INITIATIVES

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Igniting Change
From safeguarding our precious environment to championing the health of our youngest citizens, Big Nova supports meaningful initiatives across Central Florida. Learn more about our areas of focus and how we fuel transformative projects.

Preserving Florida’s Natural Wonders

We’re committed to protecting the unique ecosystems and wildlife that make Florida so special. We grew up in the lakes, springs, forests and beaches that make our home a paradise. We support the work that preserves our state’s beauty for generations to come.

Success Highlights:
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Conservation Florida
We’re proud to announce that Big Nova is the inaugural grantor to Conservation Florida’s first-ever nature center, with a grant of $600,000!

This significant contribution marks a major milestone in our efforts in the environmental space- to establish dedicated, accessible spaces for conservation education and build community engagement.

Conservation Florida, the Sunshine State’s only boots-on-the-ground land conservancy working statewide to protect the Florida Wildlife Corridor, has conserved more than 35,000 acres of wild and working lands. This new nature center, with Big Nova’s support, will serve as a hub for environmental learning, connecting visitors with Florida’s unique ecosystems and the vital work being done to conserve them.

Central Florida Zoo
Sanford has been home for our family for long enough that we have heard stories of the lions roaring and monkeys escaping when Central Florida Zoo was located downtown. The zoo provides amazing educational opportunities to Central Florida kids, a safe-family friendly environment, and does crucial conservation work. When the zoo embarked on a conservation project to bring in a second amur leopard and attempt to mate the pair, they needed to build a larger enclosure for the animals. The Moore Family assisted with a $50,000 grant to ensure the animals live a healthy, fulfilling and hopefully fertile life at the zoo.  
Florida Zoo Jilin
Florida Zoo Leopard
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Uplifting the Less Fortunate

Central Florida should be a place where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We address the root causes of hardship, supporting programs that fight poverty, provide housing assistance, and create pathways to self-sufficiency.

Uplifting the Less Fortunate

Central Florida should be a place where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We address the root causes of hardship, supporting programs that fight poverty, provide housing assistance, and create pathways to self-sufficiency.

Success Highlights:
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SALT Outreach
Everyone deserves the dignity of a shower and clean clothes. SALT Outreach is an organization dedicated to providing those basic dignities and many other important services to the unhoused community of Central Florida. Big Nova recently learned that SALT Outreach was going to have to suspend most of its services in Orlando due to a major delay in grant funding and COVID-19 funding sunsetting. We knew right away that we wanted to ensure that didn't happen. We are so honored to partner with SALT with a $300,000 grant to ensure their services are not interrupted. We look forward to an ongoing relationship to help ensure these services are not only continued but expanded in our area.
Faine House
The Faine House Inc., is a nonprofit organization that operates a 7000-square-foot facility in the Pine Hills Community of Orlando, Florida, that provides a home to young adults who have aged out of foster care or are otherwise on the verge of homelessness due to uncontrollable circumstances in their community or at home. The Faine House, Inc. provides housing, life skills training, educational and vocational training, as well as a place and opportunity to heal. When the Faine House Inc., separated from Children's Home Society, the Moore Family stepped in by providing the funding to allow the Faine House to purchase the home and continue operating from its facility debt free. The Faine House, Inc. currently houses 10 young adults  and helps to heal and empower them to independence. 
Faine House
Our family has been supporting the Picnic Project in a small way for a while and when we started Big Nova Foundation they were one of the first organizations we knew we wanted to reach out to partner with. Picnic Project distributes food and other basic need goods in Sanford, FL, as well as providing cooking classes and nutritional information. It just takes a moment at one of their Friday Food Shares to feel inspired by their dedication to the community and their connection with their clients. Big Nova Foundation was excited to grant $50,000.
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Championing 
Patient Support 
and Research

Inspired by our own family’s experience, we’re dedicated to fighting childhood illnesses like cancer, leukemia, and lymphoma. We fund cutting-edge research and provide vital support to young patients and their families.

Championing 
Patient Support 
and Research

Inspired by our own family’s experience, we’re dedicated to fighting childhood illnesses like cancer, leukemia, and lymphoma. We fund cutting-edge research and provide vital support to young patients and their families.

