ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — As the season of giving is now in our rearview mirror, the St. Petersburg Police Department continued the festivities by giving back to the community.
During the 30th annual St. Petersburg Police Forfeiture Grant Disbursement award ceremony Monday morning, Police Chief Anthony Holloway presented a total of $58,000 in checks to 13 community-based programs that "seek to improve neighborhood safety, promote crime prevention and drug abuse prevention."
The checks come from asset forfeiture funds that were money/assets seized involved in criminal activity. It's administered by the St. Petersburg Police Department Legal Division, under the supervision of Legal Advisor Laura Roe.
"After a series of important checks and balances, these assets are first used to pay lean holders, court-related expenses and then they're used for certain department equipment and training exercises," Roe explained. "But most importantly through this grant program, these assets which were previously being used to fund criminal conduct in our city are turned into grants that benefit remarkable community programs..."
The 13 community-based programs that received the checks include:
- Police Athletic League of St. Petersburg - Brinner Sponsorship to Support Afterschool Programs - $5,000
- Council of Neighborhood Associations - CONA Leadership Program Scholarships - $1,500
- The Gathering of Women, Inc.- Miss Jo’s Garden/Kids Eating Healthy - $2,000
- New Frontiers of St. Petersburg, Inc. - Support Services for individuals recovering from drug addiction and alcoholism - $1,000
- Nite Riders Van Club - Annual Back to School Backpack Giveaway - $2,500
- Greater Pinellas Point Civic Association- Youth Education Support Initiative- $1,500
- DOS Crescent Foundation, Inc. - Programs that Engage Youth in their Community - $5,000
- Pinellas County School Board - Gibbs High School Boys Basketball - $2,000
- St. Petersburg Police Public Safety Cadets - Interactive Training in Law Enforcement- $15,000
- Suncoast Cheerleading Association, Inc.- Elevated Cheer and Tumble Cheer -shoes -$1,900
- City of St. Petersburg Parks and Recreation - St. Pete Value Program - $2,000
- World Partnerships, Inc. - Global Law Enforcement Exchange Program - $2,000
- The Junior League of St. Petersburg - Care Fair 2023 - $2,000
According to the police department, the chief gets the sole say as to how much money the approved organizations receive.
"Under state law, the police department is allowed to give back 25 percent to the community, to these programs that people have put in for," Holloway said.
"I want to thank [the] chief for his leadership of this program for several years now to actually take funds that were used for the wrong purpose and put it back in our community to help uplift...," Mayor Ken Welch said at the ceremony.
One organization on the receiving end of a check is Suncoast Cheerleading. The $1,900 will help cover the costs of cheerleading shoes.
"We have several families from all different walks of life, families with multiple kids," Keri Stanton, the president of the association, said. "So when you're talking multiple kids, youth sports can become very expensive."
The nonprofit says the money will pay for dozens of cheerleading shoes, which cost $50 to $100. For an expensive sport, it's one way to make it more accessible to those looking to participate.
"Per season, our season is about $3,000," Stanton said. "That comes with competition fees that range anywhere from $60 an athlete to $200 an athlete."
The organization to receive the most funding was the St. Pete Police Public Safety Cadets.