OIRF Awards Grant
to Habitat for Humanity

Old Island Restoration's Executive Director John C. Giuliano presents a check to Bob Calhoun, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of Key West & Lower Florida Keys. Pictured from left are Old Island Board Members John Coutret, Michel Appellis, and Roy Hogberg - Giuliano and Calhoun - Habitat Board President Anna Symington, homeowner Camelia Suarez, and Gary Burchfield, owner of Gary the Carpenter

read more>>

Our Grants Program

The Old Island Restoration Foundation has awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars to such historical buildings in Key West as The Red Barn Theatre, the Key West Lighthouse, two forts (the Martello towers), the Woman's Club, the Habitat for Humanity for restoration of a conch house, and several churches, to name just a few.

Through these efforts, Key West has become one of the best models for historical preservation in the country. It has the largest predominantly wooden National Historical Register District in the United Sates, with close to 3,000 contributing structures.

Grants are available primarily to nonprofit organizations and educational institutions for preservation purposes to a maximum of $5,000 and require matching funds or in-kind services. Proposals from individuals are considered when there is a conspicuous benefit to the community at large - where the grant results in the restoration of a significant feature of a "contributing" building in the Historic District.

An announcement will be made on this website when new grant applications will be accepted and instructions for obtaining an application form will be provided.

Habitat For Humanity Grant

The OIRF grant to Habitat for Humanity was awarded to help defray the costs of materials used to rebuild a conch house front porch at 1404 Albury St. in Key West. This all-volunteer effort in 2003-2004 combined the talents and dedication of (from left) David Salay, of Bender & Associates architectural firm; Anna Symington, Team Leader, Habitat's Church Relations; Nancy Jameson, a neighbor and long-time member of OIRF who championed the project; Jake Riley of Rainbow Painters, Inc.; Kevin McChesney, the general contractor; and Cmdr. Jim Fitton, U.S. Coast Guard, Key West, who, with members from his unit, pitched in on the actual work. Not pictured is Mark Moss of Keys Property Maintenance, Inc., who is a member of Habitat's Church Relations Team and contributed many skills to the project.

This delightful conch house was built in 1912 as quarters for workers on the Flagler Railroad and has been the home of Henry "Butch" Johnson since 1949. The porch was devastated by Hurricane Georges, but the building has now regained its original charm, thanks to the work of more than 60 volunteers over a 7-month period. Local high school students, churches, neighbors, members of the U.S. Coast Guard and Navy all gave up their free time and put in many hours of hard work to make this happen.