Pensacola Welcomes Volunteer Florida Commission

On Tuesday, January 24th, Mayor Ashton Hayward welcomed the Volunteer Florida Commission to Pensacola. The Volunteer Florida Commission is the lead agency for volunteerism and national service in Florida. The Commission gives $31.7 million in federal, state, and local funding for national service and volunteer programs across the state.

Volunteer Florida is guided by a bipartisan board of Commissioners, who are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Florida Senate, and is responsible for national service programs like AmeriCorps. Volunteer Florida’s grantees include schools, educational foundations, nonprofits, faith-based organizations, and other community organizations. The agency also leads initiatives throughout Florida that use volunteerism as a strategy to meet needs.

During their visit, the group toured Manna Food Pantries here in Pensacola, alongside our Mayor, to see how Pensacola prepares for community needs and emergencies. Mayor Hayward posted on his Facebook page, "Thank you to Manna Director Dede Flounlacker for giving us the behind the scenes tour. Manna is a local grassroots non profit dedicated to providing emergency food assistance and engaging the community in the fight against hunger."

"BIGS with Badges" Begins in Pensacola

Big Brothers Big Sisters’ nationwide initiative to recruit police officers as mentors for young people has officially established itself in Pensacola. At the national level, the program is known as “BIGS in Blue”. This new program is a well-timed response to increasing tensions between law enforcement and the public.

Here in Northwest Florida, the program will be called “BIGS with Badges”, and will include fire, EMS, corrections, state and federal departments, along with police departments. Pensacola Police, Pensacola Fire Department, and the Escambia County Sheriff's Office are currently a part of the program.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida has been the area’s leader in one-on-one mentoring for 28 years by serving children ages 6 to 18. Their mission is to provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, one-on-one relationships that change their lives for the better. 

Last year, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida served 650 children in the northwest part of the state. Of the children served last year who were matched with a big brother or sister for 6 months or longer, 85% maintained or improved in math, 90% maintained or improved in reading, 84% maintained or improved in science, 89% maintained or improved in school attendance, and 99% have remained crime free.

Pensacola Fire Department Awarded for their Contribution to the Muscular Dystrophy Association

Lisa Heil, Executive Director of the Muscular Dystrophy Association, presented certificates on January 26th to Fire Chief David Allen and the members of the Pensacola Fire Department.

The certificates were given as a thank you for their efforts during the 2016 "Fill the Boot" fund drive for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. The certificates certified their membership in the $15,000 plus donation club. These funds help support MDA research. Last month, the Food and Drug Administration was able to formally approve a new drug, called Spinraza, for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy.  

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