Foo Foo Festival announces $500,000 grant pool for 10th anniversary event
The Pensacola Foo Foo Festival committee recently shared this year’s grant application process and funding structure that will be implemented for this year’s event.
In 2022, the festival saw record-setting attendance and numerous milestone events, including the 50th anniversary of the Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival, the 40th anniversary of the Pensacola Opera and the 10th anniversary of the Stamped LGBTQIA+ Film Festival, funding the highest number of grant recipients to-date with $400,000 in awarded funds.
This year, the Foo Foo Festival will once again fund top scoring grant applicants, with the number of grants to be awarded contingent upon the number of submissions. In celebration of the 10th anniversary, the festival will provide up to $500,000 in grant funding — its highest grant funding allotment to-date — and grant applicants can apply for up to $100,000 in grant funding per event.
All organizations, businesses and community partners are also encouraged to submit their various events (occurring Nov. 2 through 13) for consideration to become a “Friend of Foo,” receiving visibility as part of the regional marketing campaign and throughout the 12-day event. Organizations interested in applying for a grant must submit a letter of intent by March.
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To apply for this year’s Foo Foo Festival, visit ACEPensacola.org. To apply for consideration as a “Friend of Foo,” visit FooFooFest.com.
Animal Welfare waives adoption fees until Feb. 14
The Escambia County Department of Animal Welfare will waive adoption fees on all dogs in the shelter through Feb. 14.
Adoption fees include spay or neutering services, microchips, heartworm tests and the initial vaccinations including rabies vaccinations. A separate $11 licensing fee will be required at the time of adoption for all county residents.
The Escambia County Animal Welfare and Adoption Center, located at 200 W. Fairfield Drive, is open from noon to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays.
Visit 24petconnect.com to see a full list of adoptable animals in Escambia County or visit MyEscambia.com/animalwelfare to learn more about becoming a foster or volunteer.
Over $637,000 in funding announced for Hollice T. Williams Multi-Use Path
The city of Pensacola recently announced a $637,060 funding award from the Florida Department of Transportation for a multi-use path at Hollice T. Williams Park, which will provide enhanced connectivity for bicyclists and pedestrians and serve as a safe off-road transportation facility for the surrounding community.
The 0.47-mile path will run from East Jordan Street to East Blount Street in Hollice T. Williams Park. The path is a critical component of the adopted Hollice T. Williams Greenway Framework Plan and part of the RESTORE funded design work underway through partnership with Escambia County.
More:IP’s Pensacola Mill awards $63,000 in grants to support 21 local nonprofit projects
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The funding has been included in the FDOT District 3 Tentative Work Program for fiscal year 2024-2028, which must be submitted to the governor's office, legislature, Department of Economic Opportunity and Florida Transportation Commission for approval. Once approved, there will be a 14-day public comment period before final approval, followed by adoption of the 5-Year Work Program by the FDOT secretary.
Beyond School Walls offers high school mentorship
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida is working with five corporate partners in its Beyond School Walls program: Levin Papantonio Rafferty Law Firm, the city of Pensacola, the State Attorney's Office, Navy Federal Credit Union and Pen Air Credit Union.
The program is a two-year commitment by BBBSNWFL corporate partners where employees mentor high school students during their junior and senior years, through graduation. It is aimed at helping students improve their chances of graduating and transitioning to the workplace and/or post-secondary education, vocational or military.
If you are interested in learning more about the Beyond School Walls program call 850-433-5437 or email continuing education coordinator Jessica Prather at jprather@bbbsnwfl.org for details.
Baptist Health Care offers support groups in February
Baptist Health Care will offer the following support group meetings in February to help enhance quality of life throughout the Pensacola community. More information, including location details, is available by calling the phone number provided for each meeting.
5 to 6 p.m. Feb. 9: Prostate Cancer Support. Register in advance by calling Cancer Support Services at 850-469-2224.
Noon to 1 p.m. Feb. 14. Weight-Loss Surgery Support. Register in advance by calling Weight-Loss Support at 850-437-8746.
Noon to 1 p.m. Feb. 14. Stroke Recovery. For details, visit ebaptisthealthcare.org/stroke/events.
4 to 5 p.m. Feb. 14. Patient and Family Cancer Support. Register in advance by calling Cancer Support Services at 850-469-2224.
Take part: To make a Causes submission, email giving@pnj.com.
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This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Pensacola causes: Foo Foo Fest grants, Beyond School Walls and more
