Navy Federal Credit Union is celebrating the 17th year of the Dollars for Doers Program, which awards 100 grants at $1,000 each to qualified nonprofit organizations where employees volunteer their time. The program has surpassed over $1.7 million in total impact since its inception. In 2024, 33 nonprofits across Escambia and Santa Rosa counties received grants through the program, providing $33,000 in philanthropic impact to Northwest Florida.
Community service champion Elizabeth Haymans was selected for a grant this year in honor of her volunteer work with the Escambia County Public Schools Foundation for Excellence. As a longtime leader for 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 empowers its employees to serve their communities through eight hours of paid volunteer leave annually. In 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 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 p.m. every Tuesday, Jan. 28 through April 15. Childcare will be provided along with food and drink.
For more information or to reserve a spot, contact Margot Dutel by emailing counselor@gulfcoastkidshouse.org or calling 850-713-5710.
First Neighborhood Cleanup of 2025 set for Saturday
The first Mayor’s Neighborhood Cleanup of the year will be Saturday, Jan. 25 in the downtown area and portions of surrounding neighborhoods. This event allows City of Pensacola Sanitation Services customers in the cleanup area to leave eligible items at the curb for pickup, free of charge.
Sanitation customers in the cleanup area must place items curbside by 7 a.m. on the day of the cleanup. Note that items left curbside outside of the cleanup area will not be collected. The cleanup includes bulk items only. Yard waste or garbage will not be collected.
Please keep tires and paint cans separate from all other debris. Do not place piles under low-hanging lines or near poles, fences or mailboxes. Through the program, all city neighborhoods have a cleanup once a year during the months of January through October. In addition to Sanitation Services collecting items left at the curb, Code Enforcement conducts a sweep of the cleanup area and addresses any code violations.
Visit cityofpensacola.com for details.
UWF hosts 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 longstanding Experience UWF Downtown Lecture Series.
This new series broadens 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, Jan. 23 at the Museum of Commerce. Edge, a nationally acclaimed writer, television host and cultural historian, is best known as the host of TrueSouth on 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 insights 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 will kick off with a reception at 6:30 p.m., and Edge will begin speaking at 7 p.m.
Visit uwf.edu/gulfcoastculture for details.
Take part: To make a Causes submission, email giving@pnj.com.
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