Build a Dream Foundation

08/27/2026

And just like that… BAD HQ has a BEAUTIFUL AWNING! Bring it Mother Nature! ☔️ 🥳

My hubby makes dreams come TRUE! 💫

08/27/2026

A New Chapter Begins!

Update on our Monaco RV Drawing:
🚌💨

Our Build a Dream family is excited, and a little sentimental, to share our latest news. After further thought and prayer, our original RV recipient made the decision that the motorhome wasn’t the right fit for her family’s current season.

We fully support and respect her choice. This option has always been part of our application process. Her honesty, grace, and humility throughout this journey have meant so much to us. As we have come to know her, we are not surprised she has expressed her strong desire to personally congratulate the new recipient and joins us in our excitement.

We are so grateful for her and wish her nothing but the best moving forward.

That brings us to Amber G… a woman who has been part of our Build a Dream family since the day we met her. We are so honored to now hand this motorhome to her and her family as she embarks on this new adventure.

Thank you, Pensacola, for continuing to show up for the women in our community.

To all of our dear applicants, please remember you are still part of our family. We are here for you and we believe in you.

Y’all! Please help us congratulate and embrace Amber G. as she begins a new chapter of her beautiful life. Hooray! 🥳💞🎉

Build a Dream, BAD Women of the Gulf 🌊

08/23/2026

🎉 SHE HAS BEEN REVEALED! 🎉

Friday night, in a room full of supporters, we learned the name of the mama God intended this coach for… Lamia! 🚐💛

Congratulations and many heartfelt prayers are being sent your way. We feel you are in good hands and will succeed joyfully, with the strength of a community behind you, into your next season. We couldn’t be more pleased. 

To all 6 of our applicants and your families… thank you for trusting us with your stories. We are so blessed to continue walking beside you. You are all part of the Build a Dream family, and this isn’t over for any of us.

And to our Pensacola community… WOW you showed up big. Every hug, every cheer, every person who came out to stand with these families, YOU are what makes our Beloved Community so special.

This is what happens when women rise. The world truly does thrive. 🌊💃🌙 ⭐️

Build a Dream BAD Women of the Gulf

08/21/2026

08/21/2026

Y’all! We are giving away an RV tonight! See y’all soon! 🚌 💨

08/21/2026

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=4K97XK2PNF2WW

Click here to DONATE! 👆🏼👆🏼

100% of all donations go toward our initiatives. 🏆
We draw no salaries. 💚
A generous sponsor covers our operating expenses. 🌊💃⭐️
This means every cent you give goes directly toward helping women and families in Pensacola. 😚👌🏼
Your donation is fully tax-deductible.👏🏼👏🏼

Help support Build a Dream - The Toups Family Foundation by donating or sharing with your friends.

08/20/2026

EEEeeeekkk!!

OUR RV GIVEAWAY DRAWING IS FINALLY HERE! 🎉

🚐 THIS FRIDAY, AUGUST 21ST, 6 PM, BAD HQ, 1414 W Government St 🚐

SIX incredible families qualified. ONE will be chosen. We want you to be here when we hand over the keys and change a life forever. 💛

Y’all this is a fully furnished motorhome. Completely FREE. Going home with one lucky Pensacola family. Bring your people. Come lift. Come witness. Come celebrate with us! 🥳🎈

Y’all come! Tag someone who needs to be here!

Comment, below if you plan to join us!

Diana, Patti and Suhad
Build a Dream, BAD Women of the Gulf
When women rise, the world thrives. 🌊💃🌙🩵

📸 Our beautiful and talented muralist and fellow BAD Woman Mathaya Hill 👏🏼👏🏼

08/17/2026

Birthday Cake-Gate Update

The problem: In April 2026, Florida changed SNAP rules to exclude soda, candy, and “prepared desserts” like Little Debbie cakes from EBT purchases, aiming to encourage healthier eating.

But we started hearing that some mamas in Pensacola couldn’t buy freshly baked birthday cakes with EBT.

We were ready to launch a full volunteer coalition to make sure every kid who wanted a cake got a cake.

It turns out, some local stores had misread the guidance and started blocking fresh bakery items and custom cakes too. That was never the bill’s intent.

I’m writing this update because y’all may have seen some nasty comments online this week from folks who seem to think some kids don’t deserve a store-bought cake.

A lot of comments showed a sad, “scarcity mindset,” as if making sure every kid gets a cake means taking something away from someone else. We believe there’s enough cake and joy to go around.

So let me be real clear, y’all. Louder for the back: NOT EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY CAN BAKE THEIR OWN CAKE.

We believe every child deserves to blow out candles on their special day.

For families without a working kitchen or reliable electricity, those in RVs, shelters, motels, cars, or who are elderly, homebound, or disabled, a store-bought cake isn’t a luxury. It’s often the only realistic way to celebrate a proper birthday.

So we are thrilled at this good news: I spoke with the Publix bakery on 12th myself. They confirmed that some families were initially turned away because of store policy confusion. But they assured me that all is well, guidelines are now being followed, and birthday cakes are back on Publix’s EBT list. 🤞🏼🤞🏼

We wish every problem could be resolved this easily. Thanks to everyone who offered to help and especially those who believe there’s enough frosting and dignity to go around in our sweet town. Stay gentle and brave, y’all.

Diana

08/14/2026

Look at our sweet super star ⭐️💫 Mathaya Hill with Rick Outzen Page. We are so proud and blessed to sport her beautiful artwork on our building at HQ. Everything this sweet talented woman does is from her heart. Can’t wait to see her art all over town. Y’all celebrate Paintsacola with us! 

Meet Mathaya Hills, the Pensacola artist behind Paintsacola, painting parking spaces, murals, and dreaming of repainting the Beach Ball tower.

08/12/2026

Oops.
Accidentally blew up the Internet this morning with questions about whether or not there is a need for free birthday cakes in our beloved community. Thinking about starting a new coalition of bakers

I believe every single child deserves to blow out candles and feel celebrated on their special day. But not every family has extra room in the budget for a cake, a way to get to the store, or an oven that works at home. For families with mobility challenges or without reliable transportation, even picking up a cake can feel out of reach.

Build a Dream is thinking about gathering together BAD Sugar, 🌊🧑‍🍳 a coalition of talented local women bakers to bake and deliver homemade birthday cakes to families who need one.

Every cake is made with love by a woman entrepreneur in our own community, so you’re not just celebrating a birthday, you’re supporting a small business too!

This idea is only in the infancy stage. We are going to reach out to local food, banks and schools and churches to see what they think..

What do our beloved followers think? Any ideas?? 🫶🏼
D