Fort Walton Beach, FL – In mid-January both Okaloosa and Walton volunteers came together at the Fund Distribution allocations meeting at Northwest Florida State College to determine the amount of funding that would be distributed to each partner agency during the 2015 year. Those figures were presented to the Board of Directors on January 26 for unanimous approval and distribution.
The Fund Distribution Committee handles one of the most involved processes within the organization, they are responsible for reviewing each agency applying for funding and analyze their individual financials as well as their services offered within both Okaloosa and Walton Counties. During the allocations meeting the committee volunteers discuss the charities, the community problems and weigh-in on how best to direct the dollars given to the Community Care Fund for distribution. The 40 non-profits funded fall within three key focus areas: Children & Education, Financial Stability & Disaster Preparedness and Health & Prevention.
“Another exciting note following this meeting was that for the first time we were able to issue January disbursements. This year our agencies will receive allocation checks during all twelve months of the 2015 calendar year. Previously the disbursement of funds raised began in February, leaving a void in their budgets for January.” Ken Hinrichs, President/CEO of the United Way of Okaloosa-Walton Counties, took the position to alter the number of disbursements annually.
United Way of Okaloosa-Walton Counties’ 40 Partner Agencies will receive the following allocations:
2-1-1 Florida Panhandle $3,000 Covenant Alzheimer’s Services $8,525 American Red Cross $25,509 AMI Kids Emerald Coast $10,663 Arc of Walton County $12,484 Bay Area Food Bank $11,576 Big Brothers Big Sisters $10,162 Boy Scouts Gulf Coast $15,074 Boys & Girls Clubs Emerald Coast $32,480 Bridgeway Center $9,105 Catholic Charities NWFL $23,709 Children in Crisis $47,490 Children’s Advocacy Center of Emerald Coast $35,342 Children’s Home Society $19,018 Children’s Volunteer Health Network $13,628 COPE – Chautaqua Therapy & Evaluation $16,430 Council on Aging Okaloosa & Walton $18,606 Covenant Hospice $45,734 Crossroads Medical Center $20,687 Early Learning Coalition of Okaloosa and Walton $22,107 Elder Services Okaloosa $14,783 Eleanor J. Johnson Youth Center $26,982 Emerald Coast Science Center $2,559 Family Life Ministries NWFL $7,642 Fresh Start for Families & Children $17,054 Girl Scouts Florida Panhandle $4,099 Habitat for Humanity – Okaloosa $21,512 Habitat for Humanity – Walton $2,217 Harvest House $11,688 Horizons $28,899 Independence for the Blind $5,229 Judge Gordon / Friends of Families $13,300 Mental Health Association $18,136 OASIS – Okaloosa Aids Support $10,462 Public School Foundation of Okaloosa $1,055 Public School Foundation of Walton $14,432 Ronald McDonald House $16,061 S4P Synergy $20,977 Salvation Army Okaloosa-Walton $16,114 Sharing & Caring Okaloosa $38,277 Shelter House $48,843
