Suncoast Voices For Children 2020-2021 Annual Report

2020-2021

ANNUAL REPORT

Presented By
Suncoast Voices

For Children



Prevent. Protect. Provide.



TABLE OF CONTENTS

GET TO KNOW US

01 ABOUT US 02 MISSION,
VISION,
IMPACT

04 FRIENDS OF 06 FOUNDER'S
VOICES MESSAGE

07 PREVENT 11 WHY OUR
PROTECT WORK
PROVIDE MATTERS

12 SUNCOAST 15 BOARD
STORIES TRUSTEES
STAFF

LEARN ABOUT OUR YEAR

16 WHERE THE 17 GOALS
MONEY WENT ACHIEVED

18 OPPORTUNITY 21 PROJECT
PASSPORT SUCCESS
STORIES

24 PASCO SAFE 25 EVENTS
WITH FAMILY OVERVIEW
PROJECT

27 COVID-19
RESPONSE

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

28 WAYS TO GET 29 2021 GALA
INVOLVED INVITATION

30 VOLUNTEERS , 33 STAY SOCIAL!
SPONSORS,
&PARTNERS

GET
TO
KNOW
US

ABOUT VOICES
THE STATE OF THE FOSTER CARE CRISIS IN
PINELLAS & PASCO COUNTIES

Since 2019, Pinellas and Pasco Counties have consistently had the most children in out of
home care in the entire state of Florida. A lack of equal funding for our community by the
State of Florida has put an ever-increasing strain on the work of our case managers and child
protective investigators, with an average of 4 children being removed from their homes every

day in our community. That’s more than one full class of students every week.

Many leave with only what can quickly be stuffed in a garbage bag. The emotional, mental,
and physical trauma facing them can be devastating. Through no fault of their own, the
trajectory of their young lives is forever changed, often for the better, but rarely without
extreme heartache.

At Suncoast Voices for Children, we help these kids safe, feel “normal", and feel loved. We
invite you to join us as we help them not just survive, but succeed!

THE NEED


IS REAL.

IMAGINE 10 KIDS WHO ENTER THE SYSTEM AND AGE OUT. STATISTICS SAY...

7 want to go to college 6 males will be convicted 2 will become homeless after
1only (in reality, the of a crime (in reality, 7 they turn 18 (in reality, the
number is 70%). the number is 60%). 3 number is 20%).

will actually earn a college 5 will develop a substance will have moved 7 or more
degree (in reality, the abuse addiction (in reality, times while in the system (in
number is less than 3%. the number is 50%). reality, the number is 2/3).

3 won't even get to graduate 7 females will become will develop PTSD (in reality, the
high school or earn a GED pregnant before age 21 (in number is 1 in 4).
(in reality, the number is reality, the number Is 70%).
25%).




VOICES IS WORKING TO CHANGE THESE STATISTICS. TOGETHER, WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!




Statistics from the National Foster Youth Institute

8550 Ulmerton Road, Suite 255, www.suncoastvoices.org
Largo, FL 33771 info@suncoastvoices.org
727-582-3609

01

12-0202OUR MISSION

We provide for the unmet physical,
psychological, educational, and social
needs of abused, abandoned, and neglected
children in Pinellas and Pasco counties.

OUR VISION

We want to see every child in Pinellas and
Pasco counties enjoy a childhood free from
fear and deprivation.

OUR IMPACT

At Voices, we do all we can to prevent children from entering the
foster care system by supporting every effort to place them with
other family, friends or loved ones until their family situation
improves. Many times that means helping those willing to take the
kids into their homes (but who need help buying beds and bedding)
assure safe, independent sleeping arrangements as required by
law. When we can't Prevent them from entering foster care, we help
Protect these children by fulfilling requests for car seats, Pack 'n
Plays to protect infants against suffocation due to co-sleeping, and
lock boxes to keep them away from weapons and drugs.

We then Provide these children with opportunities to participate in
normal childhood activities like music lessons, summer camps and
sports. Funding professional tutoring helps them keep up with their
student peers despite being shuffled from school to school every
time they have to move.

Disproportionately low funding for Pinellas and Pasco from the state
means there are more kids entering the system, and more needs
than ever to be met. Suncoast Voices for Children will continue to
speak out about the need for sufficient funding from the state
legislature to protect our community's children and serve the
growing number of young people trapped in these circumstances
they neither created nor control.

02

Since 2004, Voices has raised over

$4,00



0,000







fulfilling the needs of at-risk
children in Pinellas & Pasco
Counties and together with your
help, we have been able to meet




every single request

that fits within our mission.

DEAR FRIENDS OF SUNCOAST VOICES
FOR CHILDREN

We are so excited to share with you all the ways we have been serving abused
and neglected children in our community over the past year through both
individual requests and new, innovative programs and partnerships.

You will learn about the more than 4,300 children we have been able to serve
through direct requests for individual needs – everything from beds and car seats
to guitars and graduation gear – both by the numbers and through the stories of
some of the children who we’ve been able to help thanks to you. We will also
highlight some exciting new community partnerships who have helped us serve
even more children without spending more money through their volunteer efforts.
Our COVID relief programming has supported keeping more than 100 children
placed with their family members and out of foster care and provided critical
emergency supplies to those in the most need. In Pasco County, we provided over
11,000 hot meals to children and families involved in child welfare during 2020 in
partnership with United Way of Pasco County and Glory Days Grill.

