East Volusia News

The Hope Florida initiative has reportedly assisted nearly 30,000 individuals in transitioning away from government assistance, potentially saving Florida taxpayers an estimated $800 million over the next decade. Governor Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis underscored the success of this program today, presenting awards to seven Panhandle nonprofit organizations. Each organization received $20,000 through the Hope Florida Fund.

The recipients recognized by the Governor and First Lady included St. Andrew Christian Care Center, Food for Thought Outreach, A Bed 4 Me Foundation, Caring & Sharing of South Walton, BeGenerous, and Vision of Hope. The First Baptist Church of Pensacola also received a $20,000 award as one of the top five needs-meeting Hope Florida CarePortal churches in Florida.

The funding awards are made possible by the generosity of the private sector in Florida. The initiative employs Hope Navigators to guide Floridians on a personalized path to prosperity and economic independence. This is achieved through community collaboration involving the private sector, faith-based communities, nonprofits, and government entities.

First Lady Casey DeSantis launched the Hope Florida Fund in July 2022 to harness private sector charity to fund deserving local nonprofit organizations supporting the Hope Florida Initiative. Since its inception, almost 30,000 Floridians have reduced or eliminated their reliance on government assistance.

Governor Ron DeSantis stated that "Hope Florida is leading tens of thousands of Floridians off of government reliance and into prosperity and self-sufficiency." He added that due to this program's efforts, taxpayers could save nearly $800 million over the next decade.

First Lady Casey DeSantis expressed her gratitude for being able to recognize and award funding to seven nonprofits in North Florida community.

Department of Children and Families Secretary Shevaun Harris praised Hope Florida for transforming how Floridians access critical resources. Erik Dellenback, The Governor’s Liaison for Faith and Community, highlighted the Governor's commitment to engaging with faith and community organizations since his first day in office.

Floridians who require support can connect with Hope Florida by visiting their website or calling the Hope Line.