Community Foundation of South Lake Archives | South Lake Tablet

Community Foundation Of South Lake Celebrates Local Scholarship Recipients At 2nd Annual Reception

Michelle Delaney — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 14:54:46 +0000

Community Foundation of South Lake recently celebrated its second annual Scholarship Reception.

The event brought together students, families, donors and board members to recognize scholarship recipients and celebrate the role community investment plays in helping students pursue higher education.

Among those honored was Nena Mitchell. Mitchell received a Clermont High School alumni scholarship and plans to attend University of Central Florida to study health sciences before becoming a pediatric physician assistant.

Isaiah Owens, recipient of the Donald C. Wickham Scholarship, prepares to enter nursing in Georgia and contribute to the region’s medical community.

Hailey Bronson, a Lake County fifth generation resident received a Clermont High School alumni scholarship and plans to attend Lake-Sumter State College to study nursing before eventually earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.

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Community Foundation of South Lake Celebrates 30th “Pearl Anniversary”

Michelle Delaney — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 15:41:33 +0000

By the Community Foundation of South Lake

For wedding anniversaries, 30 years is typically the “pearl” anniversary. As the Community Foundation celebrates its 30th year, I’d like to share “pearls of wisdom” about this true gem!

Pearls show us that something lasting can come from humble beginnings. The Community Foundation of South Lake was formed on June 30, 1995, as the result of an agreement between the South Lake Hospital and Orlando Health (formerly Orlando Regional Healthcare.) Even though the population of South Lake County was only about 10,000 then, visionary leaders sowed the seeds to Serve the greatest needs in our community.

Pearls give us the phrase “the world is your oyster.” We believe anything is possible when you Connect people who can help with those who need it most. This is the centerpiece of our mission.
Today our reach is like a string of pearls: people helping people.

Pearls are stunning in their natural form. In the same way a living oyster grows a pearl from a grain of sand, our purpose is multi-layered. It’s natural for the Community Foundation to Give to organizations that lift people in crisis, promote education, and support children and families.

Thanks to the generosity of our donors, the Community Foundation of South Lake has grown to manage nearly $16 million in assets and has cumulatively awarded more than $9 million to local nonprofits and $740,000 in scholarships to students from South Lake County.

Pearls are timeless. So is the Community Foundation. For the next 30 years, and beyond, we will continue our mission to Serve. Connect. Give.

Stay in touch about the upcoming events to celebrate the 30th anniversary.

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Community Foundation Of South Lake “Feeding Lake County Fund”

Michelle Delaney — Tue, 20 Jun 2023 18:14:25 +0000

by the Community Foundation of South Lake

Summer is a time for relaxation for many of us, but many parents and children throughout South Lake will spend their summer worrying about where their next meal will come from. Out of the 43,706 children enrolled in Lake County Schools, about 56% of those children depend on school meals as their daily nutrition. Unfortunately, food access is limited during the summer and is compounded by decreased donations to local food distributors.

We can change these statistics by growing the “Feeding Lake County” fund. This fund provides resources to many food pantries throughout South Lake, ensuring every child has access to nutritious meals.

Help make a positive impact in the local community by donating to the “Feeding Lake County Fund” so every child in South Lake can enjoy their summer!

LEARN MORE, Visit CFSL

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The Community Foundation of South Lake County Names Its New Executive Director

Michelle Delaney — Wed, 18 Jan 2023 07:54:44 +0000

by Chuck Seaver, South Lake Tablet

The Community Foundation of South Lake County (CFSLC) has announced this month that Executive Director Kathy Smith will be retiring at the end of the month. Smith’s successor, Laura Michalski has also been announced and is currently scheduled to take the reins of the Foundation on January 27th, the date of Smith’s retirement.

Michalski followed her retiring parents to Florida recently and fell in love with the Clermont area. When Michalski heard of the executive directors opening, she knew that the position and the community would be the perfect fit for her and her husband who will be following the move to Clermont this spring.

Michalski brings with her an impressive background of more than twenty years of leadership in large health and dental clinics serving the underserved, supportive services for marginalized populations and housing programs for the homeless. She also maintains an extensive background in nonprofit management and program development, a key component to the director’s position at Community Foundation. “I’ve always wanted to work for a foundation, and I look forward to getting to know the South Lake community”, says Michalski. One of her top long-term goals is to increase the foundation’s ability to impact the community and strengthen the area’s non-profits while connecting resources together in a safe environment.