We also completed our first year as the lead agency for Opportunity Passport in
Tampa Bay, which is the premier financial literacy program for young adults aging
out of foster care. While we were expecting to provide quality services to young
people in our community, we were blown away to see our graduates save over
$45,000 and purchase more than $90,000 in assets like cars, housing, and small
business expenses in under a year. For perspective, the average savings match for
a young person takes 16 months. In the following pages, you will get to meet some
of the young people who have completed the Opportunity Passport program so

they can share with you what they learned and how the assets they purchased
have impacted their lives.

04

We know these results are thanks to our partnerships with Ready for Life Pinellas,
which provides mentoring, and United Way Suncoast, which provides both one-
on-one financial coaching and funds the $3,000 savings match. But the most
important factor in this success has truly been our supporters and donors. With
your strong support, we knew we could continue to meet every individual need
that came before our request committee, and we could dedicate our efforts to
meeting an unmet need for our youth who told us themselves they needed. With
your help, we can not only speak out for the young people who can’t speak for
themselves by providing everyday needs, but we can amplify the voices of young
adults who feel they aren’t being listened to and provide programs they really
need. Together, we can be a voice for these children. None of this would be
possible without you.
 
In the coming year, we are looking forward to expanding our in-kind donation
programming so we can keep more emergency supplies on hand in offices across
the community that help us keep children out of foster care. We will also continue
to expand our partnerships with attorneys, judges, behavioral health experts, tech
organizations and more to offer evidence-based programs to assist these young
people aging out of foster care and ensure they get the support they need to
break the cycle of child welfare. Thank you for being a voice for children. Please
contact us any time with any questions or comments.

ANDREW MAURIN TRAVIS HADWIN

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR PRESIDENT

05

!UOY KNAHT...from our co- founder,
Donna Gaffney

Thank you, dear Friends,

Please know that your generosity throughout this past year and with
our 2020 Gala, in particular, has enabled us to expand our
boundaries once again, both in the number of children we have
served as well as in the types of needs we were able to address.

Certainly the pandemic has affected all our lives, but I’m here to tell
you it has affected the lives of disadvantaged and voiceless children
more than you can imagine. Increased instances of domestic
violence, substance abuse, food and housing insecurities, and mental
health issues of caregivers - all due to the stressors of this pandemic
- have touched the lives of so many children in our community. Thank
God for your donations, which have allowed us to provide for these
children, knowing we had the funds to do so.

I must also applaud the efforts of our dedicated, hard-working board
members. Their efforts, along with those of our incredible and
innovative Executive Director, Andrew Maurin, have so greatly
enhanced and expanded our service to children.

Most importantly, know that without you, our donors, there is no
Suncoast Voices for Children! So, on behalf of the children we have
the privilege of serving, Thank You.

Sincerely,
Donna Gaffney, Co-Founder
Suncoast Voices for Children

06

OUR 3 STEP
STRATEGY

PREVENT children from
entering the system

PROTECT children already in
the system

PROVIDE for children so they don't
have to miss out on the
fun of childhood!
07

Prevent

While it is always necessary to shield
children from dangerous or abusive
circumstances, it is not always necessary
for these children to end up in foster care.
Suncoast Voices works closely with the
Child Protection Investigation (CPI) offices
in both Pinellas and Pasco County to

Prevent that from happening. How? By

making cribs, Pack n' Plays, beds and
bedding supplies immediately available so
family members willing to take these kids
into their home can meet the state
requirements for a safe, separate sleeping
solution.

Without their own bed, these kids cannot
be placed even with the most welcoming
family members, who often cannot afford
beds or cribs. As the only non-profit
organization located inside the Pinellas
and Pasco Sheriff’s CPI offices, Voices can
instantly provide many of these items, and
safely resettle these children with family
they know and love, often within hours.

08

Protect

There have been dozens of totally
preventable sleep-related infant
deaths in Pinellas County since 2015
due to unsafe sleeping environments,
according to the Pinellas County

Medical Examiner. Infants are 40
times more likely to die in adult
beds than in their own cribs, and
three of four deaths in babies
under four months old were bed-
sharing tragedies.

ProtectTo these precious little ones

and their older siblings, Voices has
supplied more than 1,000 cribs and
beds this past year, including many
bunk beds to keep them together
and safe. We also supply car seats,
bike helmets, locks for doors, guns,
medicine, and cleaning supply
cabinets.

09

Provide

What children in foster care want more
than just about anything is to be treated
like a normal kid. Dig a little deeper and
you discover that normal means doing the
things other kids do who aren't in foster
care - like taking music or dance lessons,
playing soccer or another sport, learning to
use a computer, or maybe just having
someone bake them a cake on their
birthday. When children have so little, even
the smallest interventions profoundly
impact their quality of life.

