Four Nonprofits Groups in Okaloosa and Walton Counties will receive $112,000

(Ft. Walton Beach, FL . . . October 25, 2020) The members of Impact100 of Northwest Florida voted and announced today the grant recipients for 2020 – awarding four (4) $112,000 grants. At its October 25th virtual Annual Meeting, Impact100 NWF members viewed video presentations from each of the finalists and voted for this year’s grant recipients. The grant recipients were 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 to be used towards the betterment of their cause:

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. The website provides an overview of Impact100 NWF and features our grant recipients from 2012 to 2019 highlighting the successful community outreach and the services provided to Okaloosa and Walton Counties.

### The mission of Impact100 of Northwest Florida, Inc. is to provide financial support to nonprofit organizations in Northwest Florida by empowering women as philanthropists, by bridging the geographic areas of our region, and by leveraging the talents of women to be a positive force for good in our communities. ###

CONTACT:

VALERIE BURRELLE OR KRISTINE COYLE IMPACT100 NWF COMMUNICATION CHAIRS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS communication@impactnwf.org

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