CFSLC serves South Lake County by providing community leadership in philanthropy and legacy giving; guiding and empowering donors to make informed decisions; in addition to working with local non-profits while focusing efforts on accomplishing sustainability through connecting resources, educational opportunities, and grant funding.

Executive Director Kathy Smith has held her current position for nine years and looks forward to spending more time with family when she retires. Smith has been an integral part of an impressive history of the CFSLC which includes nearly $16 million in assets and has cumulatively awarded more than $9 million to local nonprofits and $740,000 in scholarships to students from South Lake County, all made possible through generous donors.

“The Community Foundation of South Lake will be in the community forever because of the generosity of its donors. We thank the many donors who have made this foundation a success”, says Smith.

The Community Foundation of South Lake County is located at 2150 Oakley Seaver Drive, Clermont. To learn more about the Foundation, visit CFSLC

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Live Well Foundation of South Lake Granted One Million Dollars To The Community Foundation of South Lake

Michelle Delaney — Sat, 21 Aug 2021 23:08:15 +0000

Live Well Foundation of South Lake granted one million dollars to the Community Foundation of South Lake (CFSLC) during the South Lake Chamber of Commerce monthly breakfast on Friday, August 20. This grant is the final of 12 grants from Live Well Foundation of South Lakes 2021 Capacity/Empowerment grant cycle and will establish a Live Well Foundation of South Lake health and wellness fund at the Community Foundation of South Lake. The Live Well Fund will support health and wellness initiatives under the $50,000 threshold of Live Well Foundation of South Lake Grants.

Mental health services, seniors, education for medical lab technicians, developmental disabilities, food scarcity and homelessness are areas addressed in the 12 grants distributed by Live Well Foundation of South Lake over the last two months.

Live Well Foundation of South Lake grants have been distributed to

Community Foundation of South Lake, $1,000,000; Feed and Instruct the Hungry, FAITH Neighborhood Center, $800,000; Building Blocks Ministries, $ 800,000; Life Stream Behavioral Center, Inc, $600,000; Food Provider Network of South Lake via CFSL, $545,448; Find Feed Restore, 295,470; Central Florida Hope Center, $260,000; New Wave Christian Church, $223,060; Lake-Sumter State College Foundation, Inc., $170,500; Community Health Centers, Inc., $167,140; United Way of Lake and Sumter Counties, $122,856; First United Methodist Church of Clermont, $50,000.

That’s an awesome total of over $5.34 Million to South Lake County Nonprofits!

Dr. Kasey Kesselring, board chairman of the Live Well Foundation was the guest speaker at the South Lake Chamber of Commerce Breakfast where the one-million dollars was presented to CFSLC. He stated, “The Live Well Foundation of South Lake sees the CFSLC as an integral partner as we work together to meet the needs of our residents in the South Lake community”. “Working alongside the Live Well Foundation, with this fund, the CFSLC will be able to address and fund smaller programs providing valuable programming that address health issues.”

Mike Bucher, board chairman of the CFSLC stated, “Our Community Foundation is so appreciative and grateful for the Live Well Foundation’s generous financial contribution that will allow us to invest in our local non-profit organizations that provide a variety of critical services to our community. This type of investment shows the synergy between the two foundations and how they will work together to impact the health and wellness of our entire community. ”

The Live Well Foundation of South Lake is dedicated to bettering the quality of life through improved health and wellness.

Live Well Foundation of South Lake is governed by a 12-member Board of Directors comprised of senior leaders in South Lake County from healthcare, financial management and operations, education, and other professions.

Board members include Rob Berens, Clermont Police Chief Charles “Chuck” Broadway, Rodney Drawdy, Dr. Jeff Duke, Shannon Elswick, Dr. Lushantha Gunasekera, Jim Hamilton, Dr. JoAnn Jones, Chairman Dr. Kasey Kesselring, Susan McLean, Jimmy Nussbaumer, Vice Chair Linda Smith. Donna Kirtland (Executive Director) and Kristina Rose.

The foundation’s mission is to inspire, through grant-making, sustainable initiatives that enhance the health and wellness of the South Lake community.

Founded in 2019, the Live Well Foundation of South Lake intends to be a long-term partner in bringing more healthcare choices and healthier lifestyle services to the people of South Lake County.

The Community Foundation of South Lake County was established in 1995 as a 501(c)(3) and the mission is to “Serve our community through the connecting of resources and intentional philanthropic giving.” Its goal is to SERVE, CONNECT and GIVE.

