Help for Homeless Men
Recently, Mayor Teresa Jacobs joined more than 200 community members to celebrate the grand opening of the Men’s Service Center at Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida.
The new residential facility focuses on accommodating homeless men and providing case-managed services to assist 250 men at any time during their journey to independence. With an initiative directed to homeless veterans, the non-profit will now provide homeless men with case management, access to mental-health services, job-skills training, education and life skills.
Mayor Jacobs says, “This is going to be more than just a shelter where men can sleep for the night. This will be a full-service center that will help these men transition to self-sufficiency.”
The new Men’s Service Center, with a cost of just $11.62 per man, per night, better serves homeless men and the entire community. The more sufficient the men utilizing the facility become, the fewer social services they will need. Since beginning operation in late June 2014, 81 men have moved into permanent housing in the community and 51 have moved into transitional housing.
United Arts Annual Fundraising Campaign
When United Arts of Central Florida launched its annual Collaborative Campaign for the Arts on February 1, local donors had already contributed a large portion toward the organization’s goal. Through the six-week “early bird” effort, United Arts received $545,747, which is 30 percent of the 2015 goal. This effort is a $123,285 increase over last year’s early bird total.
“It’s exciting that we have generated 30 percent of our goal in this early phase of the campaign,” says Flora Maria Garcia, United Arts president and CEO. Dollars funded during the three-month campaign – which is supported through individual gifts, corporate and foundation contributions, and workplace giving campaigns – provide funding for the 19 “cornerstone” cultural institutions, such as the Orlando Museum of Art, the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, the Orlando Ballet and the Orlando Science Center.
“United Arts is a one-stop shop funding a plethora of organizations in a wide range of areas,” Garcia says. “Our ultimate goal is to serve the community – to provide interesting, challenging, exciting experiences for the residents of Central Florida.”
The goal for the 2015 collaborative Campaign for the Arts is about $1.8 million, which is 6.8 percent over last year’s goal. Donors can contribute through April 30.
DCF and Partners Launch #itCANbedone Campaign
The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF), along with Community Based Care of Central Florida, former foster youth and partners across the state, launched the “#itCANbedone” campaign on February 6 at the Goodwill Industries in Orlando. This campaign highlights successes of Florida’s foster youth and former foster youth in fulfilling all of their life objectives.
“The Department’s #itCANbedone campaign aims to empower, develop and encourage foster youth and youth who have aged-out of care to have confidence in themselves, share their successes, and be more marketable in a changing workforce,” DCF Regional Managing Director Bill D’Aiuto says. "We want to focus on the successes and how we can make all of our foster youth successful."
Youth and supporters are encouraged to share their successes on social media by posting selfies and other photos or videos while holding up a sign that reads #itCANbedone. Organizers remind participants to also use the hashtag #itCANbedone when posting on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
The campaign website highlights resources available for youth and provides a list of ways that local businesses, organizations and individuals within the community can offer support. Supporters have the opportunity to help with everything from mentorships and internships to fostering and adoption
Neighbors Bring Health Services to Women to Honor Friends
After losing two close friends, one to breast cancer and the other to a heart attack, Patti Ferrari decided to honor their memories and help prevent other deaths by joining forces with friend, Kimberly Dawson, to bring the Florida Hospital for Women’s Mobile Coach to their East Orlando neighborhood.
Florida Hospital for Women’s Mobile Coach brings health services into the community to make preventative screenings more convenient for women. The coach includes a portable mammography unit that provides preventative screenings and comprehensive cardiac screening.
After Dawson, director of the Cardiovascular Institute at Florida Hospital Orlando, told Ferrari about the hospital’s mobile coach, the friends jumped at the chance to host a neighborhood event so women in their community could be screened. “I wanted to do this for the friends that I’ve lost,” says Ferrari. “Mammograms and cardiac screenings could have saved their lives. The mobile coach from Florida Hospital makes the testing process so simple. They literally come to you.”