The state provides food and shelter, but no
funding for experiences, like taking up a
new hobby, learning new skills at summer
camp, or joining a fun club. Voices doesn't
want any child to miss out on the many
activities other children enjoy, so we

Provide funding for everything from private

tutoring to art classes, school uniforms,
and, yes, plenty of birthday cakes to wish
upon.

10

WHY OUR WORK MATTERS

Currently less than 25% of foster children graduate from high school, and less
than 3% earn a college degree. A shocking 60% of all child sex trafficking victims
come from foster care. These kids are innocent victims, and have done nothing to
warrant being uprooted from their home, their family … their childhood. Sadly,
history shows they are destined to repeat this tragic cycle of abuse, neglect and
underachievement when they start their own families. Former foster care youth are
far more likely to endure homelessness, poverty, compromised health,
unemployment and incarceration.

Suncoast Voices works to break that toxic cycle and brighten the forecast. We
offer these children a taste of fun, success, and brimming self-confidence. We
help them recapture a childhood lost, and discover their endless, wonderful
talents. We help them feel, perhaps for the very first time, the hope and
excitement that bubbles up inside a safe and happy child.

Suncoast Voices has been raising funds since 2004 to help thousands of special
children rediscover that lost childhood experience they all deserve. Our dedicated
Board members meet 52 weeks a year to review EVERY request received, and
approve 100% that fall within our mission. Sure, our funds can run tight, because
88 cents of every dollar raised is spent directly on the children. 

Our work matters because it shows these children how much they matter,
and that there are people out here - all of us - who believe in them.

VOICES ANNUAL REPORT 2018 11 PAGE 9

Sleeping Much Better Awesome Apprenticeship

In June, four children came into care after a referral A young adult who was previously in foster care
from the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office's (PCSO) worked hard to get selected for an apprenticeship
Child Protection Investigation Division (CPID). The with a digital marketing company. At the end of
concerns were about environmental hazards; the term, if successful, she was promised a full-
specifically, the home was filled with trash. Both time position! She was so excited for her first day,
parents had been unemployed for a time due to the but discovered she couldn't download the
pandemic, but the mother recently started working software required for the apprenticeship with her
again at Dunkin' Donuts. The CPID found that the kids rapidly aging, outdated laptop computer. Voices
could safely stay with their parents with conditions. immediately provided her with a speedy new
The parents agreed to supportive counseling to help laptop so she could keep her apprenticeship and
them refocus their priorities, and corrective action pursue what for her was her dream job.
was needed because the children were sleeping on
couch cushions and piles of clothes. There was no
way they could afford the materials needed, so
Voices agreed to provide cleaning and hygiene
supplies, dressers for the kids' clothes and, thanks to
United Way of Pasco, two sets of bunk beds that
were delivered and assembled for the family.

SUNCOAST

Real Kids. Real

Back In The Saddle School Supplies

A young boy was found by Child Protection Just as the school year was starting, a relative
Investigators in the backseat of his parent’s caregiver lost assistance from the State of
vehicle. The car was in reverse, and both his Florida to provide for the basic needs of the
mother and father were unconscious in the four teenage siblings he was caring for,
front seats after abusing methadone and leaving the children unprepared to return for
heroin. He ended up in foster care, and school on top of the other financial pressures
bounced from one foster home to another for facing the household. Voices assisted with
years. He was desperate to avoid being “stuck school uniforms, backpacks, school supplies
inside playing video games all summer.” He and knee pads for the oldest sister who made
wanted a bike so he could get outside, play the varsity volleyball team.
with friends, and enjoy the exercise and fresh
air. Voices provided him with a bike, a helmet,

and a bike lock so that he could ride as much
as he wanted . . . safely.

12

Emergency Supplies Restitution

A three-year-old and his newborn baby sister were A teen was on the run while in foster care for many
living with their mother, and she had a severe years because she wanted to be with her family. The
substance abuse problem. His mother overdosed and, Public Defender’s Office Crossover Division was able
while the three-year-old was found by neighbors, his to connect her with her grandfather and supportive
sister sadly passed away. The three-year-old knew his services, and she worked hard in school to be
neighbors well and played with their daughter often successful. She had minimal juvenile history and was
and he felt safe with them. The neighbors passed able to have her probation terminated as she
background checks, but taking the boy into their prepared to plan for her future, but she had court
home was going to be a financial challenge. The costs hanging over her head. Her grandfather is
Sheriff’s Office investigators were able to use the retired and the teen was working to assist the
diapers, wipes and other emergency supplies that household, but these costs threatened to damage
Voices keeps in their shared office space to provide her credit and keep her from getting a driver’s
additional support to the family and keep this boy in license before she got a chance to succeed. Through
his same school and connected to the community an ongoing partnership with the Public Defender’s
that he knows during a terrible time in his life. Office Crossover Division, Voices was able to pay
these court costs while the teen continued to
engage with services, and she is now on track to
achieve her goals in school, work and life!

STORIES

Hurt. Real Hope.

