The Embraer Foundation grant program is a tool for Embraer employees to identify needs in their community and vote to award the causes they feel are the most relevant. Annual grants are awarded regionally at Embraer fixed operation sites. In the 2020-21 Partnership Grant Program cycle, the focus was predominantly aimed at grants addressing needs presented by COVID-19. The trend among the Embraer employees hub sites around the country was to focus on food insecurity. By the end of the cycle, 14* total awards were granted to effective and worthy charities. Here are just a few of the nonprofits and community programs served through Embraer Foundation grants.

March, 2021. Part of our 2020-2021 grant cycle was to support organizations helping COVID-19 related challenges. A common underlying theme became food insecurity. Here are 4 highlights of grants addressing this issue.

AMIKIDS | MOBILE CULINARY CLASSROOM
Fort Lauderdale, Florida

AMIkids is an alternative school and prevention program for high-risk youth in the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice system or those in danger of dropping out of school. The organization works with them to “separate a troubled past from a bright future” by overcoming behavioral problems, achieving academically and earning the credits they need to graduate. The Mobile Culinary Classroom is one of the vocational training programs that provide valuable work experience. As part of the program, students provide healthy meals for populations that suffer from food scarcity in their community, a need that has greatly increased since the COVID-19 pandemic. Grant funds will supply students with any equipment needed for the courses and meals for the community at least once per month through partnerships with local nonprofit organizations. The skills and knowledge learned from these courses provide students with hands-on training and access to industrylevel certification. When looking for work, this credential helps them stand out among their peers. Students who finish the program are considered trained for entry-level positions in the food industry. Finding employment is integral to the program’s personal growth model to sustain positive development and achieve success in preparation for life after graduation.

SOCIETY OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL | THE ZERO HUNGER MISSION
Phoenix, Arizona 

Dedicated to relieving food insecurity in Arizona, The Zero Hunger mission led by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul has served lowincome people experiencing homelessness for more than 70 years. Data has revealed this population to be among the most affected by COVID-19. In April of 2020, the organization saw an 11% month-over-month increase in people visiting their five Valley Dining Rooms, which support about 7,700 meals a day. By June, there was a 19% month-over-month increase of people seeking food assistance, and July saw an additional 6% of meals served. To keep pace with increasing demand, grant funds will be used to provide approximately 3,400 meals to locals via the Chris Becker Dining Room in Phoenix, Arizona. This dining room serves between 310 to 425 hot meals a day to hungry families and individuals. Programs under their “Feed, House, Clothe, Heal” mission supports the goal of each person being able to achieve his or her full potential in the community. Vowing never to turn anyone away from their dining halls, St. Vincent de Paul is the only local charity of its kind to offer a holistic approach to preventing or transitioning from homelessness.

BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF NORTHEAST FLORIDA | CULINARY KITCHEN GARDEN
Jacksonville, Florida

For over 50 years, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida (BGCNF) has equipped youth with the skills and tools needed to reach their full potential. Through engaging in classes and labs facilitated by expert farmers and chefs, this program is designed to help BGCNF teens establish career paths in agriculture, agribusiness and the culinary industry. The Citi Teen Center in Jacksonville recently expanded their Culinary Arts Program with a commercial kitchen. Funds from the grant will go towards constructing and sustaining a working greenhouse for cultivating food products. The creation of the Culinary Kitchen Garden will allow teens to gain competency in basic agriculture techniques. They will learn to plant, harvest, advertise, market, distribute and prepare produce in the Citi Teen Centers’ culinary kitchen. In addition to expanding skillsets, this program will also be working with the Ready 4 Veggies Bus. This BGCNF initiative addresses COVID-19 needs by providing fresh fruits and vegetables for residents in need who are elderly, potentially infirmed or lack transportation. Once the greenhouse starts producing, the Ready 4 Veggies Mobile Grocery Stand will expand its schedule to serve even more residents in broader areas around the region.

DAILY BREAD | MOVE-IN KITS
Melbourne, Florida

Daily Bread’s history is based on providing their guests with services to meet basic needs around food, hygiene and access to medical services. In the past year, they have expanded services to include assistance with housing. Through partnerships with other agencies in Brevard County, over 100 households were able to exit homelessness in 2019. Daily Bread is working hard to support the most vulnerable unsheltered residents and move them into permanent housing. Grant funds will help provide “move-in kits,” which will include basic household items such as kitchen items, bedding, bathroom supplies and cleaning products. In addition to the grant, the Embraer Foundation will organize a collection event for employees to donate household furniture and larger items, which are also needed to help individuals transition out of homelessness and into permanent housing.

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