Better Together, a nonprofit dedicated to families and children, has received a $15,000 grant from Gulf Coast Community Foundation’s (Gulf Coast’s) Rapid Response Initiative to support its hurricane relief efforts in Charlotte, DeSoto and Sarasota counties.
After Hurricane Milton made landfall last month, Better Together mobilized a team of staff and volunteers to help the most impacted families along Florida’s Gulf Coast, going door-to-door delivering meals, supplies and gift cards to those most impacted. These funds will allow the nonprofit to continue these efforts and support families as they work to get back on their feet.
“We are so grateful to Gulf Coast Community Foundation for supporting us as we serve families impacted by the most recent storms,” said Megan Rose, CEO of Better Together. “Even a month after Hurricane Milton, families continue to find themselves in need of even the most essential of items. We are thankful for the community’s support in helping us build strong families.”
Gulf Coast Community Foundation was created in 1995 with proceeds from the sale of The Venice Hospital, a community hospital that has been founded by local citizens more than four decades prior. The foundation, with the help of its donors, has granted over $570 million in the areas of health and human services, civic and economic development, education, arts and culture and the environment. The organization has over 850 generous philanthropists who help make this possible.
“We are honored to award this grant to Better Together from our Rapid Response Initiative, as they have performed critical work to help families in need after Hurricane Milton made landfall on our region,” said Gulf Coast’s President & CEO Phillip Lanham. “Better Together’s dedication to helping people help themselves is commendable, and we are grateful for their impact in helping families build a better life.”
Better Together – a volunteer-driven, privately funded nonprofit – prevents the need for foster care by building strong families and communities. When a parent needs support – due to homelessness, a medical emergency, or other crisis – Better Together volunteer host families provide a safe, loving home for the children short term, while staff and mentors empower the parents to secure employment, housing and other needs. 76% of families served by Better Together can trace the root cause of their struggle to job loss. Better Together’s workforce program provides opportunities for all job seekers through relational job fairs and volunteer job coaches. Together, the programs build strong families and strong communities.
Established in Southwest Florida in 2015, the nonprofit’s programming has rapidly expanded to reach families in six regions of Florida, which span 48 counties. To date, Better Together has helped 10,000 children and kept 98% of children served through mentoring and hosting out of foster care, while its jobs ministry has helped nearly 40,000 job seekers find employment through church-based job fairs across 24 states.
To get help, give help or learn more about how to support hurricane relief efforts, visit BetterTogetherUS.org/Hurricane-Relief.
About Better Together
Better Together is a nonprofit organization that helps parents going through a hard time keep their kids out of foster care, find work and address the root causes of their struggle so that they can reunite as a family with the tools and support system to thrive. A privately funded and professionally supported organization, Better Together is made up of volunteers who believe helping people help themselves is the best way to restore dignity and bring families together. Through the Better Families program, families are offered a preventive alternative to foster care while they get the help they need. To date, the program has kept 98% of children served out of foster care. The Better Jobs program was created to address the 76% of families that come to Better Together because of economic hardship tied to unemployment. In addition to community job fairs, the program offers job seekers coaching, guidance, support and encouragement through local church partners. For more information, visit BetterTogetherUS.org.
About Gulf Coast Community Foundation
Headquartered in Venice, Fla. and with a second office in downtown Sarasota, Fla., Gulf Coast Community Foundation has transformed the region through bold and proactive philanthropy for nearly 30 years. Serving the needs of the region as a partner in philanthropy and leader in community initiatives, Gulf Coast has surpassed granting over $570 million in the areas of: health and human services, civic and economic development, education, arts and culture, and the environment. Gulf Coast was named one of the “Best Nonprofits to Work For” nationally by The NonProfit Times in 2010, 2011, 2017, 2020, 2021, and 2023. To learn more visit GulfCoastCF.org and follow us on Facebook.
