By Josh Cohen Aug. 3, 2017
ORLANDO – The more prepared a student is for college before enrollment the more likely they will succeed and achieve their career goals.
The YMCA Achievers Program of Central Florida helps unlock those academic and career doors for teenagers and exposes them to diverse career and technical education options.
With assistance from the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation (OMYF), more teens are able to utilize YMCA’s resources and learn about various potential career opportunities.
Earlier this year, Central Florida YMCA was one of 17 nonprofit organizations to receive financial assistance from OMYF through a $75,000 grant. The OMYF distributed a grand sum of $1 million this past season and $22 million has been donated to children over the last 27 years through the Magic’s charitable arm.
Representatives from each foundation gathered in February at Amway Center to accept OMYF’s gift to them.
“It’s very special because it will allow us to impact more teens,” said Mina Ford, executive director of the YMCA Achievers Program. “Our focus is career and college readiness. We’re very excited. Impacting teens, of course, is very important and to have the support of the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation really makes it very special.”
Now more than ever because of the rapid growth of technology, students are able to explore a range of unique and rewarding academic tracks. Through the Achievers Program, middle and high school kids acquire invaluable knowledge and skills they will need to thrive in college. They are able to discover technologies and trends that are transforming throughout the American workplace. Also, students planning to attend any level of postsecondary education can benefit from college prep courses and guidance.
The grant from OMYF will allow the Achievers Program to be active in three different counties throughout Central Florida. In effect, more students will have access to the abundance of resources this program offers.
In addition to offering local organizations financial support, OMYF hosts a variety of fundraisers throughout the year. The OMYF raised more than $1 million combined during their annual golf tournament, the OMYF Open, and the Black Tie & Tennies Gala.
To learn more about the YMCA Achievers Program of Central Florida, visit https://ymcacentralflorida.com/. For more information on OMYF, go to https://www.omyf.org.
2017 OMYF grant recipients: Adult Literacy League ($40,000); Aspire Health Partners - Zebra Coalition ($100,000); Boys & Girls Club of Central Florida ($75,000); Central Florida YMCA ($75,000); Christian Service Center ($20,000); Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida ($50,000); Early Learning Coalition of Orange County ($65,000); ELEVATE Orlando ($60,000); Foundation for Foster Children ($60,000); Foundation for Seminole State College of Florida ($50,000); Hope CommUnity Center ($55,000); IMPOWER ($50,000); Junior Achievement of Central Florida ($100,000); The Nemours Foundation ($50,000); Orlando Science Center ($50,000); University of Central Florida Foundation ($50,000); Valencia College Foundation ($50,000).