Four nonprofit groups in Okaloosa and Walton Counties will receive $112,000
The members of Impact100 of Northwest Florida voted and announced today the grant recipients for 2020 – awarding four (4) $112,000 grants. At its Oct. 25th virtual Annual Meeting, Impact100 NWF members viewed video presentations from each of the finalists and voted for this year’s grant recipients selected from the following five categories: Arts & Culture; Education; Environment, Recreation and Preservation; Family; and Health and Wellness. Since its conception in 2012, Impact100 NWF has awarded 3.2 million dollars to nonprofits in Okaloosa and Walton counties. The following grant recipients will be awarded $112,000 each:
Education
Westonwood Ranch
Project: Program LIFT OFF
The LIFT OFF program at Westonwood Ranch is an extension of our comprehensive program for teens and young adults affected by Autism and related disorders. LIFT OFF is designed to bridge service gaps as teens exit the school system and are thrust into society without post-secondary or transitional program options. This program will provide hands on, experiential learning in actual small business operations in our aquaponics farm and gourmet pet treat bakery located on our holistic campus. The grant award would provide 15-17 financial scholarships for individuals who are economically disadvantaged, to attend the 6-9 month program, allow Westwood Ranch to fund two new direct care staff positions, and gives the ability to fully complete construction of their designated program LIFTOFF space.
Environment, Recreation & Preservation
Habitat for Humanity in Okaloosa County, Inc.
Project: Habitat ReStore Box Trucks
Through our ReStore, we help our community by providing affordable home repair items, furniture, cabinets, and appliances. An unseen, but important environmental impact our ReStore operation can claim, is that of reducing the stress on our county landfills by repurposing household items that would otherwise end up being dumped. The Impact100 Grant would provide our ReStore with box trucks. With two trucks we will send one out for immediate pickup items while maintaining regular pickups with the other truck.
Family
Opportunity Place
Project: First Steps Empowerment Center
The First Steps Housing, Counseling, and Education Center is at the core of achieving our larger vision of addressing homelessness in Okaloosa and Walton Counties. It will enable us to expand programing and to conduct our work in a trauma-informed space. Impact 100 will transform our organization and our community with this grant. By funding the First Steps Housing, Counseling, and Education Center it will help us end homelessness in our community. It will help us break generational cycles of poverty. It will lay the foundation for a stable, healthy future for the many families working hard to rebuild their lives at Opportunity Place.
Health and Wellness
ALANO Club of Fort Walton Beach, Inc.
Project: ALANO Club Expansions and Renovations
ALANO Club of Fort Walton Beach, Inc. provide sanctuary for those striving to attain recovery and maintain sobriety. The grant will fund expansion to assure growth in membership in established groups and expand support groups. Both addiction and recovery branch out and touch everyone with whom ALANO members come in contact: family members, loved ones and others whose lives are affected. The project components include: conversion of the existing patio to an enclosed room for additional meeting space; addition of handicap accessibility such as a ramp, accessible restrooms, designated parking and paving the parking lot; replacement of existing doors and windows; repair of roof; and, requisite floor covering, drywall, trim and paint. The attention to handicapped accessibility will promote greater diversity in the population served.
For additional information about Impact100 NWF or to join the organization, please go to www.impactnwf.org.
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