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philanthropy
Florida's Best, Worst Charities
Some are better than others at keeping expenses in check. Here's a statewide roundup.
Air Force Enlisted Village — Shalimar (Okaloosa County)
| Revenue | $6,368,935 | |
| Expenses | $7,538,392 | |
| Program expenses | $6,544,550 | 86.8% |
| Administrative expenses | $698,858 | 9.3% |
| Fund-raising expenses | $294,984 | 3.9% |
| Fund-raising efficiency: 15 cents in fund raising is spent for every $1 raised. |
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For retired widows of Air Force enlisted personnel, retirement can be a financial struggle, particularly for those who never worked outside the home. But since the late 1960s, Air Force spouses have been able to pay modest rates or even nothing at all to reside in comfortable, subsidized apartments in northwest Florida.
Contributions of $25 to $100 collected through newsletter mailings, an annual golf tournament, corporate support — particularly from Boeing — along with $600,000 to $900,000 from retired and active duty military who contribute to the Air Force Assistance Fund are used to aid widows. Facilities include housing for 88 couples and 341 widows or widowers at the Bob Hope Village and Teresa Village near Eglin Air Force Base and Hurlburt Field, says Cathy Landroche, director of marketing, development and communications.
Three years ago, the group opened Hawthorn House, an assisted living facility with 64 apartments. An unfulfilled promise of an $8-million donation, however, left the Air Force Enlisted Village with more than $9 million in loans, much of which comes due in 2009.
Business Beat - Week of May 3rd
