When 11-year-old Dawayne’s grandmother enrolled him in an Orlando area Boys & Girls Club program, he was failing fifth grade. Video games and sports were his primary interests, but that gradually changed when a male volunteer was assigned to help him study. Within weeks his grades, behavior and reading abilty improved. He even began putting tutoring time ahead of club activities. As this story shows, positive, caring attention can make a huge difference in life of a child. Fortunately for Dawayne and hundreds of other local kids like him, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida is there to provide a fun, nurtuing place to place to grow up safe, strong and prepared for the future.
Heart of Florida United Way Announced Building Safe Communities Request for Proposal (RFP) for 2011 – 2012
Heart of Florida United Way's 2008 Tri-County Needs Assessment identified crime reduction and enhanced public safety as leading community concerns. Community safety involves a wide range of elements including how people feel about safety where they live. In a safe community, residents do not worry about their safety when engaged in day-to-day activities. A safe community provides support systems, access to information and services to its residents.
Our goal:Focus on crime prevention by addressing root causes of crime and violence with evidenced-based initiatives/programs that have measurable impacts on public safety at the community level.
HFUW remains committed to the original goals outlined in the first Request for Proposal (RFP) and again invited applications for initiatives/programs that demonstrate how they will "move the needle" at the community level on issues related to crime reduction and enhanced public safety. The RFP process was open to qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that service Orange, Osceola and/or Seminole counties that promote lasting, measurable change - not just for today, but for generations to come.
For the 2011 - 2012 funding year, HFUW invited applications from mission-driven, nonprofit faith- and community-based organizations. An emphasis was placed on collaborative initiatives demonstrating coordinated initiative/program strategies that may include unique partnerships of organizations.
Stage I (Letters of Interest submission) for the 2011 - 2012 HFUW funding period is now closed.The due date for submitting an LOI was September 30, 2010.
To review the complete 2011 - 2012 Building Safe Communities RFP, click here.
To review the presentation from the concluded Concept Meetings,click here.
Any questions related to the Building Safe Communities Through Education initiative and/or the online competitive grant application process should be directed to JahKiya Bell at 407-429-2171 or email jahkiya.bell@hfuw.org.
To learn more about Building Safe Communities Through Education, click here.
When Central Florida neighborhoods are safe and secure, we all win. To support programs that help build safe communities, click hereto donate.
When Central Florida
neighborhoods are safe and secure, we all win.
To support programs that help build safe communities, click on the Donate Now button.
Making a Difference
364,000
In 2009-10, United Way funded programs helped nearly 364,000 Central Floridians lead healthier, safer lives.
26,000
local children and teens participated in after-school programs that help them succeed in school and avoid risky behavior.
23,000
residents received substance-abuse and mental-health counseling services.
5,000
youth took part in activities or educational programs to increase/maintain their school performance.
Did You Know?
The most accurate predictor of a student's success in school is not income or social status - it is the extent to which the student's family is involved at school and in the community. *
Misdemeanor "disorderly conduct" and "assault and battery" accounted for 40 percent of all school-related delinquency referrals in Florida over the past five years. **
Florida ranks 50th in per capita spending on education but ranks 16th in the nation in spending on corrections. ***
* Florida Department of Education ** Florida Department of Juvenile Justice *** NEA Rankings of the States 2008-2009
