Weston allocates $50,000 in charter-authorized charitable contributions; four nonprofits to share funds

The Weston City Commission on Jan. 21 approved allocations totaling $50,000 under the city's charter-authorized charitable contributions program and distributed the available funding pro rata among four applicants after requests exceeded the cap.

City Manager Don Decker told commissioners the city charter permits up to $50,000 annually for organizations providing services directly to Weston residents. The city received four applications requesting $52,275 in total: Area Wide Council on Aging of Broward County ($34,816 requested), Early Learning Coalition of Broward County ($4,433 requested), Kids in Distress ($955 requested) and Women in Distress of Broward County ($12,071 requested). Applying the charter's pro rata formula, staff recommended and the commission approved $33,300.81 for Area Wide Council on Aging, $4,240.08 for Early Learning Coalition, $913.44 for Kids in Distress and $11,545.67 for Women in Distress.

Representatives of the recipient organizations addressed the commission. Charlotte Mather Taylor, CEO of Area Wide Council on Aging (referred to as ADRC in testimony), described using city funds as a local match to draw down federal Older Americans Act and state Community Care for the Elderly grants and said the organization served 194 clients in the Weston area between Oct. 2023 and Sept. 2024, delivering about $357,000 in services. Jesse Elaine, donor relations manager at Kids in Distress, thanked the city for support of early learning and therapeutic services. Susan Evans, a Women in Distress representative who participated by phone, said the agency is state-certified to provide emergency shelter and crisis intervention and that city funds help meet required matching grants (Department of Children and Families) to continue those services.

Commissioners praised the programs and noted the multiplier effect of local dollars; Commissioner Byron Jaffe and others said the city's contributions help attract significantly more grant funding. Vice Mayor Mead asked staff to note that some funding is contingent on community-based work; staff confirmed that meeting program criteria is a condition for the award. The commission voted 5-0 to approve the recommended pro rata distributions. Moved by Commissioner Mary Molina McPhee, seconded by Commissioner Byron Jaffe.

Why it matters: staff said every dollar the city contributes helps the nonprofits draw down larger federal and state grants serving Weston residents, including services for older adults, early learning and domestic-violence intervention.