Big Nova | 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:

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.

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

Success Highlights:

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.

Second Harvest

Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida has been one of our most rewarding partnerships. In 2025, following a significant loss of government funding for food assistance programs, we are proud to have committed more than 10 million meals to Seminole County emergency food pantries, shelters and community meal programs over the next three years.

“Because of the grant we were able to feed over 500 people for Thanksgiving. We were able to provide food for about 50 families. In 2025 we made over 25,000 lunches because of the grant funds from Big Nova.”
“Thanks to the support from this grant, our food pantry has experienced a remarkable uptick in service, enabling us to assist more families than in the previous year. This increase in capacity means that we can respond to the growing demand in our community, ensuring that no one has to face hunger alone.”

4Roots

4Roots is a local nonprofit dedicated to transforming the way communities think about, access, and interact with food. We were happy to partner with them to bring their Mobile Market to Seminole County. Rooted in community and dignity, their traveling market brings affordable, fresh fruits and vegetables directly to low-income communities with limited access to healthy food. They currently serve Orange & Seminole Counties, accept all forms or payments, and proudly participate in Feeding Florida’s Fresh Access Bucks (FAB) program—stretching your SNAP dollars even further. FAB is an initiative for those enrolled in SNAP/EBT. For every dollar spent with your SNAP/EBT card, you get the equal amount to spend on local, Florida-grown produce.

One Purse

One Purse is an organization committed to restoring hope to women rebuilding their lives. In 2025, we partnered with them to match year end fundraising donations.

“The 2025 End of Year match that Big Nova provided resulted in the largest end of year giving response in our history! The results made it possible to serve more women through scholarships and employment this year. It helped address a waitlist for scholarships that we started 2026 with. We are grateful for our partnership with Big Nova and the ways that your investments are providing opportunities for financial independence in the lives of the women we serve. Big Nova is inspiring greater generosity in our community and changing the trajectory for women and their children!“

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.

Picnic Project

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.

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

Success Highlights:

Blood Cancer United

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 BCU 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 BCU's work in research and patient support. In 2025, our Executive Director, Sarah Asma, joined a panel discussion to highlight the need for pediatric blood cancer research at the Dare to Dream Summit in Washington, DC.

Grace Medical

Big Nova Foundation’s support strengthened Grace Medical Home’s Pediatric Behavioral Health Program at a critical time for uninsured children in Orange County, expanding access to counseling, trauma-informed care and interventions, and overall wraparound health services for vulnerable families. In 2025 alone, this partnership helped serve 369 children, provide 473 behavioral health visits, and deliver ongoing counseling with an average of 8.8 sessions per child. In addition, by leveraging a portion of the grant as a year-end matching challenge, Big Nova helped fuel Grace’s most successful year-end campaign to date, raising over $1 million and significantly expanding community engagement. This partnership not only delivered immediate care and stability for children in crisis, it also created a lasting impact by sustaining and growing these services for the future. We are immensely grateful to Big Nova Foundation for its partnership and belief in our work and our mission.

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.

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.

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:

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.

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.

Quest Kids

In the Works

Conservation

Conservation Florida’s first-ever nature center

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!

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.

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.

Preserving Florida’s Natural Wonders

Success Highlights:

Uplifting the Less Fortunate

Uplifting the Less Fortunate

Success Highlights:

Championing Patient Support and Research

Championing Patient Support and Research

Success Highlights:

Strengthening Central Florida

Success Highlights:

In the Works​

Conservation Florida’s first-ever nature center

More Than Just a Walk

North Orange Playground

Fueling Change: The Big Nova Grant Program

Open to Bold Ideas

Championing  Patient Support  and Research

Championing  Patient Support  and Research

Strengthening  Central Florida

In the Works

Fueling Change: The Big Nova Grant Program