"Cradle to Career" Program Funding
From providing quality day care for pre-schoolers to helping teens make smart choices about college, HFUW is funding more than a dozen critical programs that support education across all four of our investment areas. Learn more.

Interfaith School Turnaround Pilot (IFSTP)

Based on our investment in education, HFUW is serving as the lead agency in a national pilot designed to improve students' literacy skills and achievement. Known as the Interfaith School Turnaround Pilot – or IFSTP – the program was designed by the U.S. Department of Education and others. Locally, HFUW has launched the project at Memorial Middle School, as well as Richmond Heights, Palmetto and Catalina elementary schools. To date, HFUW has recruited more than 100 faith-based volunteers who are tutoring and mentoring students, while providing additional support to teachers and parents. Learn more.

Read-Tutor-Mentor Initiative
In support of United Way Worldwide's goal to recruit 1 million education volunteers and cut the national drop-out rate in half by 2018, HFUW is recruiting 3,000 local readers, tutors and mentors to help local students and schools succeed. Click here to get involved.

City Year Orlando
As a member of the local founding committee and a key funder, HFUW is supporting the 2012 launch of City Year, a successful national peer mentoring program. An exploratory team of 10 City Year Corps members is currently working with 9th grade students at Oakridge High School, with a full roll-out planned later this year at four additional Orange County Public School locations. City Year is an initiative of the federal AmeriCorps program. It brings young leaders together for a year of full-time service focused on improving achievement at under-performing schools. Learn more.

Race to the Top Grant
HFUW rallied stakeholders and provided grant application support for Orange County Public Schools' successful bid to attract $24 million in federal Race to the Top funding. Grant dollars are being used to improve student achievement, family  engagement, teacher training and math, science and technology programs at Memorial Middle School, as well as Evans and Oak Ridge high schools. Learn more.

Evans High Community School
Coinciding with the debut of Evans High School's new campus, HFUW is one of several partners who will be helping transform it into a "Community School" -- one that serves the academic and extended needs of students and their families. By offering year-round academic, enrichment, health and social service programs, Community Schools create better students, stronger families and a healthier, more engaged community. Other partners include the University of Central Florida, the Children's Home Society of Florida and JPMorgan Chase Foundation. Learn more.