Mike Fasano Closes CCE, Donates Funds to Charities

After congratulating Florida House Speaker Will Weatherford for championing campaign finance reform during the upcoming legislative session, Rep. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, announced Friday that he is closing hiscommittee of continuous existence and donating its remaining funds to charity.

I applaud Speaker Weatherford for making campaign finance reform a top priority, Fasano said in a press release.In anticipation of this legislation passing, I am voluntarily closing out my committee of continuous existence and am disbursing the funds in the committee to local charitable organizations that need the most help."

Fasano will be delivering checks to the following local organizations:

• The Volunteer Way -- $83,000 for the purchase of a refrigerator truck to provide safe transport of perishable food to and from other food banks and commodities distribution centers.

• The Good Samaritan Health Clinic -- $10,000 to help pay the salary of the nurse practitioner who provides expanded health services in Pasco.

• The Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Foundation -- $10,000 to help fund the prescription drug monitoring program database.

• SmileFaith Foundation -- $2,000 to help carry on the mission of providing oral health care to those in our community most in need.

These fine organizations have the ability to reach countless families and individuals in our community, Fasano continued.Feeding the hungry, providing health care to the uninsured and underinsured, delivering quality dental care and saving lives through reducing drug abuse are all services these groups provide. We are pleased to play a small part in advancing the cause of each charitable organization.