About $22 million being spent by Kids Hope Alliance according to documents

Action News Jax obtained a nine page breakdown of where tax dollars are being spent by the Kids Hope Alliance.

In October, we reported some were concerned Kids Hope Alliance funding was possibly delayed.

CEO Joe Peppers tweeted Thursday morning saying nearly 14,000 children are served through their programs.

Action News Jax reporter Ryan Nelson sat down with Peppers to learn more about where your money is going. He tells Nelson they’re funding programs benefiting children at or below the poverty line, and currently spending about $22 million dollars across five program categories.

“There’s about 38,000,” said Peppers. “So we’re seeing a significant portion of that through our programs.”

Peppers said the board decides which programs are most likely to benefit at-risk youth around the county.

STORY: Jacksonville mayor, sheriff address programs to stop the violence

After-school programs are receiving most of the funding with about $15 million dollars allocated to those programs. About $3.9 million dollars was set aside for the Duval County Boys and Girls Club.

Paul Martinez grew up in the Boys & Girls Club as a child in New York, and is now in charge of the program here in Jacksonville.

“We’re in competition against the streets,” said Martinez.

He tells Nelson these programs are essential to leading kids down a positive path, and away from the violence, and drugs.

“They offer some of the same things we do, safety, a sense of belonging, it’s a different way, they give them jobs,” said Martinez.

Martinez and Peppers tell me they hope to one day each all of the at-risk youth in our city, rather than a portion.

Action News Jax learned $50,000 in Stop-the-Violence funding from the Mayor we reported on in October was set aside for the following organizations and churches including Bethel Baptist, St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church Save Our Sons, Jacksonville Urban League, U-Turns and Don't Miss a Beat.

Cox Media Group