UWCK Welcomes Friends from the UAE

At the end of May, United Way of Collier and the Keys welcomed Dana Al Marashi, Head of Cultural Diplomacy at the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Washington, DC.



The trip included:

• A visit to Sugarloaf School with Reef Renewal USA, Inc. to help students with coral fragging.

• A meet and greet with local leaders, UWCK scholarship recipients, coral restoration experts, board members, and more.

• A trip with NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary to Eastern Dry Rocks to see how funding is helping the reef.

• A dynamic discussion about the future of the UWCK-UAE partnership.

Exciting Announcement: New Learning Exchange Program

We're thrilled to announce the upcoming UWCK-UAE Learning Exchange Program, set to begin in 2025. This initiative will connect reef restoration professionals from the UAE and the US, allowing participants to engage in field-based projects and share their expertise.

This new program builds on the success of the "Revitalizing the Florida Keys through Reef Restoration and Beyond" initiative, which began in early 2020 with support from the UAE.

Stay tuned for updates on the exchange program, including participant selection this fall.

Read our recent press release here.

MEDIA:

• US1 Radio interview (Evening Edition - Monday, May 20)
• Keys Weekly article
• United Way Worldwide

CLICK TO WATCH:

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

EASTERN DRY ROCKS DIVE

6,210 Pounds of Food Donated During Feed the Keys - Be Like Mike 2024!

That’s equal to 5,175 meals! With 43% of residents living paycheck-to-paycheck, Feed The Keys helps alleviate food insecurity in honor of "Mangrove" Mike Forster. 

UWCK extends a heartfelt thanks to Burton Memorial United Methodist Church, Keys Area Interdenominational Resources (KAIR), SOS Callahan Community Kitchen, the volunteers, community members, and organizations who donated food and hosted collection sites. Special thanks to our donors and sponsors, including our premier sponsor, Greeen House.

Download our press release here.

UWCK will support local food pantries all summer—stay tuned for more!

Hurricane Season is Here!

CLICK HERE to explore our new Hurricane Resources page!

You'll find links to local emergency services, preparation advice from state and federal agencies, disaster preparedness maps, and a checklist for your disaster supply kit. Plus, get detailed guidance on what to do before, during, and after a storm.

Summer Programs for Children and Families

We're excited to showcase some of our amazing Partner Agencies in Collier County

and what they're offering to children and families this summer.

Watch the videos below for information on each one!

Guadalupe Center

YMCA of Collier County

Fun Time Academy

CLICK TO READ

-UWCK Benefits from Big Green EGGfest

-Maria Jones, UWCK Board Vice Chair, featured in Keys Woman (pages 42 & 43)

-UWCK President and CEO, Tiffani Mensch, featured in charitable giving article

-UWCK President and Ceo, Tiffani Mensch, featured in U.S. News & World Report article

UWCK's Channing Gaufillet welcomed Sugarloaf School kindergarteners to the Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center for an exciting Marine Science Field Trip!

Poinciana Elementary students enjoyed a kayak cleanup, thanks to a Marine Science Education Grant from UWCK!

UWCK attends the United Way Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Communities of Practice Wrap-up and Pre-planning session in Tampa.