United Way of West Florida announced $480,000 in grants to 25 agencies
United Way of West Florida recently awarded $480,000 in grants to 25 local nonprofit agencies in support of 29 programs through the organization’s Community Investment Process.
Programs operated by these agencies provide critical services to individuals and families across Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in the areas of education, financial stability, and health.
Grants are awarded through a competitive process. Community volunteers spend months reviewing applications and listening to presentations from applying agencies before making recommendations to United Way of West Florida’s Board of Directors for final approval.
“I appreciate all the volunteers who worked so hard during this process,” said Todd Phillips, chair of the Community Impact Committee and manager of Mortgage Loan Operations and Real Estate Lending at Navy Federal Credit Union, in a press release. “While we wish we had the funding to give grants to all the programs, we have to make tough decisions every year. Our community is fortunate to have so many incredible nonprofits.”
The year was especially tough with a decline in fundraising revenue made worse by the pandemic, according to United Way of West Florida President and CEO Laura Gilliam.
Grant awards by focus area are listed below.
EDUCATION AWARDS - $163,563
Autism Pensacola: Kids for Camp Summer Learning Lab, serving Escambia and Santa Rosa counties
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida: Beyond Walls, serving Escambia County
Boys and Girls Club of the Emerald Coast: Academic Success, serving Escambia and Santa Rosa counties
Capstone Adaptive Learning & Therapy Centers: Behavioral ABCs, serving Escambia and Santa Rosa counties
Children's Home Society of Florida: teenspace, serving Escambia County
Council on Aging West Florida: Foster Grandparent Program, serving Escambia and Santa Rosa counties
James B. Washington: Tutoring Towards Tomorrow, serving Escambia County
Pace Center for Girls: Girls Earning Diplomas (GED) Program, serving Escambia and Santa Rosa counties
ReadyKids!: ReadingPals, serving Escambia County
YMCA: Yreads, serving Escambia County
FINANCIAL STABILITY AWARDS - $101,106
Bright Bridge Ministries: His Place Shelter, serving Escambia County
Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida: Emergency Assistance Program, serving Escambia and Santa Rosa counties
FavorHouse of Northwest Florida: Financial Stability Program for Domestic Violence Victims, serving Escambia and Santa Rosa counties
Feeding the Gulf Coast: Mobile Pantry Program, serving Escambia and Santa Rosa counties
Legal Services of North Florida: Independence for Dependent and Homeless Youth, serving Escambia and Santa Rosa counties
Legal Services of North Florida: Veterans Legal Assistance, serving Escambia and Santa Rosa counties
HEALTH AWARDS - $215,331
The ARC Gateway: Pearl Nelson Center Early Intervention, serving Escambia and Santa Rosa counties
Bright Bridge Ministries: Hot, Healthy Meals, serving Escambia County
Capstone Adaptive Learning & Therapy Centers: Essential Health Access, serving Escambia and Santa Rosa counties
Council on Aging of West Florida: Nutrition Program, serving Escambia and Santa Rosa counties
Council on Aging of West Florida: Senior Companion Program, serving Escambia and Santa Rosa counties
Ecomfort Inc.: Soup Kitchen, serving Escambia and Santa Rosa counties
Gulf Coast Kid’s House: Advocacy for Victims of Abuse, serving Escambia County
Health and Hope Clinic: Access to Care, serving Escambia and Santa Rosa counties
Lutheran Services Florida: Sexual/Physical Abuse Treatment Program, serving Escambia and Santa Rosa counties
Northwest Florida Community Outreach: Supporting Our Seniors (SOS), serving Escambia County
OASIS Florida: Mobile Outreach Program, serving Escambia and Santa Rosa counties
Santa Rosa Kid’s House: Trauma-Focused Therapy, serving Santa Rosa County
Valerie’s House: No Child Grieves Alone, serving Escambia and Santa Rosa counties
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: United Way of West Florida announced $480,000 in grants to 25 agencies