Did you know that 100% of any money you contribute to Our City Beautiful’s programs are tax-deductible? Did you know that 95% of each dollar given is put right back into our community programs? You never need to wonder what your dollar supports. The remaining 5% supports administrative costs to keep our office running. There are NO paid staff members at OCB; each person gives their time and talents, freely.
There are several easy ways to give:
PayPal: paypal.me/ourcitybeautiful
Venmo:
Check:
Our City Beautiful – P.O. Box 470743 Lake Monroe, Fl 32747
We are THRILLED to introduce, Saint Cloud, Florida native, Faith-Christina, as the inaugural recipient of the WORLD CHANGER scholarship for higher learning. What a remarkable young lady from Central Florida who is making leaps and bounds in all areas of education, employment and community involvement.
A note from Faith-Christina…
” John F. Kennedy once said, ‘One person can make a difference and everyone should try.’ I plan on being the one person to try and make a difference. I want to show others that no matter what, TRY! You will not know what you can do unless you try. “
We will be sharing more about Faith-Christina through out the week!
Hey Neighbor! Join us for an excellent night of fun at the Sanford River Rats game, on July 9 @ 6:30 pm.
Click here to purchase your tickets and the amazing team at the River Rats will donate a portion of the proceeds to Our City Beautiful.
Catch ya there! Sanford Memorial Stadium – 12021 Mellonville Road / Sanford 32771
Sanford Memorial Stadium 12021 Mellonville Road / Sanford 32771
If you are a Self Advocate or Parent/Guardian to a self advocate and would like to join us for a night of fun, complete this form and OCB will purchase you a Seat! All other family members/friends will need to purchase their tickets using the checkout link above! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1ZjdMqnKbvwK9p1vxvj00irTSrj2NfMY_dzfjSD3-o7s/edit
The World Changer Scholarship was created to support individuals with Down syndrome, age 18 and older, in their pursuit of higher education. We are thrilled to welcome the first ever applicants of this scholarship in 2021.
You may find the application instructions, here. You will also find the application and scoring rubric, here.
Application acceptance will open on May 1, 2021 and commence June 1, 2021. A small selection committee of 2-4 person’s will review all applications and scholarship recipients will be notified by email of a final decision by July 1, 2021.
Recipients will be invited to a small luncheon gathering on July 17, 2021. Time and Place will be determined and announced.
If you would prefer to have a PDF version of the instructions/application, please send an email to Hope. If any other questions should arise, please do not hesitate to reach out to Hope@our-city-beautiful.com
Best of Luck, from the OCB team to all applicants!
What an amazing night at down with heART. The team at OCB was thrilled to welcome many guests, artists, and friends at Venue 1902 in Sanford, Florida for the 2021 pop up art gala.
We must have spread the word since last year because we must have doubled the amount of guest this year. How exciting!
The 2nd annual event hosted work from 20 artist- up from 13 in our first year. It swells my heart to know that we held so many precious pieces in our hands this year.
Our hope is to provide a platform for artists with disabilities, and expose them to a population that may not other wise know them. Our reach this year was far and wide. We are proud to say we had two artists from Canada and an artist from Slovakia, as well as from many states throughout the US, this year.
Photography artist, Houston Vandergriff even drove from Tennessee to join us for the night.
In addition to chatting with artist, neighbors and admirers we were able to fundraise for the programs offered by OCB. We raised $3,200 this year. Thank you to all the fantastic artist who support us by donating pieces of work to our auction.
Composer and Pianist, Noah AZ joined us for the night, as well. We were delighted to hear 4 songs from him throughout the night.
Truly, THANK YOU to everyone involved in the night’s beautiful viewing. Without each and every person who helps plan, set up, create art, provides auction items and attends…. it is not doable, without you.
We look forward to what 2022 has in-store. You may view a slide show of our artists here.
We are thrilled to announce, down with heART 2021 will be premiering February 25, 2021 in Sanford, Florida. The second annual gala will once again take place at Venue 1902 and we are excited to be welcoming back several of last year’s artist plus many first time exhibitors.
This year we will be offering two ticket options:
– VIP Reservations will be a set cost of $30.00 and will include entrance donation and a Beverage/Food package. Ticket sales for VIP Reservations will begin 1/15/2021 and end /2/22/2021. There will be NO VIP sales at the door.
