OEF & Cotton Bay Unite To Strengthen South Eleuthera Communities

South Eleuthera is on the brink of major economic growth, with new developments bringing both opportunity and urgent responsibility. While progress is welcome, it also underscores a critical truth: communities thrive only when the people who call them home are supported, included, and prepared for change.

This is why the long-term partnership between OEF and the Cotton Bay Community is so important. Together, we continue to deliver meaningful, people-centered investments that strengthen families, empower youth, uplift community groups, and help South Eleutherans build prosperous, resilient futures via the OEF Cotton Bay Fund.

AGMs are an essential cornerstone of good governance. These gatherings foster enhanced communication, alignment, accountability, and purposeful connections among board members and stakeholders

Tiara McKinney

2025 Graduate and 4-year CBF Scholarship Recipient

College: Dickinson College, Pennsylvania, USA

Double Major: Bachelor’s in Psychology and Spanish

This fiscal year, supported by the generosity of Cotton Bay Community, OEF has awarded $24,000 in academic scholarships to twenty promising students from South Eleuthera. These scholars are pursuing degrees in high-demand, nationally critical fields such as:

Nursing
Medical Laboratory Science
Psychology
Media Journalism
Teacher Education
Business Administration
Human Resource Management

These are careers that impact families, strengthen local institutions, and contribute directly to Eleuthera’s communities. For many students, these scholarships are more than financial assistance; they are a doorway to opportunity, leadership, and economic mobility.

Community Grants That Strengthen Local Impact

In addition to academic support, OEF and CBF awarded $75,187 in community grants was awarded through this partnership to 13 vetted organizations serving South Eleuthera.

These investments fuel grassroots programs that uplift every generation, including:

Youth literacy programs across six primary schools
Free spay-and-neuter clinics through BAARK
Youth soccer development with the Eleuthera Soccer Club
Mental health services from Solutions Counselling Services Network
Digital education and innovation through The Lab at Freedom Fitness Centre
OEF’s free Learn-to-Swim community program
Enhanced physical education at Preston H. Albury High School
After-school learning at the Wemyss Bight Public Library

These grants empower frontline organizations to continue meeting essential needs — from education to mental health, animal welfare, youth development, and community wellness and the ripple effect is profound.

As South Eleuthera prepares for anticipated economic expansion, ensuring that residents have access to education, skills training, health services, and community support is essential. This partnership helps close gaps and ensures inclusive, sustainable growth.

Donors Creating Lasting Change

Every dollar invested through this partnership reflects a shared commitment to building strong, vibrant communities. Donors make these scholarships, grants, and community programs possible — and their support ensures that progress is people-centered, equitable, and transformative.

With continued investment, OEF and the Cotton Bay Community will strengthen pathways of opportunity across South Eleuthera, nurturing the talent, resilience, and potential of the people who make this island home.