Universal Orlando Foundation Celebrates Community Nonprofits; Grants $1.3 Million
December 12, 2023
For the past 25 years, the Universal Orlando Foundation has made meaningful contributions to Central Florida community organizations through innovative grant partnerships. The Foundation’s investment in dozens of diverse community nonprofits enables Universal to make a positive impact where our Guests and Team Members live, work and play.
This week, the Universal Orlando Foundation hosted its second annual “Celebration of Giving” – an event recognizing the important work of these partners – and announced it was awarding $1.3 million in grant funding to 33 local organizations committed to making a difference in the lives of Central Florida residents.
“Caring for the community is at the core of what we do at Universal,” said John Sprouls, Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, Universal Destinations & Experiences. “The work of our community partners is inspiring. We are honored to recognize and support their vision and to work together to bring positive change to our shared community.”
The Universal Orlando Foundation supports groups that provide a wide range of services, including basic needs like combatting hunger and homelessness, to improving and expanding childhood development, education, mental health and more. Since 1998, the Foundation has awarded more than $32 million in grants to help support organizations in Central Florida that provide aid to local children and families.
See this year’s “Celebration of Giving” grant recipients below:
Recipient of $230,000 Grant:
Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida: to support the continuation of the Bites, Camera, Action partnership with Universal Orlando. Bites, Camera, Action is a mobile food pantry that has provided more than 1.6 million meals to school children, veterans and other members of the community.
Recipients of $100,000 Grants:
A Gift for Teaching: to support its Multiplying the Momentum program, which will help the organization build capacity through the improvement of its core IT infrastructure and the full implementation of Kits for Kids revenue-generating school supply packing experience.
Boys & Girls Club of Central Florida: to support its Mental Health Myth Busters & Social Emotional Learning Programming, which reduces mental health stigma, increases awareness and warning signs, develops peer-to-peer support strategies and advocacy.
Children’s Home Society of Florida: to support its Soaring Eagles Literacy Program at Eccleston Elementary’s Community Partnership School, which will include a new tutoring initiative for students in grades K-2, a new summer camp, and revamping its family-focused S.O.A.R. Café (Supporting Our Academic Relationship).
Nemours Foundation: to support its Nemours Swim Academy for neurodivergent children in Central Florida.
Orlando Family Stage: to support its Theatre for the Very Young Community Outreach Productions for children under five.
Osceola Council on Aging: to support its Food for Families Program, which is designed to improve the overall health and wellbeing of underserved families by providing access to healthy foods.
Quest, Inc.: to support Quest’s Camp Thunderbird Youth Experiences program, which will help establish quality, revenue-generating youth and family programming in the camp.
SALT Outreach: to support its Seminole County Mobile Drop-in Center, which will provide showers, case management, hygiene, food, mail services, and other essential services for the area’s homeless individuals.
Recipients of $50,000 Grant:
Family Promise of Greater Orlando: to support its SUV Program (Serving Unhoused Veterans), which will provide housing services, case management and other services for local Veteran families.
Recipients of $10,000 Grants:
After-School All-Stars
Camp Boggy Creek
Canine Companions for Independence
City Year Orlando
Commission on Homelessness
Foundation for Orange County Public Schools
Foundation for Seminole State College
Give Kids the World
Habitat for Humanity
Holocaust Center
Junior Achievement of Central Florida
Lighthouse Central Florida
Make-A-Wish Foundation of Central & Northern Florida
Orlando Fringe
Orlando Health Foundation
Orlando Science Center
Shepherd’s Hope
Special Olympics Florida
UCP of Central Florida
United Arts of Central Florida
University of Central Florida Foundation
Valencia College Foundation
Zebra Coalition
