Hope Florida – A Pathway to Possibilities, led by the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, utilizes Hope Navigators to serve as a connector for individuals with unique abilities to local-community-based providers including nonprofits, faith-based organizations, peer supports and private sector business partners. Hope Florida, created by First Lady Casey DeSantis and implemented by a number of state agencies, was first launched in 2021. Since its inception, the initiative has served more than 74,000 people, helping over 8,500 Hope Florida participants to reduce or eliminate reliance on public assistance to meet food or cash needs. Over a 10-year period, participant reduction of public assistance will save taxpayers almost $190 million.
New College’s Hope Florida Scholarships encourages applications from those with unique abilities who are continuing their education through New College. Up to two students will be awarded annually. The scholarship awards full-tuition, room and board and additional assistance opportunities, such as book stipends.
The scholarships are a result of a collaboration between New College and Hope Florida, a non-profit established in 2021 by First Lady Casey DeSantis and implemented by a number of state agencies. The awards were first introduced on October 19th, 2023 at the NCF campus with First Lady Casey DeSantis joined by Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) Director Taylor Hatch and New College of Florida President Richard Corcoran, to recognize October as Disability Employment Awareness Month.
This event also highlighted new job opportunities available through Hope Florida – A Pathway to Possibilities for individuals with unique abilities, including positions at libraries and food-service locations on campus.
Interested students may apply for the Hope Florida Scholarship through our application process by visiting: https://apply.ncf.