Geographically Allowed: This grant used pre-7-1-2014 funds, DMV counsel agreed, and it was approved in the subsequent annual audit report. This grant answered the critical need of Florida teenagers overseas with their deployed military parents, being relocated every several weeks or months and in great need of a recurring group program context to assure continuity and stability. Prior to 7-1-2014 Florida charities could follow their beneficiaries anywhere to meet their needs with the intended plate services. Sadly, in 2014 Rep. Jim Patronis did not believe Floridians could have any needs outside the boarders of their state and caused a change in the statute which limited Florida charities to using post 7-1-2014 specialty plate donations to address the needs of Floridians only within the geographic boundaries of Florida.
Florida U.S. Military Teens in Italy– January 2015: $5,000 was granted to Military Community Youth Ministries in Vicenza Italy as part of its “Worldwide Safety Net” for America’s Military Teenagers to provide a more consistent presence of Christian adult mentors for military teens and a positive and familiar program for increased stability and support to help teens successfully transition across frequent military family relocations across the globe. America’s Military Teenagers are at-risk as they frequently relocate with their military parents.
The U.S. military rotates approximately one-third of its forces annually. Therefore, military teens are moving to a new “home” every 18 – 30 months on average. These frequent moves and other stresses of military life place military teens at higher risk than their civilian peers. However, the unique upbringing of military teens also fosters greater potential for them to become future leaders in our country and future world-changers in God’s kingdom.
This grant is IGWT doing its part.