Dr. Pia Woodley, lieutenant commander (retired), chair of the Florida Veterans Foundation (FVF), presented the foundation’s programs, financials and recent achievements to the Senate Committee on Military, Veterans Affairs, Space and Domestic Security.

Woodley described the foundation as a direct-support organization for the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs that supports roughly 1,400,000 veterans in the state through programs including dental care services, emergency financial assistance, transportation, education and outreach. She said FVF administers three dental programs: a state veterans homes dental initiative (since April 2023 FVF provided dental care for 71 residents at a cost of approximately $76,000), a Mission of Mercy dental stand down (FVF contributed $25,000 in March 2025 and that event served 112 veterans in Daytona Beach), and the Florida Veterans Dental Grant Program established by HB 635 (2023) with grant awards to organizations in Miami‑Dade, Pinellas, Pasco and Hernando counties.

Woodley reported that, from May 2025 to the date of the presentation, the foundation’s dental grant program had serviced 290 veterans across 1,900 procedures and that the foundation conducts monthly quality-assurance meetings focused on compliance and veteran satisfaction. She said the foundation has purchased Disabled American Veterans Association vans to transport veterans to medical appointments (total investment cited as $175,000) and has invested approximately $45,000 in Project Vet Relief to assist 38 veterans with emergency funds or disaster relief.

On governance and oversight, Woodley said FVF completed two audits (Lanigan and Associates and an inspector general audit of gas and license plate funds) with no findings and that the foundation maintains an operating fund (described as $1.6 million). She described two new initiatives: Operation Noble Endeavors (grants of up to $10,000 per project in state veterans homes; 27 projects and $270,000 total proposed investment) and well‑being grants to community partners (example: a $1,000 grant to Women’s Veterans Unite). She closed by asking the committee for continued support for the foundation’s efforts.

Committee members thanked Woodley for the presentation and praised the foundation’s stewardship and program delivery. Senator Burgess noted the foundation helps fill gaps that tax dollars and agency budgets cannot, and other members described how veterans in their districts had benefited.