Placed With Sister Tutoring

After being removed from their parents A 5-year-old girl was removed from a home
due to domestic violence and with significant hoarding issues and roach
substance abuse, two teen sisters were infestations. Her medical, hygiene and
placed with their older sister, who went developmental needs were severely
above and beyond to get custody of neglected; she knew no shapes or letters, and
them. With your help, Voices helped she couldn’t count. Her foster mother worked
them purchase school clothes and with her on learning basic daily living tasks,
beauty supplies, as well as passes to but she wasn’t ready to go to kindergarten.
Busch Gardens for a fun outing as a Voices provided her with one-on-one tutoring
family! and, within 14 months, she was counting to 39,
writing full sentences and was able to join a
mainstream classroom at school with pride
and confidence.

13

tejueToxhnnnsaehetcmbeooasudauaepssrlnedisgafwast.eereilnyewoerft

Your support is helping us
fulfill our mission and care
for kids and their caretakers

who need our help.

Meet Our Board, Trustees, & Staff

The Voices Behind Voices

Travis Hadwin Carol Cynthia B.
Dinsdale Faulhaber
President,

Guardian Ad Erin Dise Secretary, Kari C. Immediate Past
Litem Educator Mainelli President,
Vice President,
Dise Wealth Management Treasurer, CPA Guardian Ad
Litem

Rita Becchetti – Guardian ad Litem, Request &

Nominations Chair
Mary Diez - Duke Energy Donna Gaffney– Co-founder, Guardian ad Litem
Carol Conaway – Guardian ad Litem Holly Magnan – Delta Construction Partners
Tara Gaffney – Fundraising Mimi Perrelli - Youth Engagement Chair
Shanae Graham - Human Resources Chair Anne Michelle Frey - Shorecrest Preparatory School
Richard Jenkins - Pasco Operations Chair Honorable Frank Quesada - 6th Judicial Circuit
Vanessa Kaspyrzk - Opportunity Passport Chair

Working both in the community and behind the scenes, the
Suncoast Voices for Children staff is clearly the key to our
entire operation.

Pictured clockwise, Executive Director Andrew Maurin manages Voices’
administration, oversees all programs and executes the many aspects of
our current strategic plan throughout the Pinellas and Pasco communities.
Gina Wilson, the Outreach Coordinator for Pasco County, oversees all
Pasco progress, including the Pasco Safe With Family Project. Jeanne
Joyner is our Opportunity Passport Coordinator, managing all components
of that program and charting a course to serve more youth in our
community, and she also serves as the Bookkeeper, monitoring all incoming
and outgoing funds, prepares monthly and annual financial statements,
records all donations and payments, and tracks grant compliance. Request
Coordinator Amy Baldwin works with the Sheriff's offices and case
managers in Pinellas and Pasco County to process requests for assistance
and provide needed items and services for our children, as well as making
processes more efficient to serve more children.

15

LEARN
ABOUT

OUR
YEAR

HOW YOUR DONATIONS
ARE DISTRIBUTED

SEOG YENOM EHT EREHW 58.5% Safe With Family
13.1% Opportunity Passport
7.1% COVID-19 Relief
5.7% Food & Clothing
5.1% Education
4.3% Safe Travel
4.1% Social Normalcy
2.1% Health

TOTAL FUNDING OF CHILDREN'S NEEDS: $384,978

JULY 1 2020 - JUNE 30 2021

16

GOALS Safe With
ACHIEVED Family 1,655 children served $225,306

Beds, pack 'n plays, pillows, sheets, blankets, baby proofing
items, medication lock boxes, alarms, and more!

COVID-19
Relief 1,635 children served $27,259

4,326 Providing rent and utility assistance as well as hot meals. Grants
from United Way Suncoast, the Tampa Bay Rays & Rowdies
CHILDREN SERVED Foundation, Community Foundation of Tampa Bay, and United
July 1 2020 - June 30 2021 Way of Pasco County

CFloootdhin&g 279 children served $21,898

Emergency food and clothing access when food pantries and

other services aren’t accessible

Safe 235 children served $16,612
Travel

MORE NEEDS & Bikes, bike helmets, strollers, airline tickets, bus passes, etc.
HIGHER COSTS
Health 227 children served $7,926
In last year's Annual Report we referred to
the year just passed as a "year like no other." Physical and psychological testing, dental, anesthesia,
Suncoast Voices received and fulfilled an prosthetic devices, walkers, diapers, wipes, food, formula,
unprecedented number of requests for cleaning supplies, bug control, and more
assistance as the pandemic changed how
we all live, work and interact. A year later we NSocoriaml alcy146 children served $15,780
are again in the midst of another "year like
no other," where both the number of Activities, camps, music lessons, basketball shoes, prom
requests and our costs to fulfill those dresses, field trips, and more
requests have substantially increased. Your
support is more vital than ever to help us live Education 109 children served $19,855
up to our promise to fulfill EVERY request
that falls within our mission. Thank you for Uniforms, laptops, tablets, back packs, school
showing these children you love them and supplies, technical school supplies, and more
are concerned for their safety.
Opportunity children $50,342
Passport 40 served

Stipends to program graduates to jumpstart savings and
complete surveys, promotional speaking, and 50% towards asset
purchases when youth adult participants save the other half
towards cars, apartments, and more.