-The General Admission ticket is a suggested donation of $15.00 and will include a beverage service. General Admission tickets can be purchased online or at the door.
#GivingTuesday is Tuesday, December 1, 2020! This Giving Tuesday, Our City Beautiful would like to get a jump start on the goal for our 2021 Program fund. If we reach $10,000 raised, we will be able to fully fund the years goal for THREE of OCB’s wonderful programs: 1. 24 families will be served in THE SUPPER CLUB program, 2. We can fully fund a brand new scholarship program for adults who wish to further their education in a certificate program or vocational training, 3. The cost for the Down with heART pop up art gallery will be fully covered. This means we can have art from all over the country shipped to us for display at no cost to OCB or our Featured Artists, AND 4. Around 5% of the cost associated with the purchase of land for the HOLLAND community will be raised. The OCB team would also like to show our support to all our gracious donors this season as well. #OCBCaresToo is a campaign we are adopting this year, and with every $50 a donor sends to OCB, we will send $5 on to your favorite, local non profit. Just make your donation and in the notes leave the name and city/state of the non profit you’d like us to give to. We will share a list of all the organizations we send to on January 1, 2021, once our end of year giving is complete.
The Facebook Company is generously doing a matching campaign this year. The first $7 Million dollars given on December 1st via a Facebook fundraiser will be matched. The link to Our City Beautiful’s Facebook Fundraiser to donate is:
Recently, OCB had the great opportunity to join forces with another local non-profit, The Learning Movement, to do a special pumpKIND patch story time.
The Learning Movement has set out with an important mission to promote childhood literacy through community story time, and setting up free little libraries.
Katherine, our Director of Community Service, was set up and ready to read her all time favorite Halloween story.
Take a few minutes to watch and subscribe to The Learning Movement Youtube Channel!
The team has been busy at work, planning the details of our first ever pumpkin patch. With so much sadness, strain, and confusion that 2020 has brought, we still want to support and serve our community.
We have added a fun twist to the a regular old patch though! We are thrilled to announce our pumpKIND patch. While families are on the hunt for the perfect pumpkins, they can also look out for words of kindness and affirmation in the scavengar hunt! Once you’ve found them all, come pick up your prize pack.
There are many fun filled events in store. Please see our Facebook page to follow the Calendar of Events!
On February 6, 2020 we had the pleasure of organizing and presenting, Down with heART, our inaugural pop up art gallery.
It was a smashing success and the team at Our City Beautiful could not be more proud than we are. Thirteen artist came together to showcase their “self-portrait” themed artwork, to show the community that a diagnosis has no control over their imagination and creativity.
Art is an incredible form of therapy, and it is so amazing to lose OR find oneself during the creative process. We are thankful to have an inside look and that these artists allowed us to see how stunning they are.
4 of 6 board members with local artists, Hannah Allen and Machael Yee
It was a busy few months as packages arrived from all over the United States and Canada! Toronto, Tennessee, Texas and Florida are among the states that we received pieces from. Many of these artist also donated original works of art to a silent auction to further join us in raising funds for the HOLLAND fund. Thank you, artists!
In total there were 40+ visitors, 13 artists, 50 cannoli’s devoured and $1.053 donated between in person, Facebook and silent auction winnings. Those are amazing number for a first year event.
Works from Community Art Connection and Teddy’s Tiles. Artist, Charlie FrenchArtist, OliviaFounder, Hope Chinchak and daughter, Olivia. Artist, Houston VandergriffArtist, Troy DrakeArtist, Dan Garrison
We would like to Thank our sponsors once again: Preservation Hall at Venue 1902 for hosting us in your beautiful, restored Grammar School house in Sanford. Kenneth Ray Linen Service for providing beautiful, fresh laundered linens for the tables. Chianti’s Pizza & Pasta for delicious desserts. Aida Oils for providing dinnerware, Gorgeous George’s and Sanford Flower Shop for providing gift certificates to the silent auction.
Auction winner, Pryor with artist, Hannah Allen Art Appreciation
We are delighted to announce this event will carry on next year!
then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.
