United Way celebrates donors, community impact


  • June 29, 2015
  • /   Shannon Nickinson
  • /   community-dashboard
On Thursday the United Way of Escambia County celebrated outstanding donors and celebrated the community agencies that earned United Way funding. In all, United Way gave $1,692,593 to 30 agencies that are working to improve the health, education and financial stability outcomes of Escambia County residents. The event took place at Sanders Beach Corrine Jones Community Center. “United Way is an incredible force for good in our community,” said Pensacola Mayor Ashton J. Hayward. “I am so proud of everyone on my team at City Hall and throughout our community that gives their time and money so that as one, we can make a difference in the lives of many." At the event, representatives from the Council on Aging of West Florida, Early Learning Coalition of Escambia County and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida spoke about the impact United Way funding has had on their missions and work. [caption id="attachment_25382" align="aligncenter" width="850"]The United of Escambia County's community celebration at Sanders Beach Corrine Jones Community Center. Photo credit: United Way. The United of Escambia County's community celebration at Sanders Beach Corrine Jones Community Center. Photo credit: United Way.[/caption] In fiscal year 2014-15, United Way’s campaign totaled $2,190,000. More than half ($1,247,000) was raised by 10 fundraising campaigns. [sidebar] United Way notables — City of Pensacola employee Dena Faessel also won a 2015 Kia Soul that was donated by Pensacola’s Kia AutoSport. She has been a United Way donor for nine years. — The top three workplace campaigns were Gulf Power, Publix Supermarkets and Ascend Performance Materials. — United Way also recognized the philanthropy demonstrated by new Tocqueville Society members, Bentina and Antonio Terry. To become a member of the Tocqueville Society, an individual must pledge to donate an annual gift of at least $10,000. [/sidebar] In all, 43 programs from 30 local agencies received grants. They were:  
Focus Area Agency Name Program Name 2015-16 Funding
1-Year Grants
Education Be Ready Alliance for Coordinating Emergencies Youth Emergency Preparedness $4,000
Education Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast Academic Success $18,000
Education Capstone Adaptive Learning Capstone Academy Pensacola $18,000
Education Every Child A Reader in Escambia ReadingPals Program $13,652
Education Gulf Coast Kid’s House Family Advocacy $10,000
Education Independence for the Blind Transition Program $4,000
3-Year Grants
Education Autism Pensacola Kids for Camp Summer Learning Lab $19,800
Education Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida Community Based Mentoring $46,426
Education Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida Middle School Bigs $22,000
Education Chain Reaction Chain Reaction $25,000
Education Children’s Home Society of Florida Teenspace $16,500
Education Pace Center for Girls Ready through Remediation $18,000
Education YMCA of Northwest Florida Child Care Program $44,962
1-Year Grants
Health Baptist Healthcare Foundation Speech & Hearing Board $4,625
Health Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast Healthy Lifestyles $5,000
Health Epilepsy Foundation of Florida Epilepsy Services and Resource Center $7,500
Health Independence for the Blind Older Blind Program $2,000
Health Lakeview Center Rape Crisis/Trauma Recovery Center $10,000
Health Manna Food Bank, Inc. Healthy Seniors Food Program at Westminster Center $20,000
Health Panhandle Youth Assistance Program, Inc. The Leaning Post Ranch $4,000
3-Year Grants
Health Capstone Adaptive Learning and Therapy Centers, Inc. Essential Life Skills $35,853
Health Children’s Home Society Kugelman Counseling Center $10,000
Health Council on Aging of West Florida Meals on Wheels $50,000
Health Council on Aging of West Florida Senior Companion Program $13,200
Health Gulf Coast Kid’s House Child Abuse Prevention Education $17,500
Health Lutheran Services of Florida Sexual/Physical Abuse Treatment Program $36,264
Health Manna Food Bank, Inc. Healthy Kids Initiative $17,366
Health New Beginnings New Beginnings Recovery Homes for Women $16,275
Health The Arc Gateway Pearl Nelson Center $73,130
Health The Arc Gateway Supported Living $10,000
Health YMCA of Northwest Florida Youth Development Program $24,300
1-Year Grants
Financial Stability American Red Cross Disaster Services $9,500
Financial Stability Be Ready Alliance for Coordinating Emergencies Heritage Oaks $5,000
Financial Stability Be Ready Alliance for Coordinating Emergencies Restoring Hope & Housing $5,000
Financial Stability Catholic Charities Circles NWFL $15,000
Financial Stability Catholic Charities Emergency Assistance Programs $3,271
Financial Stability FavorHouse of Northwest Florida FavorHouse Domestic Violence Shelter Program $17,500
Financial Stability Legal Services of North Florida Independence for Dependent and Homeless Youth $10,000
Financial Stability Legal Services of North Florida Veterans Legal Assistance $12,500
Financial Stability The Salvation Army Social Services/Basic Needs $40,051
Financial Stability The Salvation Army The Salvation Army Emergency Shelter (Sally’s House) $47,700
3-Year Grants
Financial Stability Early Learning Coalition of Escambia County Early Learning Coalition of Escambia County $70,000
Financial Stability United Way 2-1-1 Northwest Florida United Way 2-1-1 Northwest Florida $93,808
  Top 10 workplace campaigns: Gulf Power: $283,961. Publix Supermarkets: $252,194. Ascend Performance Materials $210,049. Navy Federal Credit Union  $96,122. Armstrong World Industries $84,691. Regions Bank  $77,780. United Parcel Service  $68,38. ExxonMobil $64,577. Escambia County School District  $56,270. International Paper  $52,611.  
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