Navy Federal awards over $30,000 to nonprofit organizations in Northwest Florida

On January 23, 2025By Littum

Pensacola News Journal/USA TODAY NETWORK
| Pensacola News Journal

Navy Federal Credit Union is celebrating its 17th anniversary Dollars for Doers programwhich awards 100 grants of $1,000 each to qualified nonprofits where employees volunteer their time. The program has surpassed $1.7 million in total impact since its inception. In 2024, 33 nonprofits across Escambia and Santa Rosa counties received grants through the program, bringing $33,000 in philanthropic impact to Northwest Florida.

Community service major Elizabeth Haymans was selected for a grant this year in honor of her volunteer work with the Escambia County Public Schools Foundation for Excellence. A longtime leader of Navy Federal’s School Partnerships Program, Haymans manages the credit union’s Take Stock in Children partnership, which pairs students with Navy Federal mentors who help them develop soft skills for early careers.

In addition to the Dollars for Doers program, Navy Federal allows its employees to serve their communities through eight hours of paid voluntary leave annually. By 2023, more than 4,500 team members serving at the credit union’s Pensacola Campus donated nearly 30,000 volunteer hours to their community through this employer benefit.

Visit navyfederal.org for details.

Gulf Coast Kid’s House hosts an abuse recovery group

Gulf Coast Kid’s House has announced a free 12-week therapy group for adults who experienced childhood sexual abuse. The group will be led by Nancy Hagman, M.Ed., LMHC and Margot Dutel, LCSW and will run from 5:30 to 7:15 pm every Tuesday, January 28th through April 15th. Childcare will be provided along with food and drink.

For more information or to reserve a seat, contact Margot Dutel by emailing [email protected] or calling 850-713-5710.

The first neighborhood clean-up in 2025 is set for Saturday

The mayor’s first neighborhood clean-up of the year will be on Saturday 25 January in the center and parts of the surrounding neighbourhoods. This event allows City of Pensacola Sanitation Services customers in the cleanup area to leave eligible items curbside for free pickup.

Hygiene customers in the clean-up area must place objects in the curb no later than 7 on the clean-up day. Please note that items left curbside outside the cleanup area will not be collected. The clean-up only includes bulk goods. Yard waste or trash will not be collected.

Please keep tires and paint cans separate from all other waste. Do not place poles under low hanging lines or near poles, fences or mailboxes. Through the program, all city neighborhoods have a clean-up once a year in the months of January to October. In addition to Sanitation Services collecting items left at the curb, Code Enforcement conducts a review of the cleanup area and addresses any code violations.

Visit cityofpensacola.com for details.

UWF hosts the new Gulf Coast Culture Series

The University of West Florida College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities recently announced the launch of the Gulf Coast Culture Series, an evolution of its long-standing Experience UWF Downtown Lecture Series.

This new series expands its scope beyond traditional public lectures to become an immersive celebration of the Gulf Coast’s rich cultural tapestry, exploring the stories, traditions and creative expressions that define the region. The series will explore a single theme each academic year across multiple events, engaging the community in conversations that illuminate the region’s unique identity.

The inaugural event, True South: A Conversation with John T. Edge, will take place on Thursday, January 23 at the Commerce Museum. Edge, a nationally recognized author, television host and cultural historian, is best known as the host of TrueSouth on the SEC Network, ESPN and Hulu. He will offer a discussion on how food and media reflect the cultural identity of the Gulf Coast, providing unique insight into the intersection of Southern culture, history and cuisine.

Sponsored by the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities and the John C. Pace Symposium Series, this free event kicks off with a reception at 6:30 p.m., and Edge starts speaking at 19.00

Visit uwf.edu/gulfcoastculture for details.

Participate: To make a Causes submission, email [email protected].

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