17

OPPORTUNITY
PASSPORT

WHAT Financial foundations for teens in
foster care - a comprehensive
financial literacy & asset matching
program that works!

WHY Teens aging out of foster care do not
HOW often receive basic financial literacy
WHO training that teaches them how to
effectively manage their money, so they
enter adulthood without a foundation for
financial stability.

The program relies on donations,
mentors, and financial coaches! You can
volunteer to help or donate online at
https://www.suncoastvoices.org/op/.

18

ABOUT

OPPORTUNITY
PASSPORT

$50,000+ earne
d in year one!

Opportunity Passport (OP), in partnership with our friends at Ready for
Life, is a six-week class for youth aging out of foster care and learning
to live as independent adults. They are paired with a mentor during the
class. Board member and Opportunity Passport Chair Vanessa Kaspyrzk
is a Certified Investment Management Analyst, Sales Executive, and was
formerly in foster care! She teaches these young adults how to create a
realistic budget and savings plan, and stick to it.

By completing the class and working alongside a financial coach
provided by United Way Suncoast, each student earns the chance to
build their savings, and can match up to $3,000 to purchase assets that
help them reach their educational and career goals. These funds can be
used toward cars, housing, books, credit repair, health care expenses -
anything that helps them navigate obstacles to becoming independent
adults.

In its first year, our 40 Opportunity Passport graduates in 4 classes
received a 50% savings match by Voices. We're proud to be the first
independent organization authorized by the acclaimed Annie E. Casey
Foundation to deliver Opportunity Passport classes in the U.S.

OP is unquestionably the gold standard of financial literacy programs
for young adults, and only possible thanks to support from United Way
Suncoast and the Russell & Ruth Anderson Charitable Foundation. In its
first year, our 40 Opportunity Passport graduates in 4 classes received
a 50% savings match by Voices. As of September 15th, Voices has
already provided a total of $52,380.96 to program graduates. In the
program’s 17-year history, 5,271 young people nationwide have
purchased 12,617 assets and have saved over $10,783,140!

19

We are delighted to provide young adults with skills and resources to not
only help them succeed in their own lives, but to greatly reduce the
likelihood of future generations entering the child welfare system. We
welcome contributions to the pool of matched savings funds as well as
technology items (phones, laptops) and stipend incentives (such as the
$7,480 provided under the Annie E. Casey Foundation Guidelines)
offered to students for completing surveys and speaking to other young
adult groups - these are all important needs we have that will help make
this program successful. We want the program to grow so we can support
more young adults, and we need your help!

For more information on how you can be a part of OP, contact Jeanne at

op@suncoastvoices.org!




THE BEST WAY TO CHANGE THE
COURSE OF A YOUNG PERSON'S LIFE IS

TO HELP TEACH THEM HOW TO TAKE
CONTROL OF THEIR FINANCIAL FUTURE.

Voices' OP Savings M
atch Purchases
50% From Voices, 50% From Each Youth

Vehicles $44,955.78

Vehicle purchases, maintenance, insurance, etc. $25,483.18
$12,729.96
Housing

Apartment deposits, down payments, insurance,
etc.

Credit Building

Paying off medical & school-related debt $5,000.00
$2,925.00
Investments

401K and other tools under the guidance of a
UWS financial coach

Small Business

Capital purchases, licenses, and other costs $708.00
$91,801.92
Health

Medical expenses

TOTAL

20

PROJECT SUCCESS STORIES

With the help of Opportunity Passport, Kendrick
was able to purchase a truck and a trailer to start
his own business. He used the remaining funds to
purchase business cards for his junk hauling
business. Woody’s Carwash even gave him a free
membership when hearing about his story.

Kendricks business has been doing well and is now

Ready for Life’s point of contact to help youth

who have moving and junk hauling needs. He is

extremely dependable and prompt! On the side,

he sells tires to continue to bring in income. Grant used his OP funds to pay

for his car insurance. With

reliable transportation, he was

able to obtain a job at Pinellas

County Schools working in the IT

department. On his down time, he

works on the car to make sure it

stays running smooth. Just the

other day, he replaced the upper

radiator hose himself!

As you can tell from these pictures, Kenyonce
has been braiding hair for most of her life
and is really good at it! She recently decided
to make the leap to launch her own LLC. She
used her Opportunity Passport match to help
her secure a barber's chair and other
supplies so she could stock up on her
inventory, and she plans to use more of her
match funds for future business expenses.

21

ASHLEY'S OPPORTUNITY
PASSPORT EXPERIENCE

My name is Ashley Tominus and I attended the Opportunity Passport
class with Ready for Life in March, 2021. This experience has taught me
so much, and being able to use what I’ve learned in everyday life skills
means so much to me. This class taught me various important financial
values such as budgeting, saving money, credit building, and banking
opportunities. All these topics are important to me, especially with a
brand-new baby added to my family.

When it comes to money management, I try my hardest to budget
and save every chance I get because I never know when I’m going to
have an unexpected expense. Opportunity Passport offered me many
resources and ways to effectively make progress financially. I’ve been
building my credit since the age of 23 and luckily, the progress shows.
Now I can purchase assets because I have built trust with consumers by
paying credit cards and loans on time. I purchased a brand-new car this
year which helps build my credit even more and I love it!