Board Members include President Michael Bucher, Vice President Sandy Simmonds, Don Rose, Doni Keene, Lance Sewell, Matt Manzari, Dr. Reginald B. Riley, Becky Elswick, Wade Boyette, J.D., Michael Spartz, Mark Starcher, Stephanie Mayuski, Paula Hoisington, Kim Sams. Kathy Smith (Executive Director) Haleigh Smith, and Brittany Timmons,

It’s Fun and Rewarding To Give And No Organization Does It Better Than The Live Well Foundation

Pictured from left to right: Trish Kry, Keith Whitacre, William Linaja, Don Rose, Mike Bucher, Kathy Smith, Linda Smith,
Brittany Timmons, Jim Hamilton, Rocky DeStefano, Sandy Simmonds, Donna Kirtland, Becky
Henderson, Cesar Perez, & JoAnn Jones

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Friends of the Community Foundation of South Lake County

Michelle Delaney — Sat, 01 May 2021 20:44:08 +0000

Dear Friends of the Community Foundation of South Lake County,

Kathy Smith

Just over a year ago, all our lives changed due to the pandemic, and much of the change will be long-lasting. As we continue to navigate our “new normal,” your Community Foundation works to address the problems facing our area. We support the work of our nonprofit organizations and their much-needed programming through financial support (grants) and educational opportunities.

We work closely with our donors to connect them with the needs in our community that are of interest to them. Recently, the “You’re Not Alone” program provided by Be Free Lake, and funded by our Women’s Giving Alliance, provided suicide awareness training on how to recognize and direct students who are struggling with mental health issues to a trusted adult. The program was presented to all three public high schools in South Lake, and over 200 high school students successfully completed the program.

This program caught the eye of the Lake County Public Schools and is now being offered in high schools throughout the county. That’s IMPACT! By supporting the Community Foundation of South Lake, you touch so many areas of need right here in our local community. You are helping right now, and you also make an impact that will last forever. When you’re ready to have a conversation about how you can partner with us, please contact me! I’ll be happy to help you with your philanthropic journey.

Sincerely,

Kathy Smith, Executive Director

Kathy@cfslc.org

352-394-3818

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Collaborating with the Community Foundation of South Lake (CFSLC), Morgridge Family Foundation Continues To Support The Community

Michelle Delaney — Sat, 27 Mar 2021 01:09:13 +0000

The Morgridge Family Foundation has again partnered with the Community Foundation of South Lake to provide an additional $70,000 in funding to nonprofit organizations addressing the growing needs as a result of Covid-19. The following organizations were awarded grants:

FAITH Neighborhood Center

LovExtension

The Central Florida Hope Center

Hands of Hope America

This grant from Morgridge Family Foundation will allow CFSLC to provide additional funding to food pantries, supporting low-income families and those affected economically from COVID-19 in South Lake County – Mascotte, Groveland, Clermont, Minneola, Montverde, and Four Corners.

Over the past year CFSLC, alongside our generous donors and community partners MFF and the Live Well Foundation of South Lake, have maintained a focus on providing resources for our most vulnerable populations. We have worked with local nonprofits that have distributed thousands of meals for those in need of food. If you would like to donate to these efforts, please go to www.cfslc.org so that you can join us in helping your neighbors in need.

About Community Foundation of South Lake

The Community Foundation, established in 1995 as a 501(c)(3) and the mission is to “Serve our community through the connecting of resources and intentional philanthropic giving.” Our goal is to SERVE, CONNECT and GIVE. To find out more about how you can make a difference

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Live Well Foundation Donates $30,000 To Community Foundation Of South Lake To Feed Those In Need

Michelle Delaney — Wed, 10 Jun 2020 02:43:38 +0000

Collaborating with Community Foundation of South Lake (CFSLC), Live Well Foundation of South Lake continues to support the community.

Over the next three months Live Well Foundation will provide $30,000 to assist with feeding those in need through the summer months in South Lake County.

Funds will be distributed in three $10,000 contributions for June, July, and August. “This food insecurity grant can be used to supplement food programs and pantries with dietary and additional protein needs, shore up summer feeding programs for schools, and enhance food distribution efforts throughout South Lake County.” said Dr. Kasey C. Kesselring, Live Well Foundation of South Lake Board Chairman. “Supporting the nutritional health of our community is a high priority as we look towards Phase Three when employers can begin to call employees back to work.”

