Gulf Breeze Will Do invites women to join them for an evening of networking and community engagement on Thursday, Jan. 16. The membership drive and social event will be held at Paddy O’Leary’s Irish Pub on Pensacola Beach from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
The free event offers women from Gulf Breeze and Pensacola Beach a chance to discover how collective giving can strengthen their community. Attendees will learn about the organization’s impact through grant funding while enjoying light refreshments and door prizes.
“Our members are the driving force behind real community change,” said Leslie Perino, President of Gulf Breeze Will Do. “We look forward to sharing how women can join us in making a meaningful difference through collective philanthropy.”
The women’s philanthropic organization welcomes members of all ages and backgrounds. Annual membership contributions of $250 go entirely toward funding local community projects.
Current members are encouraged to bring friends interested in learning more about the organization’s mission and achievements. The casual gathering provides an opportunity to connect with women who share a passion for community service and giving back. For additional information, visit gulfbreezewilldo.org or follow the organization on Facebook at Facebook.com/GBWillDo/.
About Gulf Breeze Will Do
Gulf Breeze Will Do empowers women to create positive change through collective giving. Since 2024, the nonprofit organization has awarded nearly $500,000 in grants supporting education, arts, health, and other community initiatives throughout the Gulf Breeze and Pensacola Beach area.
2024 Grant Recipients
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.