Opportunity passport matched my savings account up to 3,000
dollars and I was sure to use every last dollar to help me with money
management. I saved 3,000 dollars within one year so that I could pay
off certain assets to help me save money each month. Opportunity
Passport helped me pay off a credit card, a personal loan, and helped
pay my 6-month car insurance premium on my new car! Their assistance
saves me approximately 400 dollars a month which helps me to put
money back into my savings account.

This experience has been so amazing, and I am so grateful to have
such a great program on my side for whenever I need financial advice.
Growing up in foster care, programs like this are needed to help us
thrive as young adults in the real world. It is so important to save, so I
am glad to have had this experience. Learning about credit building,
budgeting, banking, and saving is so important and will help me create
an amazing life for my little one.

Thank you, Ready for Life and Opportunity Passport,
for all that you have done to help me pave the way for not
only my future, but my daughter’s as well!

-ASHLEY TOMINUS

22

FALANA'S OPPORTUNITY
PASSPORT EXPERIENCE

My name is Falana, and I want to share with you my recent experience
that taught me it’s never too late to start working on your goals. Now, I will
say this first (lol) - never rush your goals based on others’ accomplishments;
do it at your own pace so you don’t feel rushed or overwhelmed about
everything. I would like to share a goal of mine that has been heavy/tricky:

My credit has been a battle for at least 10 years, and I just felt like it was
time to take care of business and make that my focus and my priority. Now I
knew it would take A LOT - and I mean A LOT - of work, but I was truly
determined to get it done through all the hardships.
Ready for Life, Suncoast Voices for Children and United Way Suncoast
started offering a program called Opportunity Passport, which teaches
young adults like myself different skills and financial concepts such as
savings, checking, credit building & more.

I was really excited to join the class because I was eager to learn
everything, especially if I know it can better my future. I went into the class
with a plan and graduated learning even more that I needed to know, and it
was one of the best decisions of my life. The program offers a big incentive
upon completion, matching whatever I had saved, which could be used for
assets such as housing, vehicles, starting a business and many other
resourceful things to help me become a more self-sufficient adult.

After graduating the class, I gave myself an assignment: to save up half of
what I needed to save and then use remaining match dollars to fix my credit.
I created a small vision board on ways to inspire me to fix my credit and I
turned my vision into a reality. As of April 2021, I paid my credit debt in
full!! Now, if you know me, then you’d understand this has been a long
journey, but I stuck with my plan. Most importantly, I had a wonderful
support team with me along the way.

I want to personally thank all of the volunteers who helped with the program
and also Ready for Life and Suncoast Voices for helping me accomplish this
goal and believing in me, especially during the times I didn’t believe in
myself. My next goal is to become a homeowner and inspire others to
complete one of their goals, so they can then inspire others as well. I am so
thankful for the opportunity that was given to me and I thank you all for
helping me to start a better future.

-FALANA

23

THE PASCO SAFE
WITH FAMILY PROJECT

Keeping Pasco
Families Together.

At the end of June 2021, Pasco County had as
many children in foster care as Miami-Dade
County, but Miami-Dade's population is five
times larger. 

To fight this terrible imbalance, Voices kicked
off the Safe With Family Project in 2019 thanks
to United Way of Pasco, the Broadrick Family
Foundation and more community partners. By
focusing on providing safe beds, car seats and
other safety equipment, Voices removes the
financial barriers that prevent the Pasco
Sheriff’s Office from placing children with
otherwise loving and protective family members
and friends.

This year, Pasco Outreach Coordinator Gina
Wilson developed connections with 50
community organizations and businesses to help
spread the word about Voices and the needs in
the community, laying the groundwork for a
distribution center for childcare supplies once it
is safe to gather volunteers together. To join
this network that is helping to keep Pasco
families together, contact Gina Wilson at
gwilson@suncoastvoices.org to learn more.

24

EVENTS HIGHLIGHT United Way & Diaper Drive-Thru
Suncoast Voices

With the help of volunteers from United Way Suncoast, Voices ran our first Diaper Drive-
Thru over two weekends in April. Donors drove up to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office
Child Protection Division with diapers, formula, wipes and bottles for no-contact delivery

of donations. Our volunteers then packaged the diapers to help investigators support
safe, protective families taking custody of endangered children to keep them out of foster

care! We were able to serve over 200 children thanks to your support!







Baby ShowerPasco County Commissioner's

This spring, Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey and Commissioner Christina
Fitzpatrick collected donations for the children of Pasco County to support Voices' Pasco
Safe With Family Project! For a month, the Commissioners accepted donations at their offices
and then held a thank-you celebration at Starkey Market. Their Baby Shower supply drive was
a huge success and allowed Voices to supply Pasco CPIs with plenty of emergency items to
keep children with safe, protective family members instead of placing them in foster care.






25

EVENTS HIGHLIGHT Crossover Youth Birthday Club

Many older youth in foster care experience frequent placement changes, with some
moving every night. Many of these young people never receive cards or gifts on their
birthdays. Voices partnered with the Public Defender's Office Crossover Division to
create the Crossover Youth Birthday Club and provide birthday cards, gift cards and
birthday cakes for youth each month that are delivered to the youth, wherever they are,

so they can pick out something for themselves that makes them feel special.



