1st Veterans Kids Care Inc.
Homes For Those Who Served
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
FVRTC's Project Home was created to prevent and reduce the prevalence and duration of homelessness among overlooked and undeserved veterans providing transitional and permanent housing. FVRTC'S aim is to also identify students and veterans with visual impairments, eliminating or correcting them and promoting literacy through the Youth Eycecare Services (Y.E.S.) Vision & Literacy Initiative.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Health and Wellness Programs
VA and public Eye Care ProgramsVA Eye Care is and has been overlooked and underfunded * Our Eye Care programs are designed to enable and transform the lives of our Heroes, families of those who served and low to middle-income families in our surrounding communities. * Our Eye Care programs will provide eye care services including initial screenings, vision evaluations, and new eyewear for children with visual impairments ages 5 and up. We also make a wide assortment of eyewear available * Our Eye Care services will eliminate or correct vision problems and promote literacy through outreach efforts, community partnerships and rehabilitative follow-up services.Physical FitnessFVRTC has designed programs for members who have served to help them start and maintain their healing process, both mentally and physically, through physical fitness, by providing them with gifted memberships from sponsors who will pay for yearly memberships. * Our programs provide a place for both able bodied and disabled veterans and community members to utilize various services without the worry of environmental stressors. * Our fitness programs will assist any veteran and family member who wants to keep in shape or is experiencing post-traumatic stress.* Also, if a wounded veteran member requires assistance from their VA Caregiver while at the FVRTC, the caregiver's membership will be granted as well.
Housing Program Project Home
1st Veterans Kids Care, Inc. is a non-profit agency committed to helping individuals and families to live in the community with dignity and enhanced opportunities through the provision of housing and support services. Project HOME was established to give back to not only military (active, reserves, and veterans), but also firefighters, law enforcement, healthcare professionals, and teachers whose needs for workforce and affordable housing is so great.
Employment Program
Job placement assistance will be provided to our veterans who come from all walks of life through a variety of different sources. This assistance will include a combination of career counseling and skills assessment, along with guidance on writing a resumes, drafting cover letters and filling out a job applications. All veterans will meet with a case manager to perform an initial assessment and work in collaboration with the veteran to devise a service plan addressing identified needs and objectives. Each veteran will have a personalized service plan outlining goals and barriers related to needs and desires. Progress is monitored and essential support or assistance is provided to help veterans identify, develop and achieve the skills necessary to maintain their independence.
Where we work
Awards
Letter of Support From city of Haines City 2015
City of Haines City
Certificate Of Special Congressional Recognitiion 2014
U.S House Of Representative
Obama's Roundtable "Fatherhood Heros" 2012
U.S Department Of Justice
Letter of Support 2011
House Of Representative Geraldine Thompson
Supportting The Troops 2010
Department of Veterans Affairs
Letter of Support 2011
Department of Veterans Affairs
Letter of Support 2014
City of Lake Wales
External reviews
Photos
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Goal #1.FVRTC is aiming to accomplish a fully equipped Mobile Unit that include 38' Mobile Bus which will provide vision evaluations and new eye wear to veterans, children, adults in under served communities and those members who would otherwise not have access to the exams or be able to afford new glasses. Goal #2 FVRTC is also aiming to provide transitional and permanent housing for our veterans and their families.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Through the acquisition of the new head office space for FVRTC, FVRTC will focus its marketing efforts toward the Primary and Secondary Market Areas (Polk County and Central Florida), which is where most of its prospective members currently live. Through community assistance, grant seeking, and partnerships FVRTC will raise funds for the housing program and vision services. A marketing appeal will be made that attracts veterans and community members in need of eye care services, health and wellness services, and housing services. That marketing effort will be keyed into media that already have the attention of members who have sufficient resources to obtain these services. Finally, the FVRTC Marketing Plan will emphasize quality of services and the broad scope of services provided in the facility. 1. Conduct vision screenings in schools, churches, and at community events for veterans and children starting in Orange, Polk, Osceola and Broward counties.
2. Train Vision Ambassadors who will:
• Train community members to operate the vision screening equipment.
• Implement all aspects of the Vision and Literacy Initiative locally.
• Coordinate vision screening schedules for community volunteers.
• Perform community visual outreach services and receive community service hours for their volunteer service.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Our on going support from Senators, Congressmen, City Managers, and Mayors has given us the recognition that First Veterans R.T.C programs are making a huge impact in each of our surrounding communities. The support of teachers and school principals has given us the insight to grow our programs. Renaissance Charter School has allowed us to test our Vision and Literacy programs and ensure the growth of the education in each child turning a school from a F school to a B school.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Hosted events in Las Vegas with NWE and provided 75 children with T-shirts, toys, and free haircuts.
Donated over $750 to a group of disabled military veterans.
Donated 250 backpacks with $7,500 worth of school supplies, t-shirts, and discount cards to Central Florida students in need.
Participated in the Hope Now International Back Pack Bash, supplying backpacks and school supplies to over 10,000 children. Health screenings and haircuts were also provided at this event. With Iglesia El Calvario, the largest Hispanic Church in Central Florida, donated five hundred $50 discount cards that provided access to 300 plus vendors. Participated with the church in food giveaway to 200 families in the Central Florida community.
Hosted Annual Day of Prayer for Military Veterans and their families, donating over 500 gift bags that contained free oil change certificates, t-shirts, discount cards, and other merchandise valued at $100 per bag.
With Florida House of Representative Geraldine F. Thompson and AMVETS hosted a Toys R Us gift card giveaway donating $25 gift cards to 50 families.
Donated over $800 in gift cards and toys to veteran families during Holiday Celebration at Terra Dyer Park in Holden Heights.
With Commissioner Samuel B. Ings, District 6, provided vision screenings for 200 children during "Eggcellent" Kid's Health Fair & Easter Egg Hunt
Provided 100 Vision Screening during A Taste of Haiti Celebration with Commissioner Samuel B. Ings, D1strict 6
Provided 50 pairs of readers during A Taste of Haiti Celebration with Commissioner Samuel B. Ings, D1strict 6
With the Methodist Church of Titusville our Y.E.S. Optical services screened 30 individuals and donated 30 pairs of glasses valued at $1000.
During the Bridge Builders' 2012 Back to School Health Fair conducted 100 vision screenings and donated 60 eye wear frames valued at $4500.
Screened 500 K-5 grade students at Renaissance Charter School, Orlando Florida and provided 20 pairs of reading glasses and arranged for 55 students to receive full eye exams.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback, It is difficult to find the ongoing funding to support feedback collection
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
1st Veterans Kids Care Inc.
Board of directorsas of 10/27/2023
Anthony Cardinal
Anton Cardinal
Publix, Karate School
Ancil Cardinal
Walmart
Anthony Cardinal
community Volunteer
Homida Rajack
Self Employed
Leo Mendez
Self Employed
Leon R Gaither
Palm Beach Schools
Johna Bingham
Palm Beach Public Schools
Jacoby Waters
Young Men of Distinction
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
We do not display disability information for organizations with fewer than 15 staff.
Equity strategies
Last updated: 10/19/2023GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
- We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
- We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.