Success Highlights:
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NMDP
In 2011, a young member of the Moore family was tragically diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia of the T cell, at just one year old. After rounds of chemotherapy, it was determined that the only hope, was for this not-quite-3 year old, to have a bone marrow transplant. With, no one in the family being a sufficient match, the Moore family turned to NMDP, formerly Be the Match. NMDP found our best match, facilitated a transplant and gave us the miracle we needed for our sweet girl's survival. Since April of 2012, our girl has been cancer free and giving back to the organization that gave us a miracle has been a top priority. Over the last twelve years we have provided various grants totaling more than $6 million dollars. We have funded research scholars, provided patient support grants, recruited members to the registry, and funded transplant centers. Our partnership with NMDP is life-long, as they gave our girl the gift of her life back.  
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
During our experience with blood cancer, our family immediately felt a real desperation to be able to do something to help and we noticed our loved ones feeling the same way. In 2012, we walked for the first time in Light the Night and raised more than $200,000. In the years since, we have walked every year. When LLS announced their Dare to Dream project, we knew we were all in. The Moore Family granted $1 million dollars to the project designed to transform treatment and care for kids. In 2023, we followed up with an additional $5 million grant to continue LLS' work in research and patient support.
Ronald McDonald House
We were so blessed during our family's struggle with pediatric cancer to live near one of the premier Children's Hospitals in the State and to have all our family nearby for support. Many are not so lucky and we saw that firsthand. During our experience with pediatric illness, we came to know a young mother with two children, one of which was young enough to need a crib as his hospital bed. Because her second child was not allowed to spend the night at the hospital, she had to leave every night. That's when we learned of the impact Ronald McDonald House can have on a family. Though devastating to have to leave her sick child at all, at least she could be right across the street and there in a moment's notice if needed. Their story has stayed with us and inspired us to support RMHofCF. In 2023, when the elevators were in need of replacement, the Moore Family donated more than $50,000 to ensure there was safe access to all floors of the house.
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Strengthening 
Central Florida

We believe thriving communities are the heart of Central Florida. We support projects that build strong foundations, from educational programs and resource centers to initiatives that enhance public spaces.

Success Highlights:
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City of Sanford
Big Nova, was a college nickname of Lee P Moore... though the origins have been lost to time. Lee was the mayor of Sanford, FL for 17 years, and the best Dad and Granddad we could have asked for. Years ago, the City of Sanford dedicated this park in his honor. In 2019, we collaborated with Stanley Roofing, the City of Sanford and others to revitalize the park and playground area. We love seeing the community enjoy a piece of Sanford named in his honor.  
Florida SPECS Inc
Affordable housing is a growing problem in our community and Florida SPECS, Inc. is working hard to correct it. As a HUD Certified CHDO, they are transforming lives one family at a time by assisting local government in developing and managing decent, safe and affordable housing for low to moderate income individuals. Big Nova Foundation reached out to find out ways we can help and granted $180,000 for solar panels on houses being built in our community. We hope this will help the families moving into their first home end the cycle of poverty by lowering their expenses going forward.
United Youth Association
Our family are all Seminole High School graduates, and we were lucky to get to know Coaches Kerry Wiggins and Britt Henderson. They founded UYA to expand their ability to support young people in our area by providing life skills and education to help them reach their full potential. We've personally witnessed the positive impact Coaches Wiggins and Henderson have on young adults, and we're proud to support their work. The Big Nova Foundation granted $250,000 to support their summer programming.
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In the Works​
Research

More Than Just a Walk

Our family’s fight against blood cancer fuels our passion for change. From annual walks to multi-million dollar research grants, we’re committed to transforming treatment and
Community

North Orange Playground

Big Nova proudly supports the revitalization of Lee P. Moore park, a Sanford treasure named after our beloved grandfather and former mayor. This park embodies

Fueling Change:
The Big Nova Grant Program

We empower organizations making a difference in Central Florida. Find out if your project aligns with our mission.

ELIGIBILITY 
& GUIDELINES
APPLY FOR FUNDING

Open to Bold Ideas

While we have core focus areas, we’re always open to exploring new partnerships that align with our mission. If you have a project that sparks hope and improves lives in Central Florida, we want to hear from you.

Share Your Idea