Timber Greens B
ike Collection

Voice of the Year 2021 recipient Cynthia Webb has helped Voices greatly increase the
number of children served in Pasco, and this year, she focused on a new, unmet need.
With a nationwide shortage and price increase for bikes, the Timber Greens Bike Drive was
organized in that community to collect used bikes, rehabilitate them, and donate them to
children and young adults in the community in need of both normalcy, and to young adults

in need of transportation to school and work.

26

COVID-19 UPDATE

Providing Emergency Aid To Children
& Their Families

https://www.suncoastvoices.org/covid-19-response/

Over the years Voices has learned that the best available custody option for children removed
from dangerous situations at home often is staying with their own nearby family members. This
almost always puts a financial strain on these families, which has been multiplied several times
over by the presence of the COVID pandemic.

Last year Voices made commitments to support safe family placements so no children enter foster
care due to financial hardship during COVID-19. Thanks to our great-hearted community partners
we were able to fully fund all the new programs without needing to redirect any previous
donations. With your help, these concerned relatives received significant financial support to help
keep many of these children out of foster care and thriving in a safe, loving environment.

HERE IS A SAMPLING OF WHAT OUR 2020-2021 COVID-ASSISTANCE
PROGRAMS WERE ABLE TO ACHIEVE LAST YEAR ON BEHALF OF

CHILDREN AND FAMILIES INVOLVED IN THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM:

EMERGENCY ONLINE RENTAL &

FOOD LEARNING UTILITY

ASSISTANCE SUPPORT ASSISTANCE

11,220 FULL 107 LAPTOPS PROGRAM
MEALS
164 CHILDREN
PREPARED BY GLORY PROVIDED TO SUPPORT
DAYS GRILL IN ODESSA VIRTUAL LEARNING AND IN PINELLAS AND PASCO
AND WESLEY CHAPEL FAMILY INTERACTION ABLE TO BE KEPT IN
AND FUNDED ENTIRELY WHEN IN-PERSON STABLE FAMILY
BY THE UNITED WAY OF CONNECTIONS WERE PLACEMENTS DESPITE
PASCO COUNTY. MEALS NOT SAFE. COVID RELATED
WERE PICKED UP BY PROBLEMS
FAMILIES WHEN

POSSIBLE, AND

DELIVERED TO THOSE
WITHOUT *We continue to support multiple food assistance programs for families and
TRANSPORTATION; young adults in partnership with Ready for Life. Thank you for your continued
support. The pandemic continues to place difficult burdens on everyone.



27

MAKE
A

DIFFERENCE
WITH
US

WAYS TO GET INVOLVED

BECOME A VOICE FOR A CHILD

Although the law prevents us from identifying the children we serve, we can
work with you to link your donation to a specific request for a specific child.

If your passion is to support literacy programs, participation in sports,
dance, music education, or tutoring, or maybe you would just like to provide
books, school supplies or a bicycle to help these kids get to and from class,

don't hesitate to make your donation personal!

SHOP ONLINE WITH A SMILE

If you shop online, and who doesn't these days, consider using
AmazonSmile and/or GoodShop.com and designate Suncoast Voices for

Children as your Charity of choice. Voices will receive a small
contribution every time you make a purchase. It's an easy way to support
us that costs you nothing, but can add up to a significant income stream

to help the growing number of children in need.

BECOME A COMMUNITY PARTNER

They say it takes a village to raise a child, and Suncoast Voices couldn’t
do what we do without the support of the local community. If you own a

local business, and have a heart for helping scared and struggling
children, we invite you to join us as a Community Partner. Often an entire

employee group joins hands to support our mission and our children.

ADOPT VOICES AS YOUR
FUN(D)RAISING PARTNER!

Like many other nonprofits, fundraising is integral to our mission and cause. We love and
thank the various businesses and organizations who organize fun and creative events for
their staff, customers or community, each one designating Voices as their nonprofit Partner

of Choice. The impact of these generous efforts is tremendous - like Hosting a Holiday
Giving Tree, a walk, ride, cookout or another holiday fun event. With COVID still looming
around every corner, we hope you will allow us to carefully lean on you in the upcoming
2021 year and let the community know you are making an extra difference for children!




I N V E S T
I N O P P O R T U N I T Y P A S S P O R T

Twisting a phrase to fit, we can slip a kid a hundred bucks, or we can teach him or her
how to earn those dollars, save them and grow them. That's what Opportunity

Passport is all about (see page 11). This new program is already a shining success after
wrapping up its fourth class, where financial incentives keep these kids on track and
motivated to budget, save and take control of their financial future. Like any new
program, funders who helped up launch the program expect us to become self-
sustaining after year one, so your contributions can help the young people find their
way forward.

28

EXCITING NEWS! Our 2021 Gala will be available both in person and online!
Go to our website at suncoastvoices.org/gala to buy tickets to attend in
person, register to watch from home, bid on items online and more!

