Volunteer

Did you know that the average American volunteers 52 hours a year? That equates to 1 hour per week! Where are they finding the time, and more importantly, where are they GIVING their time? Heart of Florida United Way invests $40M per year to support the Central Florida community, and volunteers are a crucial part […]

Last year, Orlando’s $70 billion tourism industry hit a record high of 75 million visitors. A significant contributor to that success are conventions and large-scale meetings that account for more than $2 billion in annual economic impact and attracts more than 2 million visitors to the region. In 2019, Orlando was ranked No. 1 in Cvent’s […]

Change Maker Impact Awards Central Florida is a community that embraces all that it means to Live United. As a master of community collaboration, Heart of Florida United Way brings together the public and private sectors to create a better life for every person in Central Florida. Which means we get to see first-hand the […]

This is the time of year when generosity and goodwill are at their highest. However, giving back year round is good for your employee morale and your business. In fact, highly engaged business teams result in 21% greater productivity. As a company, it’s important to engage your employees in the joyous season by offering the […]

It was the first day of school and Eddy sat alone at his desk in the corner. On the back of his chair hung a plastic bag with 2 half-used notebooks and a handful of dull pencils. Around him, his classmates unpacked their backpacks filled with new school supplies. Next to him, Eddy could hear […]

Who will give hope to the hungry? David had a long standing tradition of taking his family out for dinner on Valentine’s Day. It had started when he and his wife first started dating and expanded to include their growing family over the years. It was something he always looked forward to with balloons, a […]

The holidays are a time to celebrate. But for the Puerto Rican evacuees fleeing to Central Florida, the joy and festivities of the season were harder to get into. Many have lost everything: their homes, their jobs, some have even lost family members from Hurricane Maria. While trying to figure out next steps, some families […]

Motherhood should be a time of joy and excitement. But as Emma stared down at her baby crying on the changing pad, all she felt was guilt and shame. Her last dollar had just gone to paying rent and her next paycheck was still two days away. She only had three diapers left. With tears […]

Volunteer Opportunities During the Holiday Season The smell of turkey. The excitement of buying gifts. It’s easy to get caught up in the commotion of the holiday season, but for many in our community, it’s a time of great need. Across Central Florida, there are those who are struggling to pay rent let alone buy […]

With the hustle and bustle of the holidays, it’s easy to get bogged down in preparing for festivities. Despite the frenzy of the season, many consider this a time to give back to our community. This is why Heart of Florida United Way has compiled its 2016 Holiday Volunteer Guide. This comprehensive list features volunteer […]

Did you know that up to 30% of new moms are not able to afford enough diapers to change their babies as often as needed? A recent study found that as many as one in three mothers had cut back significantly on food, childcare, or utilities just to afford diapers for their newborn. Can you imagine […]

June 12th was one of the most devastating days in our region’s history. We lost 49 of our neighbors in the early morning hours due to the horrible acts of one man. Like many of you, we are still struggling to come to grips with this tragedy, how it happened and how to prevent it […]