Families, Parks and Recreation
Press
Releases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact:
Brie
Turek (407) 246-3106
Laura Bornfreund (407) 246-3423
Mayor Buddy Dyer and
City Commissioners Approve the Establishment of legacy
Trust for Orlando Children
ORLANDO, FL (January 30, 2006)—
At today’s City Council meeting, Mayor Buddy Dyer and
City Commissioners approved the establishment of a
Legacy Trust for Orlando Children, which will be
dedicated to improving the lives of low-income children
and families in the City of Orlando. Under the direction
of Mayor Dyer, Lisa Early, the Director of the City's
Families, Parks and Recreation Department will serve as
the initial advisor to the Community Foundation of
Central Florida with respect to the Legacy Trust making
recommendations for grants and distributions.
“What we do now
to support our children will not only make our community
a better place, but will also secure the future of this
great City,” said Mayor Dyer. “What the City can do is
help supplement classroom learning, through quality
pre-kindergarten and after-school programming, tutoring,
mentoring and college counseling and parental support,
so that our City’s children will gain life-long tools
for success.”
According to the
2000 Census, 54% of Orlando’s children are growing up in
poverty and low-income households. Most of their parents
hold down jobs, but their income isn’t sufficient to
afford the basics - housing, transportation, food,
healthcare, and childcare.
“Children in
poverty face the City’s highest rates of juvenile crime,
teen pregnancy and academic struggles with most reading
below grade level, said Lisa Early. “The Legacy Trust
will help the City focus on preventing these problems,
through grants and donations we can improve conditions
for our City’s children.”
The Legacy Trust
will assist children and families, guided by a model
developed by Harlem Children’s Zone. Scholarships can be
given to children in low-income Orlando neighborhoods,
so they can participate in pre-k programs, health care,
after school activities, tutoring, youth jobs and higher
education programs, and programs that build family
economic security. Creative outreach will occur in these
neighborhoods to engage as many children as possible in
programs.
As a pilot program, the initial
replication of the Harlem Children’s Zone will take
place in the Parramore Heritage Community, as the
Parramore Kidz Zone. It will link children to positive
opportunities, like pre-kindergarten, health care,
mentoring, and after school programs, and help Parramore
families become more economically secure. 2,066 children
live in Parramore with 73% living in poverty. Because of
Parramore Kidz Zone, Parramore’s children will be better
equipped to grow up strong, healthy and well educated.
The Legacy Trust is a donor advised
fund administered by the Community Foundation of Central
Florida. The trust will enhance fundraising and grant
efforts to benefit children residing in low-income
neighborhoods within the City, allowing donors and
grantors to contribute directly to 501(c)(3) charitable
organizations such as the Community Foundation of
Central Florida as opposed to governmental organizations
such as the City.
A donor advised
fund is a management and investment vehicle for the
receipt of charitable contributions, the assets of which
are owned and held by the Community Foundation of
Central Florida for distribution for such charitable
purposes as are determined by the entity establishing
the fund. Those interested in contributing to the fund
can find out more at www.cfcflorida.org, or by calling
407-872-3050.
For more
information on Mayor Dyer’s children and education
efforts please visit the City of Orlando website at:
www.cityoforlando.net.
The Community
Foundation of Central Florida was established in 1994 to
advance local philanthropy while responding to community
needs and supporting charitable organizations. Today the
Foundation has grown to hold more than 345 charitable
funds with assets of more than $36 million. Since its
establishment in 1994, the Foundation has made more than
$10 million in grants to improve the quality of life in
our Central Florida community and the well-being of our
citizens.
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