SUNCOAST SPONSORS

OPPORTUNITY
PASSPORT

ANNIE E CASEY FOUNDATION READY FOR LIFE





JIM CASEY YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES SPECIAL THANKS TO PASCO
INITIATIVE CETERA INC. SAFE WITH



FAMILY

UNITED WAY SUNCOAST SIXTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT CROSSOVER
PUBLIC DEFENDER’S OFFICE




MORNINGSTAR FOUNDATION


SIXTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OFFICE OF UNITED WAY OF PASCO COUNTY
THE GENERAL MAGISTRATE
THE RUSSELL & RUTH ANDERSON

CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
THE BROADRICK FAMILY

FOUNDATION




GENERAL SPONSORS


LEADERSHIP PASCO CLASS OF 2020




DUKE ENERGY
TIMBER GREENS WOMEN’S CLUB

MASSEY SERVICES LARGO

CRAFT KAFE COVID-19
XTREME FITNESS
F.K. INSTRUMENTS

DISE WEALTH MANAGEMENT INC. RELIEF
ARTHUR FAMILY FOUNDATION
JOHN MORRONI LEGACY FOUNDATION

SEMINOLE EAGLE RIDERS

TAMPA ORLANDO PINELLAS JEWISH FOUNDATION COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF TAMPA BAY
ELISA'S GREATEST WISHES

ST. STEFANOS GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH


DUNEDIN-CLEARWATER ELKS LODGE 1525 GLORY DAYS GRILL FLORIDA

EMPIRICAL360

FILL THE BUS TAMPA
CLEARWATER AMERICAN LEGION POST 323 UNITED WAY OF PASCO COUNTY
CETERA, INC.
CHERRY BEKAERT

CLEAREDGE TITLE
K BARGER REALTY UNITED WAY SUNCOAST
SABAL TRUST
POWER DESIGN

THE ANDERSON GROUP
DELTA CONSTRUCTION PARTNERS RAYS BASEBALL FOUNDATION AND
ROWDIES SOCCER FUND

30

PCF FUNDS HELPING US SAVE LIVES

Recently, a Pinellas County Sheriff's Office Child At Suncoast Voices, we are so thankful that
Protection Investigator (CPI) called Voices late one PCF has made it possible for us and other
evening at the height of the COVID hospitalization Pinellas-based nonprofits to pay for some of
frenzy. A young girl without insurance was in real the critical daily operational "nuts and bolts"
trouble - hospitalized and struggling to breathe, but her by awarding annual, unrestricted Operating
family couldn't afford the medication she desperately Grants. In 2020, PCF awarded Voices a
needed. Within 15 minutes, Voices made the calls $10,000 Operating Grant – and this was just
necessary to get this young lady her medication. one quick example how important these
funds can be to those we serve.
A great outcome, thanks to our wonderful partners at
The Pinellas Community Foundation, who understand Pinellas Community Foundation operating
that no one knows how to put their grant funds to work grants make these emergency responses
in a nonprofit organization better than those who live possible, and allow nonprofits to apply the
and breathe in that organization day after day. More unrestricted funds to meet clients' needs and
impressive - PCF also knows that unrestricted funds challenges head-on. Suncoast Voices
needed to cover the costs of projects and programs encourages you to click to learn more about
are hard to obtain. Most funders publish a list of PCF at pinellascf.org
conditions which must be met, and often restrict the
use of any funds awarded.

31

TO OUR VOLUNTEERS, COMMUNITY
PARTNERS, AND BOARD, WE SAY

THANK YOU

Suncoast Voices for Children has always been led by a dedicated, motivated working
Board of Directors, who devote endless time and talent to serving the needs of abused and

neglected children here in our community. Our Board brings to the table a vast array of
proficiencies in operational and financial management, education, marketing, social work,

public health and health care and numerous other areas of expertise.

As hard as the volunteer Board works, Voices can only serve children thanks to the tireless
efforts of countless volunteers who assist with donation drives, fundraising events,

mentoring, social media, event planning, community connection development and so much
more. Without the work of our volunteers and donors, we would not be able to serve the
needs of abused and neglected children in our community. We are also very grateful for

the partnerships with other nonprofit organizations in our community. By working together
in support of the common goal of serving children, we are able to make a far greater

impact. We are graced week in and week out with an amazing outpouring of tenderness
and support, enabling Voices to reach out and touch the lives of these children.



On their behalf, and with great respect - we thank you.




32

STAY SOCIAL 05
IN 2021!

In a year as divisive and often tragic as 2021
has been, maybe you need some more
uplifting voices on your social media feeds!
Follow us on social media to keep up with
everything Voices is doing to serve the
Tampa Bay Area - we celebrate how
children in need are helped, the awesome
community partners we work with, and
share stories of the good stuff happening
around the foster care system in Pinellas &
Pasco. We'd love to connect with you
online!

Facebook
@SuncoastVoicesforChildren

Instagram
@suncoast_voices

LinkedIn
@SuncoastVoicesforChildren

33

HELP US KEEP
THE PROMISE.







Prevent.
Protect.
Provide.

Visit suncoastvoices.org to get involved today!