- February 7, 2025
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It's been years in the making, but the Port Orange Community Trust has finally reached the goal of $1 million in funds that they have given back to the community.
Actually, according to Jennifer Marano, Port Orange Community Trust executive director, the organization gave back a little more than that.
"It's surreal. This is over a 20 year period," Marano said. ''There's board members that I don't even known that made this dream a reality. The volunteers, the sponsors, the community helped us as well."
The amount was finalized in October during a board meeting when members voted on giving money to departments and organizations. This included giving the Port Orange Fire Department $4,000 for their education programs as well as giving the Halifax Urban Ministries $8,000. Another $1,000 was given to the Our Lady of Hope food bank.
According to Marano, the $1 million is cash given out and does not include the free entertainment the Trust provides, such as entertainment and movies throughout the year.
Family Days has been a major part of raising those funds to give back to various areas in the city.
Several years ago, the Trust was also able to give $10,000 to the Miracle League of Volusia County. Now, the money is going toward helping to build a baseball field for children with disabilities.
On Friday, Sept. 29, the Miracle League of Volusia County officially broke ground and began phase 1 for the rubberized non-latex surfaced baseball field off of Turnbull Bay Road in New Smyrna Beach.
According to the non-profit's website, the field will be for the more than 13,000 school-aged children with "varying exceptionalities in Volusia and Flagler counties."
"Everyone's so happy," Marano said. "Now the question is, what do we do next year?"
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