Gulf Coast Kid’s House

“Turning Escambia County into a Safe Kid Zone”

Organizational Overview:

Gulf Coast Kid's House (GCKH) was founded in 1998 and opened our doors in 2004. We are the only child advocacy center and child abuse prevention center in Escambia County and serve a critical role in our community. Our mission is to end child abuse and heal families through collaborative intervention, family support and prevention education. We provide efficient and trauma-sensitive intervention for child abuse by providing a place where child protective services, law enforcement, prosecution, medical, and mental health professionals work together under one roof to provide comprehensive services to child victims of abuse. GCKH also offers a wide-variety of child abuse prevention education to children and adults in Escambia County. Last year, over 3,000 children were served through our center. We also educated nearly 40,000 children and over 5,000 adults regarding child abuse prevention.

Project Overview:

This year, we are seeking Sunday's Child funding to bring us into the 21st Century through the purchase and installation of a digital marquee. This marquee would also recognize the Sunday's Child sponsorship on a highly-visible roadway. Over 6700 people travel past our center each day. Our current, wooden marquee has proven very effective in garnering response for urgent need requests, etc. Often, families that are dropping their children off across the street or visiting the shopping center next door will donate needed items - saying "I saw it on your sign." COVID-19 has highlighted our need to have a digital marquee. It would allow us to change requests for needed items and donations rapidly. It would also allow us to give thousands of drivers child abuse prevention tips. With a semi-remote workforce and having to halt volunteerism temporarily, we are just not able to update our messages/needs as frequently as its needed.

Equality and Inclusion:

This year, we are seeking Sunday's Child funding to bring us into the 21st Century through the purchase and installation of a digital marquee. This marquee would also recognize the Sunday's Child sponsorship on a highly-visible roadway. Over 6700 people travel past our center each day. Our current, wooden marquee has proven very effective in garnering response for urgent need requests, etc. Often, families that are dropping their children off across the street or visiting the shopping center next door will donate needed items - saying "I saw it on your sign." COVID-19 has highlighted our need to have a digital marquee. It would allow us to change requests for needed items and donations rapidly. It would also allow us to give thousands of drivers child abuse prevention tips. With a semi-remote workforce and having to halt volunteerism temporarily, we are just not able to update our messages/needs as frequently as its needed.

Impact:

This year, we are seeking Sunday's Child funding to bring us into the 21st Century through the purchase and installation of a digital marquee. This marquee would also recognize the Sunday's Child sponsorship on a highly-visible roadway. Over 6700 people travel past our center each day. Our current, wooden marquee has proven very effective in garnering response for urgent need requests, etc. Often, families that are dropping their children off across the street or visiting the shopping center next door will donate needed items - saying "I saw it on your sign." COVID-19 has highlighted our need to have a digital marquee. It would allow us to change requests for needed items and donations rapidly. It would also allow us to give thousands of drivers child abuse prevention tips. With a semi-remote workforce and having to halt volunteerism temporarily, we are just not able to update our messages/needs as frequently as its needed.

Council on Aging of West Florida

“Coming of Age LGBT”

Organizational Overview:

COAWFLA established in 1972 promotes and supports independence for adults age 60+ through the provision of home and community-based services in West Florida. Primary focus areas are individuals who are lowincome, minority, and/or live in rural neighborhoods. The Nutrition Program is vital for those who cannot obtain, prepare, or afford food without assistance. The Retreat provides a home-like setting for the daily care of individuals who are functionally impaired and their families. Senior centers in Century and Cantonment are hubs for individuals in need of hot meals and access to socialization with peers. In-home services such as homemaker, personal care, companionship, respite and chore are provided through subcontract vendors. The Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion Programs provide a tax-free stipend and other benefits in exchange for service to at-risk youth and homebound adults. Other services include case management, screening/assessment, caregiver support groups, community care closet, emergency/weatherization assistance and consumable medical supplies delivered to the home.

Project Overview:

LGBT adults are twice as likely when compared to their heterosexual counterparts to age alone with a poorer quality of health. Many LGBT older adults do not reach out for assistance for fear of discrimination or harassment. More than 20% avoid medical care other than for emergencies. As a result, health inequity has become a leading issue facing LGBT older adults today. It is imperative for LGBT older adults to feel there are culturally competent organizations in their local communities sensitive to their specific needs who provide adult care services in a loving, safe, and confidential manner. Awareness is the first step in the effort to improve health inequity for older LGBT adults. Grant funds will be used to produce a mini documentary capturing the daily lives of 2-3 LGBT couples along with narrative passages of their stories. The purpose is to raise community-wide awareness of the unique challenges faced by LGBT older adults and work towards a better quality of life for all in West Florida.

