As we look back on 2024, we’re filled with gratitude for our amazing donors, volunteers, and sponsors! Their support has been instrumental in strengthening our community and brightening countless lives.

Here’s a list of 10 achievements we accomplished together:

We Celebrated the Beginning of our 85th Anniversary
Together, we’ve chosen to LIVE UNITED for 85 years, making incredible strides in Central Florida. But our 85-year story is just the beginning. Our next chapter will be bolder, brighter, and better than ever. View this video to learn more.

Our Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program Secured Millions in Tax Refunds
Our VITA program helped 2,502 families file their taxes, secured over $2.6 million in total tax refunds, and saved our community nearly $563,000 in tax preparation fees. Our 197 volunteers helped families claim over $730,000 in Earned Income Tax Credits. Learn more about VITA.

We Unveiled our First-ever Documentary Film, “Know Your Place”
The film premiered during Black History Month at the Orlando Science Center. This powerful film delves into Central Florida’s history of racism, featuring personal stories of those who faced racial injustice. The premiere drew over 200 attendees, underscoring the community’s commitment to understanding and addressing our past. Watch the trailer.

We Hosted a Record-Breaking Women United Luncheon
At this year’s event, Olympic Gymnast Dominique Dawes delivered an inspiring keynote speech on the importance of family and work-life balance. Over 600 dynamic women leaders joined us at the luncheon and as a result, we raised over $200,000 to support ALICE families in Central Florida. Learn more about the event.

New Born Learning Trail Opened at Sylvan Lake Park in Seminole County
Thanks to a sponsorship from the Early Learning Coalition of Seminole and the State of Florida — as well as over 60 dedicated volunteers — we opened a the new Born Learning Trail at Sylvan Lake Park, which features interactive signs in both English and Spanish. It was designed to encourage young children to explore, learn, and grow alongside their families.

We Kicked Off a Game-Changing Partnership with Orlando Pride
We formed a multi-year partnership with Orlando Pride, becoming the club’s first-ever exclusive sleeve partner and proud charity partner. Along with influencing social impact in our community, Orlando Pride finished a record-breaking season, winning the NWSL championship. Learn more about this partnership.

We Launched a Spanish Language Mental Health Campaign with Advent Health
Building on “Be a Mindleader,” a mental health destigmatization campaign, we launched “Lidera ConscienteMENTE” to address mental health stigma in the Hispanic community. This Spanish-language campaign provides resources and encourages open conversations to bridge the gap between need and support. Learn more about this destigmatization campaign.

Polk County Families Gained Access to Help Me Grow
Help Me Grow provides resources for parents of children who are facing behavioral and developmental challenges. By being able to identify behavioral and developmental concerns early, they are able to connect children and their families to local developmental and behavioral services and support. Learn more about Help Me Grow.

Expanded our Community Baby Shower
For the first time, we hosted the Community Baby Shower in two locations, ensuring the event was accessible for those across our service areas in Orange, Osceola, and Seminole counties. And as a result, we provided essential items and support to 150 new and expecting parents. Thanks to the generosity of sponsors and volunteers, each family received over $400 worth of items, including diapers, formula, and clothing. View a recap video of this year’s event.

We Distributed a Record Number of Meal Kits During our Thanksgiving Project
This Thanksgiving, we processed over 50 pallets of food, weighing over 50,000 pounds! With the help of over 1,000 dedicated volunteer shifts, we carefully sorted and packaged shelf stable ingredients into 5,000 kits, providing warm, nourishing meals for up to 20,000 people throughout Orange, Osceola, and Seminole counties. View a recap video of this year’s event.