In 1999, a group of John’s Island members met around Ellie McCabe’s dining room table to address a need in Indian River County. While local organizations in town were funding program and service needs, nonprofit agencies had nowhere to turn for bricks and mortar and capital improvements. With the help of local attorney John Moore, the John’s Island Foundation was formed. The Foundation established by-laws that set the groundwork for the future: to raise funds from the John’s Island community to make capital grants to agencies serving those in need in Indian River County. Ellie McCabe became the Foundation’s first president, serving a three-year term from 1999-2002.

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To initially fund the Foundation, 20 selected potential donors were contacted personally and asked to donate $5,000 each, and an appeal went out to the greater John’s Island community. By the end of fiscal year 2000, a total of $427,831 had been raised, and $278,270 in grants were awarded to 22 agencies. The largest grants went to Gifford Youth Activity Center (now Gifford Youth Achievement Center) for a new classroom and Habitat for Humanity for renovations to a townhouse. The John’s Island Foundation was on its way!

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At a 2019 event marking our 20th Anniversary, we honored Ellie by making a special grant to support counseling and mental health assistance for children and families at the Gifford Youth Achievement Center, one of the first charities funded by the John’s Island Foundation.

Fast forward to today, and the Foundation is fortunate to have the continued support of the John’s Island community, with over 500 donors to date. Thanks to the outpouring of generosity from our community, the John’s Island Foundation has invested over $14 million in capital grants in Indian River County over these 21 years.