Celebrating Children’s Day at the Capitol: A Magical Day of Learning, Advocacy, and Connection

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Each year, Children’s Day at the Capitol brings together thousands of young minds, passionate advocates, and community leaders in a collective effort to celebrate, educate, and inspire. This year, approximately 3,000 children filled the halls of the Florida Capitol, turning the space into a vibrant hub of creativity and possibility. Among them was United Way of Central Florida’s ReadingPals Manager, Ruthie Teets, who played a pivotal role in creating memorable experiences for the children who attended.

Representing United Way of Central Florida’s ReadingPals Program and The Children’s Movement of Florida, Ruthie spent the day in the beloved Storybook Village, a magical space where stories came to life through interactive reading, hands-on activities, and imaginative play. At United Way’s booth, children delighted in hearing The Animal Boogie, a lively tale that got them moving, dancing, and singing along. They then chose their favorite jungle animal mask to create, allowing them to step into the world of storytelling in a playful and engaging way.

This year’s Storybook Village was the biggest and most enchanting yet—a place where timeless tales came to life through play, costumed characters, and immersive reading stages that sparked imagination at every turn. The energy and excitement throughout the day served as a powerful reminder of why early childhood education, literacy, and advocacy matter so much.

Beyond the Storybook Village, Ruthie explored the Capitol Rotunda, where children from across the state worked together to create the breathtaking Celebration of the Hands, a larger-than-life artistic display that serves as a daily reminder to legislators, advocates, and visitors that the future of Florida’s children rests in their hands.

The day was packed with meaningful moments—from youth performances that uplifted the crowd to engaging booths filled with resources and interactive experiences. The event offered something for everyone, with early learning tools for young children, health and wellness resources for families, and countless ways to engage and connect with partners across the state.

At United Way of Central Florida, we are proud to be part of this movement—to champion literacy, support early learning initiatives, and ensure children across our community have the tools to succeed. Events like Children’s Day at the Capitol reinforce the importance of working together to create a brighter future, one book, one story, and one inspired child at a time.

The future is in our hands—let’s continue to lift up, educate, and empower the next generation!

 

Highlands County Day of Caring 2025

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Individuals and organizations from across Highlands County came together on April 10 for United Way of Central Florida’s Day of Caring, an annual event where volunteers participate in projects that make a significant impact on the local community. 

This year, over 350 volunteers rolled up their sleeves to help local nonprofits by cleaning parks, sanitizing children’s toys, stocking shelves, painting walls, and much more. All projects benefited nonprofit organizations that partner with UWCF to improve the health, education, financial stability, and basic needs of residents in Highlands County. 

“There is no way we could have this kind of impact without such an amazing group of community members!” said Shawn Beumel, United Way of Central Florida Director of Highlands County. “I truly believe that our United Way Day of Caring is the largest community-wide volunteer event in Highlands County.” 

The event gave supporters a chance to witness firsthand the incredible programs UWCF helps fund. Volunteers spent the morning providing much-needed services to organizations that work tirelessly for the community—an experience that left many feeling inspired and grateful. It was also a unique opportunity for volunteers, workplaces, and agencies to form meaningful connections while working side-by-side to create lasting change. 

“United Way has a lot of supporters, and the Day of Caring allows them to be difference makers!” Beumel added. 

Among the many participating nonprofits was the Children’s Museum of the Highlands. Executive Director Kelly Dressel shared, “Day of Caring brings our community together to love on us as we focus on our mission of Learning Through Play! This year, crews helped build our newest dinosaur-themed exhibit, transforming an older play space into a vibrant new area with toddler sensory busy boards, a Safari jeep, soft flooring, and large dinosaur play pieces. The all-hands-on-deck approach in just a few hours made a huge impact on our small organization. We are so very blessed by this hands-on love. 

 Thank you to all the volunteers and organizations that came together to make this year’s Day of Caring a success!

For a full album of event photos, click here.

UWCF Recognizes the Vital Community Hotline on National 211 Day

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Today, February 11th (2/11), marks National 211 Day-an annual observance celebrating the vital 24/7, three-digit (2-1-1) resource that connects millions of people in the U.S. and Canada with critical community services. This includes residents in Polk, Hardee, and Highlands counties. For over 40 years, 211 has served as a lifeline, connecting individuals to resources and services available in their local communities.

In the past year, 211 has fielded over 45,000 calls in Polk, Hardee, and Highlands counties, with housing and shelter requests being the most common need.

211 is a key resource for individuals and families in Polk, Hardee, and Highlands counties who need assistance with disaster response, food, healthcare, mental health support, insurance, stable housing, utility payments, veteran services, childcare, and other essential needs.

Key facts about 211 include:

  • Available 24/7, free, and confidential, accessible in 99% of U.S. communities
  • Offered in over 180 languages

Specialists offer empathetic, non-judgmental support and connect individuals to a broad range of resources to meet not just the immediate need but also any underlying issues that may be present.

“211 is a critical service that connects individuals to resources across a wide range of issues,” said Christina Criser Jackson, President & CEO of United Way of Central Florida. “On 211 Day, we aim to raise awareness of this essential resource and celebrate the lifeline it provides to thousands of Central Floridians.”

Established in 2000 by the Federal Communications Commission, 211 was designated as the three-digit number to connect people to health, human, and social services. Today, it remains a trusted resource for individuals seeking help and hope in their communities.

While 211 operates year-round, it is particularly vital during times of disaster, such as hurricanes, flooding, and wildfires, helping to spread accurate, vetted information and ensuring that 911 is reserved for physical emergencies.

On National 211 Day, United Way of Central Florida encourages residents in Polk, Hardee, and Highlands counties to:

  • Call, text, or chat 211 if they or someone they know needs help
  • Share 211 with neighbors, family, and friends to connect others to support
  • Advocate to local policymakers for the importance of and need to strengthen 211 services
United Way of Central Florida

UWCF & Partners Successfully Help Families Displaced by Fire at The Imperial Swan Hotel Find New Housing

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United Way of Central Florida Hosts Community Recovery Event at RP Funding Center

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As the United Way of Central Florida continues to respond to the needs of our community in the wake of recent storms, we are proud to invite residents to a Community Recovery Outreach Event at the RP Funding Center on Saturday, November 23rd, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. This event is designed to bring awareness to essential services, provide resources to those impacted by the storm, and address ongoing challenges faced by our neighbors.

United Way of Central Florida, in collaboration with community partners including Combee Connection, City of Lakeland, The Freedom Tour, GiveWell Community Foundation, Polk County, Polk Emergency Management, Polk Vision and others, aims to connect local residents with vital assistance. This event will offer a variety of resources, including FEMA assistance, food and toiletry kits, health services, and more—while supplies last.

Date: Saturday, November 23, 2024

Time: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Location: RP Funding Center, 701 W Lime St, Lakeland, FL 33815

 

Participating Organizations:

  • Central Florida Health Care
  • FEMA
  • Florida Department of Health
  • The Freedom Tour
  • Lighthouse Ministries
  • Polk County Community Health Care
  • Polk for Recovery
  • Polk Vision
  • United Way Community Wellness
  • United Way Success By 6

“We recognize that many of our neighbors are still facing challenges in the aftermath of the storm, and this event is an important step in ensuring that help is available,” said Christina Criser Jackson, President & CEO at United Way of Central Florida. “We are grateful for the support of our partners and for the opportunity to offer relief and connect our community members with the resources they need.”

United Way of Central Florida encourages all community members who need assistance to attend. If residents are unable to attend, they can be referred to available services by dialing 211 or texting their zip code to 898-211.