DeSantis’ Hope Florida scrutiny deepens amid new revelations on $10M payment 1/2
Story by Arek Sarkissian and Gary Fineout Apr 11, 2025
TALLAHASSEE, Florida — Part of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ crusade to defeat a Florida recreational pot ballot measure received $10 million from two groups that got money from a nonprofit associated with first lady Casey DeSantis’ community-based assistance program.
Hope Florida has received heightened scrutiny over whether it improperly received money intended for the state. Two organizations said to Hope Florida in letters that they did not use the money for political activity. But the groups wound up giving money to the effort to defeat the pot amendment within days of receiving it from the Hope Florida Foundation.
The program, launched by the first lady, discussed a partnership with a Florida Chamber of Commerce initiative that helped Gov. DeSantis defeat Amendment 3. A review of state election records shows the sameFlorida Chamber of Commerce initiative also provided the campaign led by Gov. DeSantis close to $5 million in the two weeks before the November election.
Despite the timing, letters provided by the foundation that oversees Hope Florida show $5 million was given to the chamber’s Secure Florida’s Future initiative in response to a proposal that would promote the first lady’s program and help recruit business partners in the future.
A proposal letter sent to Hope Florida promised that the chamber-led initiative, which also took part in efforts to defeat Amendment 3 in last year’s election, would not use the $5 million grant for political or election purposes.
Florida Chamber President Mark Wilson wrote the money would be put toward a long-term targeted business partner recruitment strategy and public awareness campaign.
“By utilizing our network of robust communications and outreach channels serving our hundreds of thousands of employer- and business organization-members representing every industry, sector and region of Florida,” Wilson wrote in the letter.
The Hope Florida board gave another $5 million to Save Our Society from Drugs, a St. Petersburg-based organization aimed at preventing drug use and increasing access to recovery programs.
“The importance of this work cannot be overstated,” Amy Ronshausen, executive director of Save Our Society from Drugs, wrote in the letter. “Drug use continues to have a devastating impact on families, the workforce, and community health.”
Hope Florida was launched by Casey DeSantis four years ago as a community-based welfare initiative designed to reduce the need for government-subsidized programs. Gov. DeSantis asked the Legislature this year to put Hope Florida into state law, spurring a financial review that left state House leaders with questions and concerns about how taxpayer dollars have been spent.
Casey DeSantis is considering a run for governor to succeed her husband, who is term-limited and cannot run again. Gov. DeSantis has repeatedly touted the initiative and praised his wife’s efforts to put it together.
Last week, Florida’s House Health Care Budget Subcommittee spent more than an hour asking the state Agency for Health Care Administration about $10 million that was donated to Hope Florida as part of a settlement agreement with the state’s largest Medicaid operator. The AHCA settlement was included in the minutes of an Oct. 14 board meeting of the Hope Florida Foundation.
The board minutes also bring up a “strategic partnership” between Hope Florida and Secure Florida’s Future.
The Hope Florida board minutes refer to the partnership with Secure Florida’s Future as a grant proposal that was developed by the “Department and Executive Administration,” to engage with business and community partners and advance Hope Florida’s mission.
“Secure Florida’s Future is uniquely positioned to enhance awareness of Hope Florida’s efforts within the private sector using a data-driven approach,” the minutes said.
Hope Florida is a nonprofit organization associated with the Florida Department of Children and Families, which convinced a joint-legislative committee to approve the transfer of $20.7 million in unspent Covid federal housing assistance money to Hope Florida.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/desantis-hope-florida-scrutiny-deepens-amid-new-revelations-on-10m-payment/ar-AA1CLKFO