By Kristen Hernandez and Attiyya Atkins
Broward County, FL – Crime does pay.
Thanks to the dirty work of the county’s criminals, and the hard work of the Broward Sheriff’s Office, 88 non-profits now have additional funding to push their initiatives forward. Through the Broward Sherriff’s Office’s Law Enforcement Trust Funt (LETF), BSO is able to turn funds seized from criminals into cash donations to interested non-profits.
“As an agency, we understand community stability is a core variable of public safety,” said Sheriff Gregory Tony in a statement. “We must identify the gaps and service needs within our community and connect our resources with organizations that can serve as a force multiplier to have a greater impact throughout Broward County.”
During a ceremony at E. Pat Larkins Community Center in Pompano Beach in October, Sheriff Tony handed out $10,000 checks to 88 different not-for-profit organizations. The funds are derived from the seizure and forfeiture of contraband used in the commission of a felony, and the state permits law enforcement agencies to utilize that money by investing it back into the community.
“Under my administration, the LETF selection process has been elevated to become a fair and impartial process,” Sheriff Tony said. “All qualified organizations have the same opportunity to compete for funding, and funds are distributed equitably.”
Programs such as the “Common Scents” hygiene Initiative created by Stephanie Presume, founder of Women Impacting Neighborhoods, rely on such investments to provide “hygiene kits” to young women in high schools throughout Miami-Dade and Broward Counties.
“There are so many young people that cannot afford things like wipes, deodorant and feminine napkins,” said Presume, during the award ceremony. “We bring our hygiene kits and bras to schools so kids can have access. As of now, we partner with 15 schools and plan to expand our Broward County program with the help of this grant.”
Other organizations like Fathers M.I.A. help facilitate the reconciliation between fathers, children and families. The group believes that the father is the foundation of a home, and if that foundation is broken or cracked, then the building is condemned.
“The passion and purpose of Fathers M.I.A. is to move fathers from missing in action to motivated, involved and active,” said Gernald Hawkins, one of the founders of Fathers M.I.A. “We give families a fighting chance, and offer opportunities that positively change their lives, their thinking and their values. We also provide a mentoring program for the fatherless. Statistics show that 85 percent of people with behavior disorders stem from fatherless homes.”
One of the programs Hawkins plans on expanding with the LETF grant is their scholarship program. It offers a 12-week course on fatherhood, where fathers can learn entrepreneurship, etiquette, and receive deep-dive counseling and healing sessions.
The winning organizations are chosen based on LETF statutory requirements such as crime and drug abuse prevention, safe neighborhood and education, diverting youth from the criminal justice system, reducing gun violence, and programs that assist the homeless and those experiencing mental illness.
“The officers that showed up today are not here because they were directed or ordered,” Sheriff Tony said. “They’re here because they want to support these organizations. Due to our strategic investigations where investigators do hard, gritty, painstaking work in handling these cases, we’re able to give back to the community where we all live… We are in the business of public safety and that’s our primary responsibility. But overlapping public safety is making sure we enhance the quality of life for everyone in the community.”
