Rebuild 850 gets $250,000 donation but organizers say area still needs more support

Jan. 11--PANAMA CITY -- An initiative to rebuild the Florida Panhandle after Hurricane Michael got a $250,000 boost on Thursday, but organizers stressed the recovery still needs far more support.

Rebuild 850, an initiative formed in November by two former Florida House speakers and several nonprofits, announced the $250,000 donation from Bank of America's charitable foundation. Organizers, while thrilled with the donation, said that though three months have passed since the hurricane, the Panhandle needs continued support from Floridians through donations to tourism and business investment.

"The outpouring from Florida has been critical, but this mission is still far from over," said former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham, a co-chair of Rebuild 850. "There are still countless neighbors whose lives remain a daily struggle."

Former Florida House Speakers Allan Bense and Will Weatherford spearheaded the initiative's formation and gathered a host of partners, including United Way of Florida, the American Red Cross, Volunteer Florida, the Florida Chamber, the Florida Chamber Foundation, the Florida League of Cities, the Florida Association of Counties, the Florida Association of District School Superintendents, Get Ready, Florida! & FAIR Foundation, and the Florida Press Association.

The initiative includes a website, www.rebuild850.org, where people can donate money or volunteer aid for those in need.

"There's still a lot left to be done," Weatherford said. "We need friends and neighbors from across the state ... citizens of Northwest Florida need help."

The first help came fast: Capital City Bank, which has a branch in Panama City Beach, announced it was donating $25,000 to Rebuild 850 in response.

"We're glad to see Capital be a part of this much-needed effort in the area we serve," said Ryan Davis, the company's new market president for this area.

Donations to Rebuild 850 are administered by Volunteer Florida's Florida Disaster Fund. The Florida Disaster Fund is the state's private fund established to assist communities following disasters.

Including the latest check from Bank of America, Rebuild 850 has contributed more than $400,000 to the disaster fund. To date, the fund has received $6 million for Hurricane Michael relief.

David Mica Jr., CEO of Volunteer Florida, said the fund began distributing money last month and so far has given $600,000 to its partner groups, including Habitat for Humanity, the Salvation Army and the American Red Cross.

Mica said his organization is making sure money goes where it's needed most.

"It's just direct assistance," Mica said. "And we don't want to spend money on what the state or federal government is going to fix."

In addition to requesting donations, Rebuild 850 advocates for tourism and business investment in the Panhandle to help rebuild and keep residents employed.

"Northwest Florida needs people to do more than donate money and their time," Graham said. "Public assistance is needed now more than ever ... we need visitors and investors."

Former Florida Emergency Management Director Bryan Koon, who has volunteered as director of damage assessment for Rebuild 850, said the residents of Northwest Florida never before had seen devastation like what Michael wrought. Koon said that only by Floridians coming together and supporting the Panhandle through charitable groups like Rebuild 850 can the recovery be successful.

"Government funding is only part of the solution," Koon said. "We must continue to work ... to donate, volunteer, visit and invest."

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