder. Their program allows participants to explore and develop social skills that will empower them to strengthen their self-esteem and help them become self-sufficient individuals.

http://www.freedomsailingcampoffloridainc.com/

GiGi’s Playhouse – Tampa

GiGi’s Playhouse Down Syndrome Achievement Center’s mission is to change the way the world views Down syndrome through national campaigns, educational programs, and by empowering individuals with Down syndrome, their families and the community. We offer free therapeutic and educational programming to individuals with Down syndrome and their families.

https://gigisplayhouse.org/about-us

The Guardianship Office of the Tenth Circuit, Inc.

The Guardianship Office of the Tenth Circuit, Inc. is a charitable organization that provides guardianship services to individuals who are incapacitated, indigent and alone. Their purpose is to protect, advocate, support and make decisions for the most vulnerable of adults.

http://www.guardianshiptenthcircuit.com

Horse Connections, Inc.

Horse Connections, Inc. Therapeutic Riding Lessons serves students who have special needs, from physical disabilities to mental and emotional challenges, to behavioral issues. Our lessons are for both children and adults, and incorporate riding time, but a major focus is time for each student to bond with the horses. We have an amazing group of volunteers, and can provide a horse walker and side walkers for each rider as needed. Our instructor develops a lesson plan for each individual rider. We can accommodate small groups of up to 4 students at a time, giving each student time alone with “their” horse.

http://www.horseconnection.org/

Lighthouse of Pinellas

Lighthouse of Pinellas has provided services to meet the needs of the blind or visually impaired for over 50 years. Chartered in 1956, the mission of Lighthouse of Pinellas is to advance the independence, opportunities and quality of life for the more than 40,000 residents of Pinellas County who are blind or visually impaired.

Lighthouse of Pinellas offers comprehensive vision rehabilitation programs for adults and seniors, job placement for adults, life enrichment programs for adults and seniors, an independently owned and operated product store and information and referral services. Our children’s program includes early intervention services for children birth to age 6, summer camp programs for ages 6 to 14 and a Transitions program for teen and young adults from 14 to 22. Transitions prepares these young people to enter the worlds of higher education and the workplace.

http://www.lighthouseofpinellas.org

Miami Children’s Hospital VACC Camp

Each spring Miami Children’s Hospital hosts a free week-long overnight camp for ventilation assisted children (children needing a tracheostomy ventilator, C-PAP, BiPAP, or oxygen to support breathing) and their families. Overnight campers come from throughout the United States. South Florida families and youngsters from local residential care facilities join in as day campers.

VACC Camp gives families a fun opportunity to socialize with peers and enjoy activities not readily accessible to technology dependent children. The program includes swimming, field trips to local attractions, campsite entertainment, structured games, “free play”, and more – all to promote family growth and development while enhancing individual self-esteem and social skills. Parents have formal and informal opportunities to network among themselves.

http://www.vacccamp.com/

Morning Star School of Pinellas Park, Inc.

Students with special educational requirements need more care and attention than is offered in a traditional school setting. These students necessitate individualized instruction from caring professionals who are trained to understand and meet each student’s unique needs.

The purpose of Morning Star School is to offer students a Christian and caring learning environment where they are able to succeed. The positive is accentuated to help the students recognize their potential. Building self-esteem and self-confidence is integrated into the curriculum of language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, physical education, computer, library, art, and music. Students receive the specialized services of speech and occupational therapy as part of the school day.

The ultimate goal is to help students develop into educated, well-rounded, productive, and successful members of society.

http://www.morningstarschool.org/about.htm

NAMI – National Alliance on Mental Illness

NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to improving the lives of persons living with serious mental illness and their families.

Founded in 1979, NAMI is a national organization and has become the nation’s voice on mental illness. NAMI includes affiliates in every state and more than 1,100 local communities across the country who join together to meet the NAMI mission through support, advocacy, education, and research.

NAMI Pinellas County, Florida, Inc. was established in 1986 and currently has more than 300 consumers and family members.

http://www.nami-pinellas.org

Office of the Public Guardian, Inc. – Big Bend Chapter

The Office of Public Guardian, Inc., (OPG) serves adults with mental and/or physical disabilities as their court-appointed legal guardian when they are incapable of managing some or all of their affairs. The Big Bend Chapter serves the Counties of Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Liberty, Leon, Madison, Wakulla, and Washington.

http://bigbendopg.org/

PARC

PARC is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide opportunities for children and adults with developmental disabilities to exercise their independence and experience life to the fullest. Since 1953, PARC has grown into a large social service agency that serves more than 700 children and adults with developmental disabilities in the Tampa Bay area. PARC offers over 40 unique services and continues to be an advocate and a voice for individuals with developmental disabilities locally, statewide and nationally.

http://www.parc-fl.org

Pepin Academies

Founded in 1999, Pepin Academies is a tuition-free school, 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit corporation; the only elementary through 22-year-old Charter School in the State of Florida, and possible the country, that is SACS Accredited and offers a Standard Diploma option, as well as, a Special Diploma option while serving over 500 children with identified disabilities or learning-related disabilities. Nearly 80% of students graduate with a regular diploma and 20% with a special diploma with more than 50% of all of our graduates going on to post-secondary education with a zero (0%) drop-out rate. Using educational models of innovative instructional design, the faculty endeavors to develop the gifts of a diverse population who frequently arrive to our doors already discouraged. Each school creates a high intensity, low threat therapeutic learning community that celebrates the gifts of every student. The Pepin Academies strive to break the destructive cycle of learned helplessness by finding their academic strengths and abilities, and making social skills a top priority.

http://pepinacademies.com/

Spina Bifida Association of Central Florida, Inc.

SBACFL’s mission is to promote the prevention of Spina Bifida and to enhance the lives of all affected.

http://sbacentralflorida.org/about-us/about-sbacfl/

The Arc Tampa Bay Foundation

The Arc Tampa Bay Foundation, formerly known as UPARC, Inc., enhances the dignity and independence of persons who are developmentally disabled in the Upper Pinellas County area.

Their mission is to secure the financial future of services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities served by The Arc Tampa Bay. This mission is accomplished through a comprehensive plan of building community awareness, encouraging community involvement, and generating financial support of The Arc Tampa Bay through fundraising events, grant funding, annual, corporate and planned giving.

The Arc Tampa Bay is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

https://www.arctbfoundation.com/

YMCA of the Suncoast

The 10 locations of YMCA of the Suncoast serve more than 84,000 members and program participants in Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando, and Citrus counties. We are is the largest provider of school-age child-care in Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties, serving more than 5,000 children daily in over 50 locations with before and after school care, holiday camps and summer camps.

YMCA of the Suncoast is committed to the following areas of service:

-Youth Development

We believe the values and skills learned early on are vital building blocks for life. Because of the Y, more young people in neighborhoods around the nation are taking greater interest in learning and making smarter life choices. At the Y, children and teens learn values and positive behaviors, and can explore their unique talents and interests, helping them realize their potential. That makes for confident kids today and contributing and engaged adults tomorrow.

-Healthy Living

Being healthy means more than simply being physically active. It’s about maintaining a balanced spirit, mind and body. The Y is a place where you can work toward that balance by challenging yourself to learn a new skill or hobby, fostering connections with friends through our lifelong learning programs, or bringing your loved ones closer together through our many family-centered activities. At the Y, it’s not about the activity you choose as much as the benefits of healthy living on the inside and outside.

-Social Responsibility

We know that when we work as one, we move people and communities forward. That’s why we are committed to providing support to our neighbors and opportunities for kids, adults and families to give, join or advocate in the name of stronger communities.

http://www.ymcasuncoast.org/