Equality and Inclusion:

According to the National Resource Center on LGBT Aging, “the vast majority of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender older adults have lived through discrimination, social stigma, and the effects of prejudice both past and present." Approximately 21% do not disclose their sexual or gender identity to their physician and 15% fear accessing healthcare outside of the LGBT community. This project will promote equality and inclusion in two ways: first by educating the community and raising awareness of the challenges facing LGBT older adults. Secondly: by inspiring older adults to feel empowered to be themselves openly and honestly breaking the stigma around aging LGBT. In this way, we will educate and raise awareness around both sides of the equation: the LGBT of our society and society itself through trainings, public screenings, the agency TV show, etc.

Impact:

The film is estimated to reach 10,000+ people through promotion efforts and partnerships with local organizations, film festivals and community events. It will serve as a catalyst to spark advocacy efforts towards equitable aging services and healthcare provision for LGBT older adults. The anticipated outcome is to overcome the barriers that prevent LGBT older adults from seeking the services needed to age in place with dignity. And, to build community confidence in COAWFLA as a culturally competent local resource for LGBT older adults and those involved in their lives. According to the World Health Organization, health equity has been achieved, “When everyone has the opportunity to attain full health potential, and no one is disadvantaged from achieving this potential because of social position or any other socially defined circumstances."

SEASTARS

“Connecting the Dots”

Organizational Overview:

SEASTARS was founded in May 2004. Since our doors opened in June 2005, we have provided top quality, USA Swimming insured, swim team experiences to 1186 disabled and underprivileged children and young adults in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. We have reached 660 individuals through private and semiprivate swim lessons. The SEASTARS Aquatics Swim Team is a free, competitive swim team for children who receive financial government assistance or for individuals with special needs. SEASTARS practices five evenings a week. Through practices and local and regional competitions, swimmers learn responsibility, goal setting, time management, the importance of nutrition and healthy choices, and are able to foster a love of physical fitness. For children with special needs, swimming is an important therapy, helping to gain balance and coordination, improve movement, overcome anxiety, and gain confidence. SEASTARS fosters an inclusive atmosphere and teaches acceptance of all children, regardless of disability or economic status. SEASTARS rents The Salvation Army Community Center Pool in Brownsville.

Project Overview:

SEASTARS is requesting five VASA Fitness Trainers, two Spectrum Tot Dock Training Platforms, two Adaptive Section Rafts (for head-support in either a prone or supine position), two small and two large adaptive head floats (for swimmers with minimum control of head and limbs), three pairs of Jaypro 3-row fifteen foot standard bleachers, twenty pair of Zoomers, thirty pairs of Fins, twenty pairs of Hand Paddles, and stickers for advertising the relationship between Sunday's Child and SEASTARS to be put on all new equipment. SEASTARS intention is to purchase the equipment within the first two weeks of receiving funding. It is expected the equipment would arrive and be ready for use within the first month after funds are received. SEASTARS allows under-served populations to participate in competitive swimming. The purpose of the equipment is to increase participation in both the swim team and lessons, revenue through lessons, and swimmer performance in competitions, and help special needs students meet Individual Education Plan (IEP) goals.

Equality and Inclusion:

SEASTARS is and always has been fully accepting and inclusive to all of its participants, staff, and volunteers. We always give everyone the chance to be their best, whatever that may be. The Vasa Trainers help train all swimmers to be stronger and faster with correct technique: which will decrease the chances of injury, increase the understanding and trigger the proper muscle groups for our special needs swimmers who struggle with low muscle tone, visual, and other physical and mental limitations. The Swim Docks allow us to teach more children with less fear because they can stand in the shallow end. Adaptive swim lesson equipment increases the quality of lessons for severely disabled clients. The Vinyl stickers will be designed by both parties incorporating the Sunday's Child logo displaying positive messages to increase awareness of inclusion in the SEASTARS program.

