Onepulse Foundation Inc

The primary goals of the Foundation mirror our mission...Build the National Pulse Memorial & Museum honoring all affected by the tragedy. We have learned through extensive research how valuable it is to record history, not for those who were alive when Pulse happened, but for generations to come. Memorials are where people go to reflect, remember and grieve. But museums are where they go to learn. The National Pulse Museum will have a long-lasting impact on all who visit from around the world, telling the story of June 12, 2016, and also teaching lessons of how to stop hate from happening again.Create a legacy of awareness, acceptance and love in our community and beyond through a series of educational Amity programs. These include our Town Hall Series - forums with exports to engage and inform the public about societal issues central to the Foundation's mission.Establish 49 scholarships in memory of each Angel taken from us on June 12, 2016. Working with each Angel's family, a scholarship based on the Angel's interests, careers or aspirations will be created. As an extension of their impact on our world  these scholarships will inspire and empower students who share the same dreams. The scholarships will be full, four year scholarships open to anyone at a state school, including vocational training.

At first there was no clear way to begin creating the Pulse Interim Memorial, what it would include or what it should look like. To determine the best path forward, representatives from what is now the onePULSE Foundation sought the insight of several institutions also borne from trauma and tragedy including The Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum and the 9/11 Memorial & Museum. (Both organizations now have a representative serving on the onePULSE Foundation’s Ambassadors Council to lend support in advisory capacities.)Their overarching advice: actively engage the community. The Pulse Interim Memorial was created by the community for the community. A task-force of stakeholders – victims’ family members, Survivors, local industry professionals, etc… – reviewed community survey data (collected in 2017) and guided the design of the Memorial to commemorate the community response to the tragedy. The survey consensus indicated the Memorial should emphasize six core values: hope, courage, strength, unity, love and acceptance. The Memorial is a pictorial display – illustrations of the values the community identified - with windowpanes intentionally placed in three locations including one in front of the list of victims.Though we hope to never experience a tragedy likePulse again, the onePULSE Foundation is now a member of a special group of organizations that use tragic stories to shed light on the human condition with hopes of unifying society and building bridges of understanding. Support and advice from these institutions as we move forward will continue to be invaluable. Community engagement will also continue to be paramount as the permanent memorial & museum are created. The top six teams participating in the design competition have been identified and will soon reveal their conceptual designs. All six designs will be displayed at the Orange County Regional History Center and public comments will be welcomed. Our organization's leadership is committed to our community and keeping them involved every step of the way.

The Foundation’s capabilities are equally represented in the Board of Trustees, staff, task force, Foundation committees and partnerships. onePULSE Foundation’s Board of Trustees represents a cross section of local and national leaders from tourism, construction, banking, finance, entertainment, and development and technology. One major donor referred to them as a “blue chip board.” Each has a unique skill set and expertise that adds value to attaining our mission. An example of this leadership would be Vicki Berman, Shareholder at Dean Mead law firm. Ms. Berman is a preeminent real estate and land use attorney, known for her proficiency in complex land acquisition transactions. She was selected to join the board for that specific skill set and she has been invaluable in our progress of site selection and assemblage for the permanent memorial and museum site. The staff is small but mighty. Barbara Poma is the CEO & Executive Director. As owner of Pulse Nightclub, she is the property owner and impetus of this Foundation and the development project. She has a strong bond with the affected community who are the most important constituents of all in this project. Leah Shepherd serves as the Chief Operating Officer and has been on opening teams for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Raymond James Stadium in 1998 and the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in 2014. She has a unique perspective in opening large scale facilities and her experience in developing infrastructure, and streamlining policies and procedures helped launch the Foundation and achieved measurable milestones in a short period of time. The task force was the initial committee formed to start the Foundation and consists of victims' family members, survivors, first responders and community leaders. They are the force behind the community survey that collected feedback from over 2,200 respondents worldwide in 2017, to determine what the permanent memorial and museum will look like. They were also instrumental in the development of the plans for the Pulse Interim Memorial which currently averages 300 visitors per day. The Foundation has multiple committees that include finance & audit, education, fund development, design & construction and governance. With the exception of governance, every committee has members who are not on the board of trustees, ensuring both transparency and the widest range of talent possible to ensure the success of our mission. National partnerships have been formed since the beginning with senior leadership from the 9/11 Memorial Museum and the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. Both are members of the National Park Service and have played a crucial role in the research of best practices and solid business models of these kinds of institutions that lead to long-term financial sustainability. They continue to be an integral part of our strategic planning and day-to-day operations. Both organizations are also represented on the Foundation's Ambassadors Council to serve in advisory capacities.

Accomplishments to date include:Established a national board of trusteesImplemented a three year strategic planCompleted a community-wide survey (2017) and an Ideas Generator (2018) to start a national conversation about and request ideas for the design of the permanent memorial and museum honoring the 49 lives taken in the Pulse nightclub tragedy. Continue to develop relationships with victims' families, survivors and first responders. Opened the Pulse Interim Memorial-100,000+ visitors since opening in May 2018. Launched capital campaign toward construction of capital projects. Expanded the CommUNITY Rainbow Run from 800 runners the first year to more than 3,300 since 2019. This not only increased our net proceeds/fundraising, but also increased awareness and community engagement. Awarded $1.2 million dollars in scholarships since 2020.