Hurricane Nicole made landfall as a Category 1 storm in Indian River County and crossed the peninsula and crossed the Florida Panhandle before reaching Georgia. United Way Central Florida (UWCF) has been successful in uniting community leaders through a variety of philanthropic, volunteer and networking opportunities. To further extend their services to more clients and community members in the area, the Central Florida Community Strengthening Program was launched. The UWCF strives to promote community change by maximizing donor money with local contributions, bringing together partners to improve efficiency and negotiating only those services that generate the best possible return on investment in the areas of greatest need.
The Central Florida Men's Health Initiative was created with the mission statement of “To promote and inspire a culture of health and health equity for all men and boys in Central Florida through stakeholders, initiatives and measurable behavioral changes, and community collaboration”. This initiative was developed by the Florida Department of Health in Orange County in collaboration with other community partners to raise awareness of preventable health problems and motivate men and boys to take charge of their health by consulting their doctor for annual tests. The UWCF has been successful in providing a variety of services to improve the Central Florida community. These services include increasing donor money with local contributions, convening partners to improve efficiency, negotiating services that generate the best possible return on investment, raising awareness of preventable health problems, and encouraging men and boys to take charge of their health.
The UWCF has also been successful in connecting community members with resources they need. Through its network of partners, the UWCF is able to provide access to resources such as food banks, housing assistance, job training programs, mental health services, and more. The UWCF also provides educational opportunities for youth through its after-school programs, summer camps, and college readiness programs. The UWCF has also been successful in advocating for policy changes that benefit the Central Florida community.
The organization works with local government officials to ensure that policies are implemented that will benefit the most vulnerable members of the community. The UWCF also works with local businesses to create job opportunities for those who are unemployed or underemployed. The UWCF has been successful in enhancing Central Florida's community through its various services, resources, and advocacy efforts. By providing access to resources, connecting community members with resources they need, advocating for policy changes that benefit the most vulnerable members of the community, and providing educational opportunities for youth, the UWCF is helping to create a better future for Central Florida.