Impact:

To swim on an average USA swimming program the annual cost per swimmer is $5,000.00. We allow underserved populations to participate in competitive swimming for free; implement an individualized incentive program (which also teaches proper money management) and provide top quality and insured coaches who care. The impact of the Project will allow for growth of the program by increasing the quality of lessons, increasing revenue for the swim team, upgrading existing equipment, and increased swim team participation. These expensive aquatic items have been desired by SEASTARS' Staff since its inception. They will enable SEASTARS to continue and expand its goals to promote and provide a safe, nurturing and inclusive environment for all swimmers, staff, family, and volunteers in the program and share messages of positivity, perseverance and acceptance

Pensacola Humane Society

“The Resource Rover Pilot Project”

Organizational Overview:

Incorporated in 1943, Pensacola Humane Society (PHS) was originally established to round up packs of stray dogs and investigate animal cruelty. Over the years, PHS developed into a thriving adoption center and created annual community events such as Barktoberfest and the Fat Cat Social. As the organization evolved with the times, PHS was split into two entities: animal control and cruelty was turned over to Escambia County and PHS became the first no-kill animal welfare organization in the area. Today, PHS' service area spreads across 5 counties and 2 states. Many community-based programs have been developed, including the addition of the Barbara Grice Memorial Low Cost Spay and Neuter Clinic, the Pet Supply Pantry, the Humane Express mobile adoption and disaster relief bus. Most recently, the PHS Help Team was formed to focus on providing community support services to people who have lost a pet, found a pet, need to rehome a pet, or are having behavioral issues that affect the pet being able to remain in the home.

Project Overview:

The Resource Rover Pilot Program seeks to address the lack of resources and information for pet owners in Pensacola's most impoverished zip code, 32501. These deficiencies have a direct correlation to how many animals are being relinquished to, picked up as strays, or confiscated by Escambia County Animal Services and, in turn, euthanized due to lack of space in our municipal shelter. Providing education and helping people access resources, primarily spay, neuter, and vaccination resources in this underserved community, using a compassionate and non-judgemental approach, will help us to address each individual's needs and specific challenges. Our immediate goal with the Resource Rover Pilot Program is to directly impact the lives of 100 dog owners, 100 cat owners, and 100 community cats in 12 months in zip code 32501. We will accomplish our goal through offering low cost or free spay and neuter surgeries, vaccinations including Rabies, microchips, flea and tick prevention, and pet supplies. We expect the Resource Rover Pilot Program to directly impact the local euthanasia rate for healthy animals.  

Equality and Inclusion:

Community pet support services are rooted in the suspension of judgment and support for every pet owner. Programs such as the Resource Rover Pilot Program and the PHS Help Team directly address the underlying problems of racism, classism, ageism, and other inherent biases within the animal welfare community. We seek to promote the philosophy that everyone deserves the opportunity and resources to be a great pet owner. Further, that the negative stereotypes that have lived in the animal welfare industry for decades can and should be discarded so that diversity and inclusion can enter.

Impact:

A grant from Sunday's Child will help PHS expand our reach, and thereby Sunday's Child's reach, exponentially in our community. Going into these neighborhoods of overlooked pet owners with resources and supplies will make a tangible impact on the community as a whole. We will be helping people, helping pets, and helping Pensacola. Education and assistance without judgment is the future of not only animal welfare, but of all community service organizations. Meeting people where they are can help us put the "human" back into humane.

INERTIA Education Programs

“Rapid Expansion of INERTIA Programming and Impact”

Organizational Overview:

INERTIA was founded in 2017 by 3 UWF Alumni to bring science and math education to local Elementary School students in a way that would be fun and engaging. Our primary mission is to elevate our community through education, especially through high-impact, experiential learning activities. INERTIA’s main function is to operate after school programming for students in grades 3-5 at Oakcrest, Ensley, and West Pensacola elementary schools. The programs are free for students to attend and have proven effective at raising standardized testing scores (33% higher compared to peers on science FSA). Our goal is to ensure that every child, regardless of their identity, race, gender, home life, or zip code, are given the opportunity to reach their full potential. To date, we have impacted over 600 students lives, and hope to reach all of Escambia County.

Project Overview:

The goal of our project is to expand our reach to more than double the reach of our programs, expanding to 5 new schools starting in Fall 2020. We have a shortlist of schools to institute our programs at, based on a number of metrics we track including poverty rates, homelessness, free & reduced lunch users, and a school’s previous cumulative FSA scores. The grant funds will cover the cost of putting on the programs. This includes instructors fees, supplies, and storage. This cost is based on our experience with putting on programs over the last 3 years and is stable.

Equality and Inclusion:

Our mission is based on equality and equity for the children of Escambia County. To quote our mission statement, we want to make Escambia County a better place for ALL to live and learn. Our organizational practices are inclusive, and our programming targets pockets of our community that have been subjected to inequities. We hope to resolve some of those, and to inspire the students there to reach their full potential. We are named INERTIA after Newton’s 1st law of motion - a body at rest stays at rest unless acted upon by an outside force. When inequality and inequity exists in our community, it will stay that unless someone acts to rectify it, and we do that through education that excites the mind.

