NEWS MAKERS
GIVES THANKS
January 19 - Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners awarded Habitat for Humanity Okaloosa a $25,000 Non-Profit Community CARES Grant. Through Federal CARES Act funding, Okaloosa County has offered a variety of grants and other programs to help our communities cope with the affects of COVID-19.
CHANGING LIVES
January 5 - Fort Walton Beach Elks Lodge 1795 presented a $7,000 Grant to Habitat for Humanity Okaloosa. The donation was made through the Elk’s National Foundation Grant Program.
Pictured left to right: Tim Bryant (Chairman, Habitat for Humanity Okaloosa), Nathan Boyles (Okaloosa County Commissioner), Alan Baggett (Secretary/Treasurer, Habitat for Humanity Okaloosa), Nitsi Bennett (President/CEO, Habitat for Humanity Okaloosa, Jacob Foreman (BOD, Habitat for Humanity Okaloosa).
January 8 - United Way Emerald Coast presented a $7,100, Phase 5, COVID-19 Relief Fund Grant to Habitat for Humanity Okaloosa. This is the second United Way Emerald Coast COVID-19 Relief Fund Grant awarded Habitat, the Phase 4 Grant was awarded in 2020.
From right to left): Michael WrightReynolds (ER, Elks Lodge), Alan Baggett (Secretary/Treasurer, Habitat for Humanity Okaloosa), Nitsi Bennett (President/CEO, Habitat for Humanity Okaloosa), Jamie Clemons (Secretary, Elks Lodge), Tom McLaughlin (Lecturing Knight, Elks Lodge and Chairman Elect, Habitat for Humanity Okaloosa County).
IMPACTING OKALOOSA COUNTY
Pictured left to right: Dakota Schwartz- Dir.of Dev. United Way, Nitsi Bennett- Pres./CEO Habitat Okaloosa, Brittnee Orr- Dir. of Community Impact/Engagmt. United Way, om McLaughlin- Chair Elect Habitat Okaloosa, Emil Pagliari- Past Chair Habitat Okaloosa, Bernard Johnson- Board of Dir. United Way/Reg. Mgr.Gulf Power, Kelly Jasen- Pres./CEO United Way, Debbie Bodenstine- Board of Dir. Habitat Okaloosa.
CRESTVIEW PARCEL DONATION Habitat for Humanity Okaloosa received a land donation from a former Crestview citizen. The parcel that can be divided into three lots, was a donation made in honor the Donor’s wife. He felt his wife would have wanted to donate this land, to Habitat for Humanity, to help Crestview families live in safe and affordable homes. 8
The Voice | Q1/2 2021
October 25, 2020 - Habitat for Humanity Okaloosa County ReStore was one of four $112,000 Grant recipients from Impact100 of Northwest Florida, Inc. Nitsi Bennet, President/CEO, Habitat for Humanity Okaloosa said, “This Grant is a dream come true and will enable us to buy two new trucks to better serve our two Habitat ReStore locations in Fort Walton Beach and Crestview.“ Nitsi continued, “The new larger vehicles will allow us to service a wider area, pick-up more inventory, and speed donation delivery to our retail stores.” The goal of Impact100 of Northwest Florida, Inc. is to financially support nonprofit organizations in Okaloosa and Walton Counties by empowering women as philanthropists and leaders, by bridging the geographic areas of our region, and by leveraging the talents of diverse women to be a positive force for good in our communities.
