Keyshaundra Reynolds’s journey from homelessness and addiction to stability and success is a testament to the transformative power of support and perseverance. Struggling just a year ago, she found herself alone, burdened by debt and in despair. She joined the Success Training Employment Program through United Against Poverty which marked a turning point. With the guidance of our STEP team, she tackled her challenges head-on. Despite setbacks, Keyshaundra never lost hope. Graduating from STEP, Keyshaundra landed a job at a local apartment complex. With this newfound stability, she secured her own apartment and left behind the cycle of poverty. Keyshaundra’s story embodies resilience and the promise of a brighter future.
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About Us
This is the Headline
Our Mission
&
Vision
United Against Poverty was incorporated in 2003 with the vision of helping communities where every family and individual has access to basic needs, nutritional food, crisis care, education, and employment training, and where everyone has the opportunity to achieve a future filled with hope and possibilities.
Our Purpose: To empower families and individuals to lift themselves to sustainable economic self-sufficiency.
Our Mission: To serve families and individuals by providing crisis care, case management, transformative education, food and household subsidy, employment training and placement, personal empowerment training and active referrals to other collaborative social service providers.
Our work is shaped by the understanding that, together, we can create lasting change to combat life’s most difficult challenges.
Our Values
Dignity. Integrity. Respect.
Compassion. Empowerment.
Responsibility. Collaboration.
Holistic Approach.
Organizational
History
United Against Poverty Orlando was founded in 2003 with a mission of transforming lives in Central Florida by empowering people to uplift themselves and their families to break the cycle of poverty. We deliver the necessary programs and services to help move families from crisis to economic self-sufficiency.
By connecting people to life-saving tools and resources, we aim to foster an environment in which individuals and families across Central Florida have the opportunity to pursue a future filled with hope and possibility.
We are proud to have been able to serve over 14,000+ families in 2023 with life essential services. We hope to continue to inspire and empower individuals and families to lift themselves to economic self-sufficiency. Together, we can create lasting change to combat poverty in Central Florida!
Lifting
Lives
Our approach is centered on helping people help themselves; offering hope and a hand UP rather than a hand out. Today, our UP Orlando Center annually serves more than 8,453 unique households through our programs and services, with a monthly average of 450 families receiving assistance. Our center serves those whose household income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level.
Programs Designed To Empower
At United Against Poverty, we provide four essential programs crafted to strengthen community foundations and empower individuals and families to achieve economic self-sufficiency with confidence.
MSGP
Member Share Grocery Program (MSGP) is a dignified food and household assistance program where income-qualified members can personally select the food and household items their family needs, while saving up to two-thirds of their household food and product budget.
In 2024, our MSGP helped families retain $5.5 Million.
Success Training Employment Program (STEP) is an adult workforce training program designed to help individuals overcome barriers to employment.
Participants spend 4 weeks learning both the hard and soft skills required to help them secure living wage jobs.
Once they obtain employment, each participant is paired with a Success Coach, who continues to work with them for three years to ensure long-term success.
In 2024, STEP helped secure employment for 60 graduates.
STEP
CSP
Crisis Stabilization Program (CSP) operates in our Life Enrichment Center, where those in crisis situations can come for the skills, resources and coaching needed to stabilize their life and work towards a permanent higher ground.
In 2024, our CSP provided 8,855 units of service assisting 1,444 unique households.
Collaboration is a key component of our mission. At United Against Poverty, we advocate a “more is more” approach. We believe that the more agencies we partner with and the more services and resources we can make available on-site, the more we can help those who are hidden, hungry and hurting.
We regularly make active referrals to partner agencies so that people in crisis can access the services they need to stabilize their lives. Through these partnerships, we can maximize our impact and better serve those in need in the communities we serve.
CPS
Board & Staff
Community Advisory Board
United Against Poverty Orlando’s dedicated Community Advisory Board is committed to our goal of breaking the cycle of poverty in communities across the United States.
