Pasco Tax Collector's Office Passes $800,000 In Charitable Giving

PASCO COUNTY, FL — In seven years, the Pasco County Tax Collector's office has raised more than $800,000 for Pasco County charities.

When he was elected Pasco County Tax Collector in August 2013, Mike Fasano created a charitable giving program to raised funds for 76 Pasco County nonprofit organizations that assist residents throughout the year.

“It was very important to me that our office become a place to help people in need,” said Fasano. “Many people think of us merely as a location to pay property taxes and renew driver’s licenses. However, due to the hard work of our staff and their commitment to helping those in need, we also are a place where our customers can come and support our Charity of the Month program and other fundraising efforts we hold throughout the year. I am so proud of not only our team of dedicated staff, but also the very generous residents who donate either through the mail or at any of the five tax offices across the county.”

Organizations that have an IRS 501( c )(3) designation and serve Pasco County are eligible to be considered for the charitable giving program.

This month's charities are The Red Apple School and the Thomas Promise Foundation.

The Red Apple School assists individuals with developmental disabilities once they have completed high school become more independent. The Thomas Promise Foundation provides weekend food for children in need who attend Pasco County Schools.

“Your donation to The Red Apple School will help adults with disabilities who do not have funding to attend our Adult Day Training Program, where they will learn many skills and gain independence,” said Trudy Acevedo, executive director.

“Funds raised during this campaign will be used by the Thomas Promise Foundation to help us feed many local youth during the weekends when school meals are not available,” said Dianna Thomas, founder and executive director. “The Thomas Promise Foundation is now providing weekend food bags to over 1,500 Pasco County students every week.”

“This campaign will help two organizations that provide needed services to our community,” said Fasano. “The Red Apple School continues the education needed by students who have completed their public education but can still benefit by the life skills offered by the school. The Thomas Promise Foundation provides food for children who have little to eat over the weekend. All funds we raise in January will be split evenly between these two fine organizations.”

During the month of October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the tax collector's five offices partnered with the Florida Breast Cancer Foundation to help raise funds and awareness of breast cancer, its symptoms and treatments through the sale of the foundation's specialty license plate tag “End Breast Cancer."

The five branches of the tax collector's office sold 40 plates in October and collected donations totaling $7,678.

"The relationship we have with the Pasco County Tax Collector's office is one that the Florida Breast Cancer Foundation values greatly,” said Tracy Jacim, director of community empowerment for the foundation. “The support they give us allows us to further our mission to end the suffering caused by breast cancer by funding research that will change the breast cancer landscape for everyone. Our deepest appreciation to Mr. Mike Fasano and the passionate staff for all they do make their efforts a great success."

“The Florida Breast Cancer Foundation has done a remarkable job over the years to not only raise awareness of the needs of breast cancer patients, but to fund organizations that are working to find better treatments and ultimately a cure,” said Fasano. “The foundation encourages regular screenings to detect breast cancer in its earliest stages, for both women and men. Thank you to a very generous community that supported our efforts to help find a way to end a disease that afflicts so many.”

In November and December, the tax collector's office also supported:

• Toys 4 Tots – the five tax collector’s offices in Pasco County are served as drop-off sites for the Marine Corps League’s annual toy drive.
• Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Drive – The Gulf Harbors, Land O’ Lakes and Wesley Chapel offices were Red Kettle donation sites.
• Farm Share Holiday Food Giveaway – collection jars were available at each office so residents could make donations to help purchase fresh food for families in need during the holiday season and into 2020.
• Be a Santa to a Senior – giving trees were placed in each office with ornaments bearing the name of a senior citizen in need of holiday gifts.

For more details regarding charitable promotions or services provided by the Pasco County Tax Collector’s 0ffice, contact Greg Giordano, assistant tax collector for Communications & Special Projects at 727-847-8179.