Gulf Breeze Will Do, a women’s philanthropic group, awarded $46,548 in grants to local organizations at its annual meeting on November 3.
Gulf Breeze Will Do (GBWD) was born out of a group of Gulf Breeze women who formed an organization that could serve as a funding tool to help other organizations and individuals who are trying to make a difference in the Gulf Breeze and Pensacola Beach communities. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, GBWD has distributed nearly $500,000 in grants since its inception.
Grant funding at GBWD is provided by collective annual membership dues, of which 100 percent is distributed back to the community. Every member has a vote on which organizations receive grant funding.
This year’s grant recipients include:
Art Recreation & Sports:
The Arc Gateway – Healing Through Art: Art Therapy for Arc Gateway
- A $3,750 grant will be used to provide art therapy services to the clients enrolled in the day program at the Arc Gateway South Santa Rosa center.
Gulf Breeze High School Junior ROTC- Ceremonial Drill Equipment
• An $8,457 grant will be used to purchase ceremonial drill equipment, replacing the aging and broken equipment currently in use.
Environment:
Gulf Coast Turtle Watch, Inc. – Sea Turtle Super Heroes, Conservation Through Education
• A $1,140 grant will be used to purchase educational materials, a sling to transport injured turtles and a tent and cart to be used at community outreach events.
Education:
Gulf Breeze Elementary School – New Orff Instruments
• A $7,015 grant will be used to purchase eleven new xylophones for the music program, benefiting all students in the school.
Santa Rosa Education Foundation – Take Stock In Children
• A $8,011 grant will be paired with matching funds from the state of Florida to fully fund a four-year college education for a low-income, at-risk student from the Gulf Breeze/Pensacola Beach area.
Hardship Support Services:
Pensacola Habitat For Humanity – Gulf Breeze Heroes: Critical Home Repair Matching Fund For Disabled Veterans
• A $10,000 grant will be used to unlock $20,000 in federal funds to provide critical home repairs for at least two disabled veterans in the Gulf Breeze/Pensacola Beach area.
Santa Rosa County Schools – Just The Basics
- Two school district social workers will use a $1,011 grant to provide after-hours assistance with basic necessities, including food, clothing, shoes, and lice treatment kits, to students in need.
Public Safety:
Gulf Breeze Senior Center – Automatic Door System
- A $3,292 grant will be used to install an automatic door system at the senior center, enhancing accessibility for mobility-impaired community members.
Pensacola Beach Elementary School PTA – Replacement Decking Request
- A $3,292 grant will partially fund the replacement of unsafe, deteriorating wooden decking with composite materials that have a much longer lifespan.
“As we celebrate ten years of community giving, we’re thrilled to support these remarkable organizations and projects,” said Leslie Perino, President of Gulf Breeze Will Do. “Each grant recipient is truly making a difference in the lives of those they serve, and it’s an honor to partner with them to uplift our community.”
The 2025 Membership Drive is currently underway. Annual dues are $250 per person, and membership is open to women 18 years of age or older. To join, visit www.gulfbreezewilldo.org.