Community
An anonymous member’s gift covered the gap, so every 2026 finalist got 100 percent of what it asked for.
Gulf Breeze Will Do went into its Annual Meeting on Sunday, Nov. 8, with $46,500 to give away and 10 finalists asking for more than $52,000. Somebody was going to come up short.
- Nobody did. A member who wishes to remain anonymous stepped forward with roughly $5,760, enough to fully fund all 10 projects. Total awarded: $52,260.35.
“This is exactly why Gulf Breeze Will Do exists. To see our members come together to make a difference in our community is incredibly rewarding. And then to have someone step forward to make sure every one of these deserving projects could be fully funded was truly special.”
—Leslie Perino, president, Gulf Breeze Will Do
How the money was picked. The women’s giving circle received 18 applications totaling more than $112,000 this year. Volunteer grant committees narrowed the field to 10 finalists across four categories. Each finalist pitched members at the Annual Meeting, and members voted on the spot.
Where it’s going. The two largest awards went to public safety: $10,000 for five AEDs at Gulf Breeze Middle School, putting a defibrillator in every building on campus, and $9,708.59 for personal thermal imaging cameras for Midway Fire District firefighters.
The 2026 Grant Recipients
Art, Recreation & Sports
- Gulf Breeze Middle School Band, “Taking The Show On The Road”: an enclosed trailer and accessories to haul equipment to performances. $6,534.98
- Gulf Breeze Senior Center, “Enhancing Senior Engagement Through Technology”: audiovisual equipment for presentations and programs. $3,103.39
- Scouting America Troop 494, “Building Outdoor Skills, Safety & Service”: camping and outdoor gear. $2,326.99
Education
- Soundside High School ESE Department, “Empowering Students Through A School-Based Poster and Banner Production Program”: equipment for a student-run poster and banner business that teaches job skills to ESE students. $9,904.65
- Gulf Breeze Elementary School, “Building Victory Tile By Tile”: Versa-Tiles reading and math tools for fifth graders. $3,935.29
- Gulf Breeze High School, “Kind Frog Dissection Models”: reusable silicone frog models for 10th grade biology. $1,000.00
Hardship Support Services
- Santa Rosa Education Foundation, “Take Stock In Children Laptop & Backpack Program”: laptops and backpacks for the program’s three graduating seniors. $2,902.47
Public Safety
- Gulf Breeze Middle School, “Protecting Every Heart”: five AEDs, one for each school building. $10,000.00
- Midway Fire District, “Firefighter Personal Thermal Imaging Safety Program”: personal thermal imaging cameras to help firefighters locate victims. $9,708.59
- Gulf Breeze Elementary School PTA, “H2 Oh No! It’s Time To Replace The Outdoor Water Fountain”: a new outdoor water fountain. $2,843.99
Total grants awarded: $52,260.35
Want a vote next year? Membership for 2027 is open to women who live in or care about the Gulf Breeze and Pensacola Beach communities. Dues are $250 a year, and 100% goes to local grants serving ZIP codes 32561 and 32563. Every member votes on which projects get funded.
Join or learn more at gulfbreezewilldo.org.