Gov. DeSantis, First Lady award $20K grants to nonprofits, faith-based organizations

PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. – Gov. Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis awarded thousands of dollars in grants to seven nonprofits and faith-based organizations across Florida Thursday morning during a press conference in Panama City Beach.

Each organization received a $20,000 grant. The money awarded came from the Hope Florida fund.

Hope Florida is an initiative led by First Lady DeSantis to increase collaborative efforts between the public and private sector, faith-based communities and nonprofits to provide Floridians with the resources they need.

“We talk about transitioning off more than 20,000 people from government assistance and yes, that is important,” the First Lady said at the press conference.

Florida Department of Children and Families Shevaun Harris also attended Thursday’s press conference.

“It serves as an alternative pathway for families who would otherwise get caught on that never-ending hamster wheel that leads to over-reliance on assistance,” Harris said. “It helps to eliminate the silo between faith institutions and government to more effectively serve vulnerable families.”

These are the seven organizations that received grants:

• Vision of Hope: Provides transitional services for people with disabilities, including vocational training, job coaching, job placement, and supervised housing.
• Saint Andrew Christian Care Center: Serves as one of the largest food pantries in Bay County, providing food and clothing to hundreds of people each week.
• BeGenerous: Supports and assists women in overcoming steps substance abuse and sexual exploitation.
• First Baptist Church of Pensacola: As one of the five CarePortal churches in Florida, this church partners with other local churches to serve food to families in need, and provide clothing, utility assistance and other services.
• A Bed 4 Me Foundation: Serves children ages 2 to 18 from low to middle-income families and provides them with twin mattresses, bed frames, pillows, sheets and comforter sets.
• Food for Thought Outreach: Provides food to school-aged children in need across 35 school locations.
• Caring & Sharing of South Walton: Provides crisis relief through financial assistance, clothing assistance, food pantry assistance, rent utility and prescription assistance.