ST. PETERSBURG — The founder and former president of Florida Dream Center has admitted to “multiple indiscretions” while he was working at a new nonprofit.
Bill Losasso, a pastor, quit his position Aug. 5 as chief vision officer of Restored to Dream, a nonprofit formed in 2021 to help victims of human trafficking and sexual trauma.
A week later, Restored to Dream leaders say they launched an investigation into allegations that Losasso behaved inappropriately. Kelly Carrigan, the group’s president and chief executive officer, notified other groups about the investigation in a letter sent at the end of August.
The letter does not provide details about the allegations. It states that Losasso acknowledged to the nonprofit’s leaders that the allegations were true.
The letter was accompanied by another one written by Losasso in which he asked his former colleagues to pray for his family and for time and space to heal.
“Over the past year, there have been multiple indiscretions on my part that have impacted those around me, those that I love and care for deeply,” it states. “I am making no excuse for my actions and am deeply apologetic and and ask your forgiveness.”
Losasso, commonly known as “Pastor Bill” to those with whom he worked, declined to comment this week.
Restored to Dream’s programs are intended to help rehabilitate victims of human trafficking. It is currently working with about 30 victims, Carrigan said.
He declined to provide more details about the allegations against Losasso but stressed there was no impact on those taking part in the group’s programs.
“The letter really does describe what we’re dealing with,” Carrigan said. “It mentions inappropriate behavior and behavior not acceptable to us as an organization, especially in the type of work we do.”
Carrigan said he sent the two letters because Losasso’s departure and the allegations were being linked. He also wanted supporters of the group to know that he and other leaders of the nonprofit only learned of Losasso’s behavior after his resignation.
“We needed to be very clear this was not the cause of him departing,” Carrigan said. “This was not a situation we were ignoring or covering up.”
Losasso, an ordained minister, has served on the boards of Big Brothers Big Sisters, Junior Achievement and the Florida Baptist State Board of Missions, according to his biography page that was recently removed from Florida Dream Center’s website.
He founded Florida Dream Center in 2012. Its volunteers helped feed needy families and clean up the surrounding Lealman area, one of the poorest neighborhoods in Pinellas County. Losasso and volunteers regularly drove around the community, jumping out of his vehicle to explore woods and underpasses where homeless people lived.
He also helped develop support programs for victims of human trafficking, which included an art therapy class. The Tampa Bay Lightning in 2018 honored him as a community hero.