The Live Well and Community Foundation of South Lake continue to address the needs of our community due to the Covid-19 pandemic through this contribution for feeding programs.

This grant from Live Well Foundation will allow CFSLC to continue funding food pantries throughout South Lake County, supporting low-income families and those affected economically from COVID-19 in South Lake County – Mascotte, Groveland, Clermont, Minneola, Montverde, and Four Corners.

Over these past two months, CFSLC with matching funds from Live Well Foundation of South Lake has focused its funding on Food Insecurity for our community’s most vulnerable populations with thousands of pounds of food provided to the hungry.

About Live Well Foundation of South Lake

The Live Well Foundation, established in 2019 as a 501(c)(3) and dedicated to inspiring sustainable initiatives that enhance the health and wellness of the South Lake community, aspires to attract and fund much-needed healthcare and healthy lifestyle programs to serve residents. Visit Live Well Foundation online at lwfsl.org for more information.www.LWFSL.org

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The Community Foundation of South Lake Responds to the Covid-19 Pandemic

Michelle Delaney — Sun, 17 May 2020 01:33:10 +0000

Eight weeks ago, The Community Foundation of South Lake County activated its Disaster Relief Fund in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Since that time, the Foundation has released more than $140,000 in grant funding to 14 local nonprofit organizations caring for those most affected by the pandemic. Kathy Smith, the Foundation’s director, said, “Our primary goal in jumping into action at the beginning of the pandemic was to streamline our grant process, process grant applications, and quickly release much-needed financial assistance into the hands of organizations focusing on local food insecurity, rental and utility assistance, and the elderly, one of our community’s most vulnerable populations.”

The Faith Neighborhood Center is one such grant recipient. At a recent food drop, the Faith Neighborhood Center saw over 350 families lined up to receive the basic need for food. Executive director Patricia Kry shared, “Each family got anywhere from 50 to 75 pounds of food – enough to make a difference. This pandemic is a huge thing that is going to change South Lake County and we want to do our part in helping.” Without funding from the Community Foundation of South Lake, our community would not receive this funding.

A collaboration with partner granting organizations, along with generous donors from our community, helped make this possible. The Foundation was fortunate to receive a generous $25,000 challenge grant from the Morgridge Family Foundation, which inspired an impactful grant of $8,100 from the Live Well Foundation. These gifts, combined with the generous support of donors in our community, resulted in immediate funding to organizations like Faith Neighborhood Center, South Lake Community Ministries and United Way during this unprecedented time of need.

Because of the seamless way in which the Foundation provided funding to our community, the Morgridge Family Foundation chose to partner with us again; this time, providing an additional $73,500, which was immediately disbursed into our community. At a time when donations have gone down, we have stepped in to help fill the gap for nonprofits in Lake County. We continue to reevaluate the situation and how we can best assist with the needs. We understand that the impacts of this virus will continue to create needs in our community for many months to come.

The Community Foundation of South Lake County is a grantor who has supported our community for twenty-five years, and our commitment to connecting, providing flexibility, communication, and honoring donor intent will continue during, and beyond, the Covid-19 crisis.

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Community Foundation of South Lake Launches COVID-19 Response

Michelle Delaney — Wed, 15 Apr 2020 01:40:18 +0000

The Community Foundation of South Lake County activated its Disaster Relief Fund to meet critical needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a funder to the nonprofit organizations providing essential services in Lake County, the Community Foundation quickly mobilized its resources, streamlined its grant application, and solicited the nonprofit organizations to submit for funding.

Kathy Smith, Executive Director

The first round of grants has already been awarded to eight nonprofit organizations meeting local needs. There will continue to be an additional need for funding throughout the next several months. Grants awarded during the pandemic focus on food security, rent and utility assistance, and seniors in need during this time.

To support the Community Foundation’s response to critical needs during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Morgridge Family Foundation announced a $25,000 Challenge Match. For every dollar given to Disaster Relief Fund, it will be matched through this grant, allowing donors to double their donations up to $25,000.

The Community Foundation of South Lake County is a nonprofit organization with the mission to “Serve our community through the connecting of resources and intentional philanthropic giving.” If you are able to give at this time, your donation directly supports local health and human service organizations, particularly as they experience a surge in demand for support services.

The Community Foundation of South Lake County continues to work together for our community. Please consider partnering with the Community Foundation by giving to the Disaster Relief Fund during this challenging time.

For more information about grants, donations, and local resources, visit http://cfslc.org.

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