Orlando, Fla., Aug. 25, 2014 – The YMCA of Central Florida today announced that it has received a $4.2 million gift from Dr. Phillips Charities to help expand its mission and create lasting community change.
The gift is Dr. Phillips Charities’ latest investment in the YMCA of Central Florida association, which has received a total of $38,447,923 from the foundation.
“Dr. Phillips Charities’ impact over the past 30 years has been dramatic,” said Jim Ferber, YMCA of Central Florida President and CEO. “With the foundation’s steadfast commitment to the Y’s cause, we are able to provide life-changing programs for people of all ages, abilities and incomes.” In 1993, the Y was serving just 18,000 residents, and because of their philanthropic legacy, today the Y impacts the lives of 235,400 kids, families and seniors in more than 100 neighborhoods.
This relationship has also enabled the Y to go into ─ and remain ─ in fragile communities such as Pine Hills, South Orlando and Tangelo Park. Eleven of the 27 YMCA of Central Florida Family Centers provide subsidized services in communities including youth-mentoring, family-strengthening and prevention-based health and wellness programs to those in need.
Inspired by Dr. Phillips Charities’ belief in helping people help themselves, the Y is also tackling many pressing issues of the day – things like closing the academic achievement gap, combatting chronic disease, reducing family stress and instilling values in youth.
“In the YMCA of Central Florida, Dr. Phillips Charities found a partner who shares our commitment to making the Central Florida community a better place to live,” said Ken Robinson, President, Dr. Phillips Charities. Through our support of the YMCA, we have been able to leverage our grant dollars positively impacting children and families through a variety of projects and programs.”
Dr. Phillips Charities’ recent gift also coincides with the launch of the Y’s 2014-2018 Strategic Vision Plan, which calls for expanding the Y’s impact to reach 20% of the population – or 600,000 people ─ within five years. In doing so, the organization hopes to achieve a “tipping point” for real and measurable change in the areas of youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.
The relationship between the Y and Dr. Phillips Charities dates back to 1983 when The Dr. P. Phillips Foundation sought to create a community gathering space in the heart of its founder’s namesake community. Thanks to the foundation’s donation of land and construction funding, the new Dr. P. Phillips Y opened its doors in 1985. Additional capital funding has followed, including an $8.8 million donation Dr. Phillips Charities recently provided to transform the facility into one of the most progressive, Healthy Living Ys in the nation.
Dr. Phillips Charities has also funded other capital projects at the Osceola, South Orlando, Roper (West Orange), Wayne Densch (Pine Hills), Downtown Orlando and YMCA Aquatic Center Family Centers. Additionally, in 1999, funding from Dr. Phillips Charities led to the creation of Safe Start, the Y’s groundbreaking infant water survival program that has helped more than 13,400 children and families avoid the tragedy of drowning.
“We know that Y programs change lives. We see it every day when a child learns to read, a family grows stronger, an adult overcomes diabetes or a senior stays healthy, mobile and independent,” Ferber said. “We also know we can’t do it alone. That’s why we are deeply grateful for the incredible generosity, vision and leadership of Dr. Phillips Charities. Together, we are empowering Central Florida for the good.”
About the YMCA of Central Florida
The YMCA of Central Florida is one of the area’s largest nonprofits committed to strengthening communities across Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Brevard and Marion counties with services in more than 100 neighborhoods. It is a diverse organization of men, women and children joined by a shared commitment to Youth Development, Healthy Living and Social Responsibility. Each day about 35,000 Central Florida residents are impacted by the Y when a mentor inspires a child, individuals make healthy choices and a community comes together for common good. In 2013, this YMCA Association of over 1,800 employees impacted over 235,000 residents and invested, during a challenging economy, $10.2 million in its local communities. The YMCA of Central Florida also provided $9.2 million in financial assistance to children and families.
About Dr. Phillips Charities
The Dr. Phillips name has been a major economic and philanthropic presence in the Central Florida community since the turn of the 20th century. Dr. Phillips Charities honors the legacy of the Phillips family and its support of organizations that live up to the motto "to help others help themselves." The organization has been a leader in shaping the nonprofit sector by designing innovative programs to solve community problems, investing in state-of-the-art facilities and equipment and granting funds to expand services to meet the needs of a growing central Florida population. Dr. Phillips Charities has an ongoing commitment to support organizations in the Dr. Phillips community located in southwest Orange County where the Phillips family had substantial investments during their life time. Income produced from a portfolio of rental properties and other investments funds Dr. Phillips Charities’ grantmaking.