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Dear Community Partners,
The holiday season is here, bringing much needed joy to our community. I have always been one to practice gratitude, a useful skill in promoting well-being. This year, I am especially appreciative of the holiday decorations and the light they bring, somehow brighter after a season that disrupted electricity for so many.
As we heal from the impact of the hurricanes, there are still families reaching out for additional assistance. The Children’s Board continues to process Emergency Funding requests to support non-profits in addressing the hurricane recovery needs for children and families. I am pleased to acknowledge the agencies that have been awarded emergency funding thus far, which include Oasis Opportunities, Gentlemen’s Quest, Born to Care, Positive Spin, Better Together Strengthening Families, Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, and Children’s Network of Hillsborough.
The Children’s Board is ending the year with a growing array of quality programs and services to improve the lives of children and families. In 2024, the Children’s Board funded a total of 111 programs, including 20 new programs. In addition, there were 13 recipients of Technical Assistance Grants and 16 of our Uniting grant partners benefitted from an additional funding opportunity to expand existing services. We continue to strengthen our partnerships and increase our network through new funding opportunities, including a Uniting Grant noticed in this newsletter.
We are truly blessed to have a children’s services council in Hillsborough County, and I am so proud to be a part of this mission. In the new year, I look forward to being out and about and observing our wonderful programs in action.
Wishing you a wonderful holiday season and a healthy and safe New Year!
Rebecca
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