Gray Rohrer
Gov. Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis ventured to Panama City to hand out $140,000 in checks from Hope Florida, a group that connects low-income families with churches and other groups to provide basic needs, to seven nonprofits in the Northwest Florida region.
Both lauded Hope Florida — which is led by Casey DeSantis — as a groundbreaking way to help residents in need, avoiding a cumbersome bureaucracy while helping them to eventually get off welfare.
“It’s not just about statecraft, people need soulcraft,” Gov. DeSantis said. “People need to be able to have those types of resources provided.”
Casey DeSantis elaborated, noting that churches and other nonprofits often have plenty of resources but don’t know where people in need are. Her Hope Florida group helps connect families with needs to groups that can provide help.
“All of the faith-based communities compete to see who can get it first,” Casey DeSantis said. “We can only do that by bringing the government in collaboration and coordination with the key people on the ground in the community.”
The groups that received checks include Vision of Hope, which provides school to workforce assistance to disabled children; Be Generous, which helps women suffering from domestic violence by providing safe homes and other resources; First Baptist Church of Pensacola, which Casey DeSantis said has fulfilled more than 200 need request through Hope Florida; A Bed 4 Me Foundation, which provides beds to children in need; Food for Thought Outreach, which gives food to children in need; St. Andrew Christian Care Center, located in Panama City; and Caring & Sharing of South Walton, which provides clothing, food, rent, utility and prescription assistance to needy families. Each group received a $20,000 check.
Hope Florida is funded by private donations and has served more than 100,000 Floridians while helping 30,000 reduce or eliminate the government assistance they receive, DeSantis said.
Hope Florida “serves as an alternative pathway for families that would otherwise get caught on that never-ending hamster wheel that leads to overreliance on government assistance,” said Department of Children and Families Secretary Shevaun Harris. “It’s the antidote to bureaucracy.”
14 comments
Dont Say FLA
May 9, 2024 at 1:01 pm
I note nothing indicates Hope Florida holds any 501c3 status. What size check did Casey DeSantis collect for herself for being such a good girl and doing such good work?
MarvinM
May 9, 2024 at 3:31 pm
Can’t answer the 501c3 question, but this is from Hope Florida’s Donate page:
“The Hope Florida Fund harnesses the charity of the private sector and individuals to provide financial resources to deserving local nonprofit organizations dedicated to meeting the needs of students and families – because government is not and should not be the only solution.
The Hope Florida Fund provides financial resources to deserving local nonprofit organizations dedicated to meeting the needs of students and families. The Hope Florida Fund locates and supports small nonprofits that are mission-driven and invest most of their funds to assist those in need. With the support of generous donations, the Hope Florida Fund has been able to award funds to nonprofits that provide resources for foster and adoptive families, serve children with unique abilities, promote learning and mentorship opportunities for Florida’s youth, and aid struggling single parents and families in crisis.”
So, it’s a pass-through.
As we all know, if you want all your dollars to go to the charity/cause of your choice, the best way is to donate to them directly.
Is Casey getting any $$ out of this? I don’t know and quite frankly, I don’t care.
I am more concerned about the language she apparently approves of, including “deserving” (who decides who or which organizations is/are “deserving”?; “serve children with unique abilities” – so, if the children don’t have unique abilities, they don’t get any help? And again, who decides whether some kid has them or doesn’t and therefore will or will not get help from your program? It’s all unclear.
And there is no reason to put this language in – “because government is not and should not be the only solution.” – unless your goal is to try to keep criticism off government not supplying solutions. Republican Governors and legislatures refusing to expand Medicaid comes to mind.
Dont Say FLA
May 10, 2024 at 8:31 am
I wonder whether the recipient orgs would qualify directly without her getting in the middle
Impeach Biden
May 9, 2024 at 1:02 pm
Future First Lady of the USA. 👍
Ron DeStoopid The Cuck
May 11, 2024 at 7:42 am
Ok Christina Pooshaw Sock-Puppet; take your meds.
My Take
May 9, 2024 at 1:37 pm
Nope for First Lady or Gov.
Unless maybe she remarries.
Impeach Biden
May 9, 2024 at 2:46 pm
So you don’t think Casey DeSantis will never be first lady or governor. Your opinion. I counter by saying Debbie Wasserman-Schultz and Nikki Fried will never sniff the governor position or US Senate.
Dont Say FLA
May 10, 2024 at 8:30 am
IBS counters with an attempted change of subject.
As Gomer Pyle says, “Surprise, surprise, surprise!”
rick whitaker
May 10, 2024 at 2:24 pm
DSF, that must be a trait of a HOWLER MONKEY.
Nope
May 9, 2024 at 10:06 pm
140k is probably less than their shoe allowance or what they spent at chick fil a in Iowa last summer. Is this supposed to make up for the 6 million kids they kicked off medicaid, or for cutting school lunches for needy kids? It’s the equivalent of a billionaire throwing a dime on the sidewalk in the ghetto and saying “you’re welcome”. Any time I see the word “Fund” or “Foundation”, I hear “Tax Evasion” and “Hypocrisy”. It’s a quirk, but it’s usually accurate.
Govworker
May 10, 2024 at 1:05 pm
Hope Florida are funded through the state budget within the Dept of Children & Famlies. It would be interesting to see how deserving entities are picked. Any lawyers want to ask for application reviewing documents?
rick whitaker
May 10, 2024 at 2:28 pm
SOUNDS LIKE THE CHRISTIAN FORM OF CHARITY.
Dont Say FLA
May 10, 2024 at 3:42 pm
Sure does. “Hey I see you’re starving and I found some resources for you, but only if you accept my fairy tale as your fact, and only after I take my cut.” So. Very. Christian.
windows
May 11, 2024 at 8:41 pm
Hopes and dreams. .and a lot of things in-between