The $20,000 grant will help fund All Star’s rich tapestry of education, therapeutic and clinical initiatives.
(Sarasota, FL) Graci McGillicuddy, the co-founder and board chair of All Star Children’s Foundation, recently announced that a $20,000 grant issued by the Sarasota chapter of the International Design Society will further empower All Star’s rich tapestry of education, therapeutic and clinical initiatives.
“Thanks to this grant, All Star will be able to offer expert care and treatment to children who have experienced neglect and abuse in the tri-county area,” says McGillicuddy. “The International Design Society shares our deep commitment to this cause and wants to do everything in its power to help us provide stability and treatment for these children. They recognize that adverse childhood experiences and trauma comprise the greatest, unaddressed threats to public health facing our nation today. This is an extraordinary gift. It will make a world of difference to All Star’s future success.”
Jesse White, president of the Sarasota chapter of the International Design Society, says that his organization has a long history of supporting local nonprofits—especially those helping children. “Nothing tugs at your heartstrings more than the incredible challenges All Star’s children face,” he says. “All Star’s founders, Graci and Dennis McGillicuddy, are powerhouses who deliver on their promises. Their passion and the leadership have made All Star’s vision a reality. The future of our society rests with our children—and that’s why we want to help.”
All Star has completed its “Campus of Hope and Healing,” which includes the All Star Children’s Center, where trauma-focused clinical services are offered. The campus also features six foster family homes that provide children, ages 0-18, with a nurturing, family-style home environment and comprehensive, trauma-sensitive treatment. Siblings will be kept together, and parents and caregivers will also be offered a range of innovative services. All Star also serves children in the region’s child welfare system and their families on an outpatient basis.
According to McGillicuddy, All Star has implemented a trauma-informed program that delivers the latest evidence-based protocols and treatments for foster children and their biological families. Partnering with leaders across the child welfare system, the non-profit organization has tapped best-in-class partners to assist in their mission.
For more information about All Star Children’s Foundation, visit www.allstarchildrensfoundation.org. The campus is located at 3300 17th St, Sarasota.
Photo caption: Gail Forest, IDS board member; Jessie White, IDS board president, owner/founder of Sarasota Architectural Salvage; Graci McGillicuddy, All Star founder and board chair; JoJo Bradshaw, Lyteworks; Reba Henry, board member; Margaret Bell, board member.
About All Star Children’s Foundation
All Star Children’s Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to healing the effects of trauma suffered by children who have been abused and transforming foster care through innovation, science, and compassion. All Star’s campus, located at 3300 17th St, in Sarasota, is a nurturing community consisting of a clinical treatment center; six family foster homes, a community clubhouse and inspirational green space featuring a playground, organic vegetable garden and butterfly garden. All Star will monitor and evaluate its innovative approach in order to develop models that can be adopted by foster care systems around the state and country. This project has been partially funded under an agreement with the State of Florida, Department of Children and Families. Visit www.allstarchildrensfoundation.org.
About the Interior Design Society (IDS)
The Interior Design Society (IDS) is an association of professional interior design entrepreneurs focused on helping our members grow their businesses, develop their talents, inspire each other and impact their communities. One of the country’s largest design organizations dedicated to serving the residential interior design industry, IDS embraces four core values including professionalism, community, influence and growth. The IDS National headquarters is located in High Point, N.C.