By Josh CohenJune 23, 2015
ORLANDO – It goes without saying that teen moms and their children need as much support as possible to ensure optimum health and future success. The BETA Center has become the ideal spot for young women to learn life-skills, raise a healthy child and achieve a self-sufficient future.
With the support from the Orlando Magic Youth Fund, a McCormick Foundation Fund (OMYF-MFF), more young women are getting the necessary guidance and education to improve their lives.
Earlier this year, the BETA Center received a $60,000 grant from the OMYF-MFF to help assist in the program. The money will help serve more than 200 students and families they touch each day.
“It was a feeling of internal excitement and jubilation and wanting to jump up and down,” BETA Center President and CEO Ruth Patrick said after she learned about her organization receiving this grant. “This is going to help our families grow and we are so happy and grateful for that.”
The BETA Center was one of 21 organizations in Central Florida that received financial assistance from the OMYF. A total of $1 million was distributed.
Parenting teens are often at a disadvantage when raising kids considering they tend to not have enough life experience or the finances to handle such an enormous responsibility. However, the BETA Center changes the way young mothers view and handle these challenges.
They learn about prenatal attachment, baby brain development, infant mental health, school readiness and adolescence. Children, meanwhile, learn coping skills and other developmental assets to successfully transition from one phase of their youth to another.
“We are building successful futures for each of the girls and the families,” Patrick said. “The funds will help in our day-to-day needs to accomplish that.”
In the past five years, OMYF-MFF has granted nearly $5 million to various organizations throughout Central Florida. In the past 25 years, OMYF-MFF has given $19.8 million to 500 nonprofit organizations – funding that has impacted more than 2 million children and people in need. That philosophy of giving falls in line with the vision of legendary owner Rich DeVos, who has stated through the years that it was always his hope to use the Magic as a vehicle to assist others and make a difference in the community.
“One of fundamentals of my parents and my family is us giving back with your time, treasure or whatever you have,” said DeVos, son of owner Rich DeVos. “Everybody needs to give a little bit back because we all benefit so much from this community.”
The $1 million in funds given to the Central Florida difference-making organizations is raised by Orlando Magic Youth Foundation, and the match provided by the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.
After an extensive five-phase process, which began in April of 2014, the beneficiaries were recommended by the OMYF Board and then approved by the McCormick Foundation’s Board of Directors.
2015 OMYF-MFF GRANT RECIPIENTS: Aspire Health Partners – Zebra Coalition, Apopka Family Learning Center, BETA Center, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida, Children’s Home Society of Florida, City Year Orlando, Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida, Elevate Orlando, Florida Hospital for Children, Foundation for Orange County Public Schools, Foundation for Seminole County Public Schools, Foundation for Seminole State College of Florida, Harbor House of Central Florida, Hope Community Center, Jewish Family Services of Greater Orlando, Junior Achievement of Central Florida, Orlando Shakespeare Theater, Osceola County Council on Aging, The Howard Phillips Center for Children & Families and the University of Central Florida Foundation, Valencia College Foundation.