Dan Pugh
Board Chair
Residential Building Supply
Joyce Boudoin
Board Vice Chair, Programs Committee Chair
Alicia Bechtel
Orlando Health
Chief Eric D. Smith
Orlando Police Department
Jack and Sharon Myers
Jennifer Englert Schmitt
The Orlando Law Group
Edward DeAguilera
Director of Business Development and Fundraising
John Dowless
Mayor, City of Edgewood
Katy Eld
Florida Blue
Keith Landry
EXP Realty
Erik Weiner
President, City National Bank
Robert Deininger
Advent Health
Tracey Nguyen
USMLEAGLE PREP
Luis Martinez
Rajan Joshi
Financials
Access our financial statements and learn about how we are utilizing our resources to give back to our communities, expand reach, and increase impact.
Success Stories
We at United Against Poverty are incredibly proud of the positive impact we’ve had in our communities. Our Success Stories are a testimony to the resilience of the human spirit, and the difference that dedicated compassion, support, and outreach can make.
Read through our Success Stories to learn more about the individuals we’ve helped on their journey to self-sufficiency.
Volunteering at UP Orlando was such a meaningful experience for our team. It was even more special as we celebrated reaching 100,000 volunteer hours as an organization alongside rookie, Tristan Da Silva.
BBA has volunteered many times in 2024 at UP Orlando and it has always been an incredibly rewarding experience that allowed our team to connect with the community in a meaningful way.
TD Bank: TD Auto Finance, a division of TD Bank, N.A.
At TD Bank, the sense of community responsibility is encouraged and reinforced within the TD culture. When I was introduced to United Against Poverty in Orlando, FL, I observed their impact and knew their mission aligned with ours.
The work they do at United Against Poverty Orlando is truly commendable. Volunteering with them has been a truly fulfilling experience for our team as it has provided Westgate volunteers with meaningful opportunities to make a tangible difference in the lives of local community members.
Upon completion of the STEP Program, Graylin has secured employment as a Manger at a local restaurant and is on his way to economic self-sufficiency.
Natasha has recently started working at Omaha Steaks as a Remote Sales Specialist and Brand Ambassador and is well on her way to economic self-sufficiency.
Upon completing our 4-week STEP program, Monica landed a full-time job, with benefits and a salary that allowed her to obtain an apartment of her own and keep her car.
“The STEP program impacted my life in so many ways. I learned about myself, gained confidence, learned new skills, and most importantly learned how important it is to listen. I was even named alumni ambassador! I am so excited about what my future holds”
Graduating from STEP, Keyshaundra landed a job at a local apartment complex. With this newfound stability, she secured her own apartment and left behind the cycle of poverty.
“The work they do at United Against Poverty Orlando is truly commendable. Volunteering with them has been a truly fulfilling experience for our team as it has provided Westgate volunteers with meaningful opportunities to make a tangible difference in the lives of local community members. By working directly with UP Orlando, our Westgate volunteers gained insight into the challenges faced by individuals striving for financial stability, and the critical role community support can play in overcoming these barriers. Organizing groceries, setting up the clothing closet, conducting mock interviews, and participating in the Workforce Development Forum allowed our volunteers to build valuable skills in teamwork, leadership, and community engagement. These experiences fostered a deep sense of connection, empathy, and accomplishment among volunteers, as they saw firsthand the impact of their efforts on families in need. We also gained knowledge of critical resources and can share with our friends and family who may be in need of assistance.”
~ Krystal Pepeta, CorpOps Learning and Development Coordinator, Westgate Resorts
“Volunteering at UP Orlando was such a meaningful experience for our team. It was even more special as we celebrated reaching 100,000 volunteer hours as an organization alongside rookie, Tristan Da Silva. From sorting and stocking the Member Grocery Center to seeing firsthand the impact of UP’s mission, we left feeling inspired and grateful to be part of something bigger than ourselves. The staff made us feel so welcome, and it was incredible to work together in a way that truly benefits the community. We can’t wait to come back!”
Rachel Engelman, Social Responsibility Manager, Orlando Magic