Local nonprofits receive $509K in funding at annual Victory Cup event

The Penitent Thief Inc., an organization that provides support to previously incarcerated individuals, was the highest-awarded organization at the Victory Cup Initiative Storytelling Breakfast at the Dr. Phillips Center on Feb. 26. (COURTESY OF VICTORY CUP INITIATIVE)

Nine local nonprofits received more than $509,000 in unrestricted funding at the 11th annual Victory Cup Initiative Storytelling Breakfast at the Dr. Phillips Center on Feb. 26. 

The “Shark Tank”–style breakfast event, hosted by Victory Cup Initiative, brought about 600 Central Florida business and community leaders together to support the nine different organizations, marking a record high for applications and community evaluator participants this year.

The nonprofits were 4Roots, Down Syndrome Foundation of Florida, Florida Wildlife Hospital, One Heart for Women and Children, Grace Counseling, Perform Orlando Arts, Recovery House, SALT Outreach and The Penitent Thief Inc.

Each organization — which was required to present a two-and-a-half-minute impact story to the audience — received at least $24,000 in unrestricted funding, according to a press release. The full breakdown of funding distribution was unavailable as of March 4, according to the organization’s public relations team.

About 600 Central Florida business and community leaders attend the 11th annual Victory Cup Initiative Storytelling Breakfast at the Dr. Phillips Center on Feb. 26, raising $509,000 for nine local nonprofit organizations. (COURTESY OF VICTORY CUP INITIATIVE)

The Penitent Thief Inc., an organization that provides support to previously incarcerated individuals, was awarded the first-place title. Second place went to Grace Counseling, which provides low-cost mental health services, and third to SALT Outreach, an organization providing mobile drop-in centers for shelter, showers and more for the unhoused community. 

Founded in 2015, the Victory Cup Initiative — a Central Florida–based organization that assists local nonprofits through storytelling training — has distributed more than $4 million to local nonprofits. One hundred percent of ticket sales go directly back to the organizations onstage, according to the release. 

“Our nonprofits are transforming lives and we all have the ability to do something,” said Ashley Vann, founder and executive director of Victory Cup Initiative, in the release. “Whether you’re a local printer or someone that has two spare hands … you can do something that resonates with you. Giving back is one of the greatest experiences of your life, and it could make a huge difference.”