TAMPA, Fla. (Oct. 16, 2018) – The Community Foundation of Tampa Bay selected Open Partnership Education Network (OPEN) for its 2018 Big Idea Grant recipient. OPEN will receive a $50,000 grant for its Civility Project.
OPEN, a nonprofit operated out of the University of South Florida St. Petersburg, creates partnerships with diverse organizations to produce a better-connected community of thought leaders who strive for innovation. Through OPEN, thought leaders who are already a driving force in the community create and attend engaging events to discuss how to tackle common issues.
With the Big Idea Grant, OPEN is establishing its Civility Project, which connects different communities within St. Petersburg to enable them to learn from one another and collaborate on projects and events. OPEN will add Civility to its current themes: Seeds (urban agriculture), Radical Schools (fresh takes on education), Live Well (healthy living), Future Cities (smart, inclusive communities), and Frontiers (science and research).
“We’re pleased with the progress OPEN has already shown in the community, and we’re excited to award them the Big Idea Grant focused on civility,” said Marlene Spalten, president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay. “These events will inspire important conversations that need to be had to work toward civility in our communities.”
OPEN will focus on civility through a variety of events, including a speaker series, thought leader presentations, panel discussions and networking events in the coming months. Plus, its online components continue to connect thought leaders, gather input from communities, and keep track of goals between events.
About the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay
Founded in 1990, the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay (CFTB) connects donors, nonprofits, community and business leaders, professional advisors, volunteers and residents to make the maximum positive impact in the Tampa Bay region. For more than 28 years, the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay has been dedicated to making giving easy and meaningful for donors as a way to strengthen nonprofit organizations and build a better, more vibrant community. Since its inception, its donors have enabled the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay to award nearly $200 million in grants to nonprofit organizations across the country.