by SHAYLYNN MARKS
Ag Angels has been helping children in need for 19 years, and the Highlands County nonprofit’s growth and momentum show no signs of slowing.
The program operates through a simple system: schools identify students in need, shop for them directly, and return itemized receipts and thank-you letters.
Each year, Founder and Chairman Scott Kirouac personally follows up with donors, sharing these letters and updates to maintain transparency and strengthen the relationships that keep the organization thriving.
“Last year was the completion of us doing this for 18 years,” Kirouac says. “We broke the $1 million mark on donations. And actually, we’re at $1,150,000 now.”
Simple Model, Big Impact
Kirouac built Ag Angels on a principle he refuses to compromise.
“Every single penny that is donated to Ag Angels goes toward the causes we support,” he says.
He personally covers operating expenses such as printing and postage, while a longtime supporter handles the credit card processing fees to ensure that gifts purchased for students reflect the full generosity of donors.
That structure has helped Ag Angels maintain roughly 90 percent donor retention year after year. Kirouac credits the heartfelt letters sent back from teachers and principals as the reason the community stays invested.
“The letters really communicate what an impact their donation had right in their local community,” he says.
Meeting Needs Across Two Counties
Ag Angels now funds all public schools in Highlands and Hardee counties, allowing educators to identify the students most in need during the holiday season and shop directly for them.
“Some kids have never owned a new pair of shoes in their entire life,” Kirouac says. “Years ago, a child just asked for a blanket. He’d only ever had a sheet to cover up with.”
The program ensures siblings at home are included as well, preventing one child from receiving gifts while others in the household go without. Schools often wrap gifts as class service projects or deliver them directly to families before the holiday break.
Ag Angels also steps in year-round to help families recovering from emergencies such as house fires. The organization also partners with local families to deliver toys to a migrant community in Lake Placid, where children often face extremely difficult living conditions.
“If we have funds available, we will help them out,” Kirouac says. “Money is the most useful thing in the world in a time of need, but it has to be coupled with transparency and accountability.”
Scholarships Creating New Futures
As donations increased, Kirouac launched the Trade School Scholarship Program in 2022 to support students pursuing vocational careers.
“We wanted to give an opportunity to students who are just not four-year university people,” he explains.
Last year alone, Ag Angels awarded 13 scholarships totaling $50,000. Many recipients enrolled in South Florida State College’s electrical lineman program, a pathway Kirouac says can be transformative.
“Some of these young people, once they get into their career and get established, they’ll send me a check,” he says. “They’re so grateful for the help they received that they want to give back.”
Preserving the Mission
With strong annual support, Ag Angels can now guarantee early funding to schools, giving them more time to shop before the holiday rush.
“We’re just blessed to be able to do what we do,” Kirouac says.
He hopes to continue expanding scholarships and filling overlooked needs, such as ensuring no child ever misses a school field trip due to cost.
“I don’t ever want a child left out,” he says. “If you have students that don’t have the funding, you call me, and we’ll provide it.”
A Legacy in Giving
Although Kirouac received the Florida Farm Bureau’s statewide Distinguished Service Award in 2023, he remains focused on the children the program serves.
“Not all children are born into good households,” he says. “So, what I tried to do is develop a program that bypasses all that and reaches these less fortunate children… to let them feel a little bit special during this time of year.”For more information or to donate, visit AgAngels.org.