Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis: Florida Disaster Fund has raised $45M for Hurricane Ian victims

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis gave an update on Hurricane Ian fundraising relief efforts in Jacksonville on Monday afternoon.

DeSantis was at Adamec Harley-Davidson of Baymeadows, alongside Volunteer Florida CEO Josie Tamayo, to talk about the Florida Disaster Fund and volunteer opportunities.

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The First Lady said that so far, the Florida Disaster Fund has raised $45 million with 62,000 different donors. She said state officials asked several credit card companies to waive their processing fees, and they agreed, so 100% of the funds raised will go to those who need them.

“Our work has only begun,” DeSantis said.

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DeSantis also highlighted creative fundraising efforts by local businesses such as Adamec Harley-Davidson, which has designed a special T-shirt that is free with a $10 donation and 100% of those proceeds will go to the Florida Disaster Fund. Businesses that are interested in finding creative ways to support the Florida Disaster Fund are encouraged to call 850-414-7400.

Tamayo said the $45 million is what has been raised since Sept. 27. She also said the fund has had contributions from 80 corporate sponsors, including Florida Blue and CSX.

“This is a storm like no other,” Tamayo said.

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Volunteer Florida is working on the ground with local nonprofits in Southwest Florida to distribute the monies in the Florida Disaster Fund to Ian victims, and the agency also has volunteer opportunities available for those who want to help on its website.

DeSantis also mentioned that she and her husband, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, and their kids went to see Jacksonville’s own Lynyrd Skynyrd in concert on Sunday night at the Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood and the Van Zant brothers donated $100,000 to the Florida Disaster Fund. She said the Seminole Tribe also matched that donation, making for a total of $200,000 going to the fund.

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