From the Osceola.org website:
"Community Betterment Grants allow local groups to seek funds from Osceola County Commissioners for a variety of programs or events. Administered to all five County Commissioners, the funding is distributed through the Osceola County Human Services Department. $50,000 is set aside annually in each commission district and if the funds are not fully expanded, the funds carry over."
It's time to take the blinders off people. When I hear about all the good that Fred Hawkins did during his 11.5 years as Osceola Commissioner for District 5, I wonder if those espousing his altruism understand that Fred isn't using his own money....it's OURS...you know, the taxpayers.
Every district except for District 5 enjoys a book bag and school supply giveaway. While I agree with Fred Hawkins that taxpayer dollars should not be spent on these types of giveaway, as he specifically stated via Facebook (shown above), I have taken a closer look at what these grants are supporting to find out exactly what Fred thinks ARE good taxpayer community expenditures.
In 2019 Fred okayed $10,000 requested by the Boy Scouts for an annual dinner when he was the Dinner CHAIRMAN.
I don't have anything against supporting the scouts per se, but I would think that there are non-profit organizations that the money would go further toward the end goal of meeting Osceola County needs. After all, according to their submission, only 34% of the funds actually go to recipients, 53% goes towards salaries and benefits and yes, I am aware that the "overhead myth" is not a strong argument to rule out any particular organization...you need to delve deeper. Yet, I am highly suspicious of any non-profit where the recipients receive less than 65% of the donations and tend to only give to places where 95% or better goes toward the end goals.
Interestingly enough, Fred was the honoree a few years ago at this very dinner. It rather makes me question whether when it comes to Fred's choice of "betterment" it isn't really about community improvement...just Fred's personal betterment crusade, you know, photo ops, name exposure, looking like he is altruistic and such. Rather a "one hand washes the other" scenario. Other past honorees have included Dr. Debra Pace (2020), Ricky Booth (2018), Mary Jane Arrington (2015). Is it just me or is there a closed circle in Osceola of the same people over and over and over.
To me Fred is the classic snake oil salesman. Big smile with an answer for everything...albeit sometimes little white lies get stuck in the mix as he justifies his illegal behavior.
When Fred hosted the Boy Scouts' Golden Eagle Award Dinner, Junior Davis was the honoree. You know, the guy who's construction company consistently receives contracts from the County. That's an eyebrow raiser all on its own.
Fred sits on the board of directors for Boy Scouts of America Central Florida Council and as I said before, was the Dinner Chairman for the event he earmarked $10,000 of the $13,000 taxpayer funds that Osceola County donated (Viviana Janer, Cheryl Grieb and Peggy Choudhry gave $1K each from their grant allotment). Yet on their application(1) the scouts checked "no" for the "are their any related parties" question. While I don't think there was a deliberate, nefarious omission, it does concern me that our taxpayer funds are going directly to an organization where our commissioner had a vote in the recipient organizations' decisions and more so since he was throwing the party.
While many organizations who apply for Betterment Grants are very worthy, I'm also finding that many of Fred's betterment grants support dinners...NOT for the needy as one might expect, but dinners and cocktail parties that he gets to eat and schmooze at, and not even at businesses located in District 5.
That Fred, he is slick....it almost seems like he is using our taxpayer betterment grants to fuel his campaign tour.
Another reason I say #HellNoHawkins2020
I plan to ask our next commissioner to call for a revamping of the Community Betterment Grants Program in Osceola County. Currently it wreaks of political self-promotion rather than to provide needed help to the community as it should be set up to do. I'd even acquiesce to see taxpayer funds supporting school supplies for our children over feeding Fred Hawkins, and his inner circle, rubber chicken dinners several times a year.
Select resource:
(1) Central Florida Council, Boy Scouts of America, Community Betterment Grant Application 2018-2019, Osceola County, Florida
Note: Documents are available via a public records request to Osceola County Public Information Office.