More than 20 women were screened for breast cancer and had EKGs, blood pressure checks and more during the visit to Florida Hospital for Women’s Mobile Coach. “I would definitely utilize this service in the future and recommend it to all women,” says participant Marianne Nesbit. “It is quick and easy. I was in and out within an hour and had both the mammogram and cardiac screening done. The bus takes the hassle out of everything.”
Harris Rosen Honored For Community Service
Due to his commitment to the Tangelo Park Program, Orlando hotelier and philanthropist, Harris Rosen, was honored with the Coretta Scott King A.N.G.E.L Award at the 32nd Annual Salute to Greatness Award Dinner presented by the King Center in Atlanta. President and COO of Rosen Hotels & Resorts, Rosen has been committed to the three-fold educational community service initiative within the once drug and crime ridden area of Orlando for the past 20 years.
The Tangelo Park Program offers free pre-school for every child, ages two through four, living in Tangelo Park, as well as a full scholarship to community college, four-year college, or a vocational or technical school for every graduating high school senior. Rosen’s personally funded concept also includes a Neighborhood Center for Families where parents can take courses and obtain counseling and other resources that will help them become positive role models for their children.
The Coretta Scott King A.N.G.E.L. (Advancing Nonviolence through Generations of Exceptional Leadership) Award is given in honor of the late Coretta Scott King and recognizes a youth or young adult and a youth organization or initiative that exemplifies exceptional leadership in the areas of peace, social justice and non-violent social change.
"I am so honored that the Tangelo Park Program has been recognized by The King Center, and I am truly humbled to receive an award given in the spirit of Mrs. Coretta Scott King," says Rosen.
Walt Disney World Resort Donates $37.9 Million to CF Community
With nearly 75,000 cast members who call Central Florida home, Walt Disney World Resort is committed to making a difference in the community. Last year, that commitment added up to a record $37.9 million in cash and in-kind donations aimed at strengthening local children and families.
“Here at Walt Disney World Resort, our cast members are honored to give back to the community in a variety of ways, from supporting our schools to grants for local non-profits to the countless hours our VoluntEARS devote to the causes close to their hearts,” says Nancy Gidusko, director of corporate citizenship for Walt Disney World Resort.
As part of its support for its surrounding community, Walt Disney World Resort donated a total of $3.8 million in grants, sponsorships, event support and other contributions through Disney Grants in the past year. The 87 local organizations, including five school districts, that were selected as grant recipients support children and families by promoting the arts, economic development and basic health and wellness needs. More than 85,460 children throughout Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake and Polk counties will benefit from Disney Grants donations in the coming year.
Other Disney contribution in 2014 include the distribution of more than 720,000 pounds of prepared, un-served food to local food banks through the Disney Harvest Program. The resort also gave $14 million in in-kind donations, including clothing, industrial equipment, home and office furniture, and personal hygiene items, to a variety of non-profit organizations in the area.
Winter Garden Prepares for Relay for Life
The American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life of Winter Garden gives everyone in the community a chance to help save lives, and it creates a world with less cancer and more birthdays.
Former and current cancer patients, those who have lost a loved one to cancer, families, businesses, faith-based and civic organizations, and anyone wanting to make a difference in the fight against cancer are invited to take part in this exciting team event. Relay For Life takes place from 6 p.m. on Friday, April 24 until 8 a.m. on Saturday, April 25, 2015 in downtown Winter Garden.
Relay For Life events are held overnight as individuals and teams camp out at an athletic track, park, or fairground, with the goal of keeping at least one team member on the track or pathway at all times. Teams do most of their fundraising prior to the event, but some teams also hold creative fundraisers at their campsites during the event. “Relay For Life draws attention to the progress being made by the American Cancer Society, and the work yet to be done,” says Andrea Vaughn, volunteer Relay For Life event chair. “Many participants are our family, friends and neighbors who have faced cancer themselves. Their involvement gives us hope that, together, we can finish the fight against cancer. Each new team that registers brings us that much closer.”