Impact:

INERTIA’s current growth has been sustained through giving by our core set of donors, some of which are our volunteers and board members. Rapid expansion through the Sunday’s child grant program would allow our volunteer leaders to focus on growing, improving, and sustaining our programs, rather than just running them. More than doubling the scope of our programming allows for a much greater impact on the youth of Escambia County, enabling and encouraging hundreds of additional children every semester. Our growth will shine a light on Sunday’s Child and push closer to a fully inclusive community.

Children's Home Society of Florida

“#CHS4STREETYOUTH”

Organizational Overview:

With just a team of two, Children’s Home Society of Florida, first opened its doors in Jacksonville, Florida in 1902 with the goal of providing a “family” for children who had nowhere else to go. Protecting children in their darkest moments and then guiding and empowering them to reach their full potential has been the heart of CHS ever since. The needs of children and families will continue to grow and evolve and we, at CHS, will continue to do so with them. Through the fourteen unique programs we have established, such as Street Solutions, M-Power, Adoption Support Services, Family Visitation Center, and many more, Children’s Home Society of Northwest Florida is able to help children and families across all four counties in the area.

Project Overview:

Street Solutions Team serves ages 14-21, runaway and homeless youth. Youth, especially minorities and LGBTQ, are at risk of abuse, sexual exploitation and trafficking. Youth are hidden and difficult to locate, this project invests in location and identification of our most vulnerable youth, beginning a conversation that will focus on reducing harm, meeting basic needs and teaching life skills. Our community will benefit from a new generation of humans that feel supported and celebrated in their journey of self-discovery. This project will begin 8/01/2020 and end by 10/31/2021 and the $25,000 will fund CHS Communication Team's development of a targeted social media campaign to drive web traffic to our Facebook, Instagram and web page, allowing for youth to explore our services, reach out for help and be exposed to education on hot topics. In addition, they will direct and run multiple Ads on Spotify to target ages 14-21, spreading a message of acceptance, awareness and refuge. The remaining funds is allotted to purchase branded clothing and backpacks as well as print education and awareness materials.

Equality and Inclusion:

At CHS we have an expectation of acceptance and celebrate individuality. We are officially certified as All Children All Families organization through the Human Rights Campaign. CHS has annual training in diversity, equity and inclusion, including the use of proper pronouns and preferred binary marker. The Street Solutions Team policy and procedures include SOGIE, addressing sexual orientation gender identity and expression standards. Transgender youth are placed in shelter according to how they identify and their preferred pronoun and name are used in practice and in forms. The youth are made aware of community services sensitive to their preferences and are provided culturally competent education. CHS is always growing and expanding in their methods of inclusion and will continue to support change in that direction.

Impact:

This project will positively impact our organization by continuing our mission of building bridges to success for our children. This funding will begin a new approach of forward thinking and innovation methods, critical in reaching the new generation of technologically savvy youth. By bridging the gap and helping us in reaching the young people in need, we do good for our community in ways that cannot be measured directly and will create a positive wave in the most needed populations. Subsequently, arming our Street Solutions Team with merchandise and educational materials they need to reach these "invisible" young people is a mutually beneficial impact for CHS, our Community and Sunday's Child. Together, meeting each and every exploited young person in such a vulnerable time in their lives is the avenue to real, substantial impact life and us all.

Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge

“Radiograph for Rehabilitation to Return them to the Wild”

Organizational Overview:

Founded in 1994, ECWR cares for injured, ill, or orphaned native wildlife across 5 counties in NW Florida, serving them, 700,000+ citizens, 700 miles of shoreline, and 91 schools. About 80% of patients we see result from negative human interaction (hit by car, nest felled by lot clearing, fishing line entanglement, etc.) We are also a regional leader in conservation education, seeing 6,000+ students per year, and the sole federallylicensed marine mammal response team in those counties, helping injured, orphaned or ill dolphins, whale, sea turtles, and manatees. We necropsy these deceased animals, work with law enforcement if results show criminal human action and share data with organizations like the Smithsonian. Our veterinarian, marine biology, and vet tech interns learn medical and rehabilitation skills. We are a joyous, inclusive organization that thrives due to our committed staff and volunteers that contributed 15,001 hours and $381,475 in in-kind labor in 2019, helping 1,675 animals across 147 species, Bobcats to Bald Eagles.

