ORLANDO (CityofOrlando.net) – In 2011, Mayor Buddy Dyer launched Orlando Cares, the City’s service initiative that addresses two key community challenges – improving youth literacy and increasing community safety.
Orlando Cares mobilizes citizens as volunteers who make service part of the solution to the two issues. Since 2011, thousands of youth have been served via the initiative’s six programs and 2,200 volunteers have provided their time and skills.
To sign up to volunteer, or to learn more about Orlando Cares, call 407.246.2500 or click here.
Mayor Dyer’s Book Club
Lead Partner: Orange County Library System
By encouraging leisure time reading and creative expression, this initiative is improving literacy in our community by making reading fun. Volunteers host book clubs at community centers or public libraries.
Preschool Ambassadors
Lead Partners: Early Learning Coalition of Central Florida and the Adult Literacy League
Volunteers engage families in early literacy activities, increase pre-kindergarten enrollment and improve literacy instruction in pre-kindergarten centers.
The Garden
Leader Partner: Orange County 4-H
The Garden is an after-school program for Orlando’s youth and provides a safe and constructive opportunity to connect with nature. Participants learn about healthy food grown in their own container gardens as well as careers in science and agriculture with the guidance of volunteers.
Path Finders
Lead Partners: Junior Achievement of Central Florida and After School All Stars
Path Finders is a six-week after-school program that gives middle school students opportunities to learn about themselves, their values and goals while developing a path toward a successful future through career exploration and academic planning. Volunteers mentor students as they explore careers.
Third Grade Reads Powered by Read2Succeed
Lead Partners: The Foundation for Orange County Public Schools and Orange County Public Schools
Through the Third Grade Reads program, volunteers help increase the reading levels of students once they reach the third grade by improving second graders’ reading fluency and enhancing the vocabularies of first graders.
Take Heart Orlando
Partner: Orlando Fire Department
Take Heart Orlando is a community-wide hands-only CPR/AED initiative. This free, 30-minute training is available to all City residents, businesses and organizations. Volunteers are trained by the Orlando Fire Department and then help as CPR trainers.
