Mini-grant program offers up to $5,000 in funding to residents, groups, or organizations.
February 8 2022 – BeWellPBC, a countywide behavioral health and wellness movement engaging residents, providers and systems to work together to address community needs, will open their call for applications for their Be Well Do Well Mini-Grants on February 7, 2022. The mini-grant program provides grant awards of up to $5,000 for innovative ideas to improve behavioral health and wellness for Palm Beach County neighbors most in need. Applicants must be Palm Beach County residents, groups, or organizations who have an idea to support community healing and resiliency, build a community of support, and/or promote workforce wellness.
Altavia Evans and Katie Bortniak, Vita Nova
Be Well Do Well Mini-Grants are unique in that funding is not limited to only nonprofit organizations as is usually the case with grant awards. Residents of all ages, community groups, religious organizations, for profit businesses, schools and educational facilities, and local municipalities are eligible to apply between February 7, 2022 and March 5, 2022 at bewellpbc.org/dowellgrants. Those interested in applying must attend a virtual Q&A session on either February 15th or 23rd to meet the BeWellPBC team and learn more about the mini-grant process.
The criteria for Be Well Do Well Mini-Grants calls for applications to support Palm Beach County residents and/or professionals, promote creative solutions for behavioral health and wellness, honor equity and inclusion and have the capability to be fully developed and implemented within one of year of receiving the mini-grant award. BeWellPBC is offering a second opportunity to people who would rather make a difference by communicating their knowledge, insights, and/or experiences through a 4-episode podcast series about behavioral health and wellness. The grant will provide for the cost of production and technical assistance to create a professional podcast series, with applicants providing the topics, content, hosts and guests.
Jennie Carter and Saidy Garzon, Lake Worth West Resident Planning Group
In 2020-2021, BeWellPBC granted 13 awardees with funds ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 each, totaling $50,000. Initiatives touched the lives of all ages during the pandemic and included: training seniors to embrace technology and connect virtually with family and friends to combat isolation and loneliness; creating a safe outlet for African American men to come together and understand how trauma has affected their lives; and bringing together under-served Hispanic Latina women to build peer support to overcome stress, anxiety, and depression and create connections to resources. Awarded programs have been a catalyst for launching new ideas that gain traction with other funders. Eight 2020-2021 awardees received additional funding to continue their programs beyond their initial BeWellPBC grants.
Deon C. Jefferson
Deon C. Jefferson, a Delray Beach resident and recipient of a 2020-2021 Be Well Do Well award that funded his idea for an “Express Yourself” Fashion Art Ball, is the new grants navigator for BeWellPBC. Jefferson will lead the 2022 grant process and mentor future awardees. He credits BeWellPBC’s mini-grant experience for opening many new doors for him to impact behavioral health, including speaking engagements and published articles.
“Being a BeWellPBC awardee was one of the best experiences of my life,” Jefferson said. “As grants navigator I’m excited to lead the next group of awardees and I’m looking forward to them inspiring me with their awesome ideas.”
To learn more or apply for a Be Well Do Well Grant or podcast series, please visit bewellpbc.org/dowellgrants.
About BeWellPBC
BeWellPBC, launched in 2019, is a behavioral health and wellness initiative committed to supporting community solutions from the residents themselves while increasing and improving interagency coordination and alignment in Palm Beach County. Its unique model brings together community members directly impacted by behavioral health with foundations, government and nonprofit agencies, faith-based organizations, health care providers and the school district to create integrated, comprehensive solutions that are most responsive to the needs of every resident. For more information, visit www.bewellpbc.org.