Project Overview:

The #1 shortfall in our professional wildlife triage, rehab, treatment and care efforts is the lack of X-ray equipment. Imagine being hit by a car, arriving at the hospital, and having diagnosis and treatment rest solely on manual manipulation of the injured area, when a simple X-ray provides much more info, and can identify injuries manipulation cannot. This situation is what ECWR's patients face daily, ones unable to communicate where the pain is and what it feels like--and we can do so much better with your support. Our request is for funds to purchase this life and suffering-saving X-ray equipment, which will benefit our patients, our medical professionals, and interns. Our new Medical Rehabilitation Center was built and wired to house this critical Xray equipment, our veterinarians are fully trained on it, and we are ready to purchase it as soon as funds are available. Simply stated, your support in purchasing this X-ray equipment will save hundreds of lives a year, thousands in the aggregate, and will eliminate untold needless suffering for these precious native animals, and that change can be made almost immediately.

Equality and Inclusion:

It is frankly amazing that both Sunday's Child and ECWR already include "accepting and inclusive" language in their visions, and based upon our LBGQT volunteer numbers, we believe the orgs are closely aligned already in promotion of acceptance, diversity, and creating an environment where all can contribute to the best of their abilities. Formally, that message starts at our mandatory volunteer orientation (our last one attracted 107 attendees) when our Executive Director presents our inclusiveness policy, regardless of sexual or other orientation, and shares we are a non-political, safe, joyous environment that allows those who contribute their time and effort to do so without judgement, which shows in the makeup, strength, and commitment of our volunteers. Our LGBQT staff/volunteers are key parts of our ECWR tapestry, from autistic volunteers to wounded warriors.

Impact:

The purchase of critical, life-saving, suffering-ending X-ray equipment will be a game-changer for ECWR for all concerned--the patients it will diagnose, reducing their stress and suffering; the vets and health care providers building treatment/rehabilitation plans; the interns learning diagnosis and treatment skills; and the hundreds of dedicated volunteers that execute the vast majority of care for these precious creatures. The community benefits from having a properly resourced wildlife treatment center to fully care for these animals that enrich all our lives. Sunday's Child vision will be positively impacted by highlighting yet again how compassionate, engaged, informed, and environmentally aware the LGBQT community is and how it has both the capability and desire to step in and solve critical problems facing a regional-leading conservation nonprofit with national ties.

OASIS Florida

“Access PrEP”

Organizational Overview:

When our founder David Neal was diagnosed with AIDS in 1989, he moved back home to our area and discovered that organizations for people living with AIDS did not exist in Northwest Florida. It became his life's mission to form an organization that could provide support for those living with the disease, educate the public about AIDS, and help prevent new infections. He spent the last years of his life making that mission a reality. David died in 1991, the same year OASIS Florida was officially founded as Okaloosa AIDS Support and Informational Services. Today, we serve Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and Walton counties with two office locations in Pensacola and Ft. Walton Beach. We provide case management services, the area's only peer navigation program, and free rapid HIV testing in-office and in our mobile outreach units.

Project Overview:

Since the approval of HIV prevention medication in 2012, organizations have tried to provide access to the medication for those most at-risk. However, financial barriers still remain for those who would benefit most. Our program is simple: $25,000 to cover the provider and lab fees for one year of PrEP access for 74 uninsured people. They will be referred to the Department of Health or the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, and will have to meet high-risk criteria to benefit from the program. The barrier of cost to HIV treatment and prevention is not a new one. The most vulnerable are routinely shut out from important scientific advancements. We can see that those who need PrEP the most are those most unable to access it. The barrier is the same: Lack of insurance and the financial means to purchase treatment. This project is specifically designed to meet people exactly where they are and to fulfill the needs that we have most often heard expressed by our clients. This one small intervention has the potential to change someone's life and to destigmatize HIV in our area.

Equality and Inclusion:

OASIS Florida seeks to make a safe and affirming space for all questions, experiences, and individuals. Our staff is intentionally diverse because we believe that the makeup of our staff should reflect the communities that we serve. We know that people of color, people with limited incomes, and uninsured people are less likely to start PrEP and more likely to experience barriers to obtaining it. We are seeking to do our part in lessening that disparity by reaching out and interacting directly with these communities to access the tools necessary to prevent new HIV diagnoses.

Impact:

We adhere to this principal: HIV is not specific to the LGBTQ+ community, but it does disproportionately impact individuals who identify as LGBTQ+ and the Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) in our communities. With this grant, OASIS Florida will have an opportunity to bridge the gap to acquiring PrEP and make a real impact directly in the community. We believe this program will reduce the HIV rate in the area and help to de-stigmatize HIV prevention and treatment. It will provide access to a novel prevention medication to individuals who have routinely had the inability to access PrEP because of consistent cost barriers or lack of access to the healthcare system.