Woods to ask MCBOCC for funds transfer to benefit local charities

Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods plans to ask the Marion County Board of County Commissioners (MCBOCC) at their upcoming meeting to release funds in order to make donations to several local charities.

In a letter to MCBOCC Chair Carl Zalak III dated Jan. 13 and made available in advance of the Feb. 1 MCBOCC meeting, Woods wrote “I am requesting your concurrence in the expenditure of Fifty-Five Thousand and Fifty ($55,050) Dollars from the Law Enforcement Trust Fund for the following donations to the below organizations for FY2021-2022.”

In his letter, Woods indicated “Each of these organizations has made the proper request for a donation and assurance that the monies will be spent in accordance with Chapter 932 of the Florida Statutes. I certify that this request meets the requirements of Chapter 932 of the Florida Statutes and that there are no recurring expenses for subsequent fiscal years.”

The funds are not taxpayer funds, Woods pointed out, but rather those that are seized from individuals who commit crimes.  He said he and the other sheriffs around the state are obligated to donate a portion of the funds.

“When we seize money, statutorily, we’re required to give a certain percentage of the money to nonprofits,” he said.

Woods said that while he is tapped with selecting where the funds go, he can go above the required amount if he chooses, and he also solicits ideas for where to donate from those around him.

“I get the privilege of choosing the great causes, and I take input too,” he said. “Like this year, for example, I took input from Chief Balken because a lot of that money comes from our dual unit and the dual drug unit that we have.”

Woods requested the Marion County Children’s Alliance (MCCA) receive a total of $10,000, with $5,000 specified for Family Violence Prevention, $2,500 for a Substance Exposed Newborns (SEN) Initiative, and $2,500 for the Community Council for Substance Abuse.

Beth McCall, the executive director of the MCCA said the funds for family violence prevention are used in multiple ways to assist those who find themselves in dire need of help.

“We do a lot of emergency assistance. We work with MCSO and OPD, with their victim advocates, and we help women and children if they need to get out of a dangerous situation,” she said.  “We put them in motels, we provide gas cards, we’ve paid electric bills, pretty much whatever we need to do to help, we do it. But we also do prevention for family violence. So, a portion of the funding money would go towards prevention as well.”

McCall said the request funds for the Community Council for Substance Abuse would help with their youth-related Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD).

“Those dollars would be used for our prevention programs for our youth. We have eight SADD clubs, and we service about 300 youth in the community through our SADD clubs. And it’s all about prevention, and making good decisions rather than poor decisions,” she said.

Additionally, as part of Woods’ request, Kut Different Inc. would receive $5,000, the Chief Greg Graham Legacy Foundation would receive $10,000, the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches would receive $20,000, and Project Hope $10,050.

April McDonald, the executive director for Project Hope said because they are a 501c(3) faith-based organization, they don’t qualify for state or federal funds, and instead “Grants like this, small grants from the county, and then even private donors is how we sustain our program.”

McDonald said the funds would be earmarked for improvements around their property to create a safer environment for not only their residents but the community who lives there too.

“[The grant funds] will be used towards the purchase of sliding patio door security bars for our 25 units here to increase safety and security for our program,” she said. “Also, a portion of it will be used for, we have fencing around the perimeter of our property. And, of course, that won’t take care of all it, but we’re looking to use that towards the fence, and then possibly an additional camera for the back of our property.”

Woods said he greatly appreciates the work Project Hope, and all the charities, do.

“Project Hope is such a good organization that helps local individuals, giving them homes, which they need. Anything that I can do to help them in that direction is something I want to do,” he said.

Woods also feels a strong connection to the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches (FSYR), not just because of his position as Marion County’s Sheriff, but also because the county itself has a stake in the organization.

According to Woods, in 1956 former Marion County Sheriff Donald McLeod, while driving to Texas with a sheriff from another county, discussed how they could assist youth in the state.

“And on that trip, they said…’what can we do for young boys in the state of Florida? How can we help them?’ Well, they came up with the idea of the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranch. They got the idea from a state program, developed it, and it was implemented a year later in 1957…and so Marion County has ownership into the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranch,” he said.

At the time McLeod proposed the idea, Woods said, they focused on helping boys, although later the program was expanded to helping young girls as well. He said they invite a member of the youth ranch, known as a “rancher” to speak at one of their semi-annual Sheriffs conferences each year, and when the rancher speaks, everyone listening is touched.

“We’re 67 tough grown men who will stand up to about just anything in life. But buddy, by the time that kid is done talking, we’re in tears,” Woods said.

The MCBOCC will meet for its next regular meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 1 at 9 a.m., where they will vote to release the funds as Woods has requested.

Woods letter to the MCBOCC