OUR MISSION… OUR VISION…
United Foundation of Central Florida, Inc., (UFCF) is a 501(c)(3) public foundation that was formed in 2014 to address our After-School needs, increase our graduation rate, increase the number of students attending college, food insecurities, lack of affordable housing, job skill sets and reduce crime to name a few. We started to focus on early intervention, leading to prevention. Accomplishing this result takes a village, which means partnering and uniting with local community and neighborhood organizations to transform families and individuals positively, utilizing early intervention and educational resources.
OUR MISSION: The mission of the United Foundation of Central Florida is to bridge the gaps in family, educational, and mentoring needs in our community through a holistic approach, employing early intervention strategies to foster prevention on a global scale.
OUR VISION: Empowering communities one family at a time globally.
PUTTING THINGS INTO PERSPECTIVE
The foundation's primary focus is Early Intervention, emphasizing the critical importance of the first five years in shaping a child's future learning and success. Research shows that 90% of a child's brain development occurs before the age of 5, highlighting the need for equal educational opportunities nationwide during this crucial period.
In 2012, one out of every six Orange County public elementary schools had 50% of kindergarteners classified as "not ready" for school. Additionally, statistics from the Florida Department of Education reveal that one-third of Orange County children lack the necessary preparation for kindergarten. Recognizing the significance of active and responsible citizenship within our communities, the foundation strives to lead the world into an era of giving and hope, leaving it in a better state than we found it. To achieve this, we diligently invest in youth education, foster unity, and promote family and leadership development. Choosing quality childcare for your child is one of the most vital decisions parents or guardians make, and we aim to make that decision easier.
To address community concerns, UFCF's Board of Directors researched effective programs that focus on neighborhood improvement. The Tangelo Park Program emerged as one of the most successful initiatives to date. Aligned with our mission to partner with local community organizations, the program utilizes early intervention and educational resources to positively transform families and individuals. Since its implementation in 1994, the Tangelo Park Program has generated tangible results in job creation, increased graduation rates from 20% to 100%, crime reduction, and enhanced family unity. Inspired by this proven success, we seek the community's support to establish the "Pine Hills Program."
Our directors have crafted an engagement plan, forging purposeful partnerships with over 20 companies, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and individuals. This collaborative approach has enabled us to achieve our foundation's goals over the past eight years. By leveraging our collective experiences, we strive to develop tailored solutions for each community, positively transforming schools, families, and neighborhoods.
During these past eight years, our programs have successfully honed in on their core objective of holistic development. We have mentored over 600 students, with 201 graduates from our Future Leaders United After-School Enrichment and Mentoring Program. We have sent 188 students to college, 10 to the military, and 2 to vocational/trade schools, while our Educational Scholarship Program has awarded $212,500 in scholarships. In addition to educational support, we have provided over $30,000 in alumni assistance to ensure the ongoing success of our students in their collegiate pursuits. By reducing crime in the Pine Hills Community by 46%, increasing the graduation rate at Maynard Evans High School from 42% to 97%, and improving access to equitable and high-paying jobs for our families, we are making a tangible impact. Furthermore, our Food Distribution Program has distributed over 4.2 million meals in the past five years. Through the combined efforts of our Board of Directors, after-school program students, volunteers, and partners, we have contributed over 163,458 hours of volunteerism, resulting in an economic impact of over $8,545,885 to the communities we serve.