St. Joe Community Foundation provides $32,400 grant to Lakeview Center's mental health residential program kitchen renovation

St. Joe Community Foundation provides $32,400 grant to mental health residential program kitchen renovation
 
DeFuniak Springs, Fla. (March 31, 2026) – A $32,400 grant from the St. Joe Community Foundation has enabled a much-needed kitchen renovation at Lakeview Center of Walton County, enhancing safety and daily living for adults receiving residential mental health care.
 
The grant funded a comprehensive kitchen remodel, including new cabinets, countertops, appliances and other critical upgrades, transforming an outdated space into a modern, home-like environment that supports recovery and life-skills development for residents living with chronic mental illness.
 
“This generous investment from the St. Joe Community Foundation will make a meaningful difference in the daily lives of the people we serve,” said Tia Guidry, director for Lakeview Center of Walton County. “A safe, welcoming kitchen is more than a functional space — it’s where residents build independence and experience a sense of home. We are deeply grateful for St. Joe Community Foundation’s commitment to mental health care in Walton County.”
 
Lakeview Center of Walton County’s residential program provides 24-hour supportive housing and intensive mental health services for adults working toward stability and community reintegration. While staff deliver compassionate, person-centered care every day, the facility’s kitchen had not been significantly updated in more than 30 years, creating an urgent need for renovation.
 
The St. Joe Community Foundation’s support aligns with its focus on improving healthcare and strengthening community infrastructure across Northwest Florida. Since its inception, the St. Joe Community Foundation has provided more than $54 million in grants to improve quality of life across the region, with a focus on education, healthcare, environmental protection and cultural interests.
 
Renovation work at the Walton County residential units is nearing completion, with the updated space expected to be ready soon.
 
For more information about addiction or mental health services, call 850-469-3500 or visit eLakeviewCenter.org.
 
Photo caption
St. Joe Community Foundation presented Lakeview Center with a $32,400 grant to renovate a kitchen at Lakeview Center of Walton County’s residential mental health program. Shown here are (left to right): Lakeview Center Lodge Administrative and Care Manager Christy Birge, Lakeview Center of Walton County Director Tia Guidry, St. Joe Community Foundation Executive Director April Wilkes, Lakeview Center President Shawn Salamida and Lakeview Center Board Member Dr. Carolynn Zonia.
 
About Lakeview Center
Lakeview Center is Northwest Florida's most comprehensive behavioral health care provider, with more than 60 programs ranging from outpatient counseling and psychiatry to residential treatments for substance misuse, plus 24/7 crisis support. Specialized team members help adults and children with mental illnesses, drug and alcohol dependencies and intellectual disabilities, offering a continuum of care with solutions personalized for each person's needs. Faced with a rising need for mental health and substance misuse treatment, Lakeview Center is here to serve, growing with the community since 1954. Learn more at eLakeviewCenter.org.
 
About St. Joe Community Foundation
Since its inception, the St. Joe Community Foundation has provided more than $54 million in grants to improve the quality of life in the communities it serves. The Foundation provides charitable grants toward the civic infrastructure of communities in Northwest Florida with a focus, but not a limitation, on Bay and Walton Counties. The Foundation’s primary focus is on strengthening education, improving healthcare, protecting the environment, and supporting local cultural interests. These efforts help build healthy, caring, long-lived communities.