OUR 2026 ACM PHOTOS ARE LIVE!

We’re still feeling inspired by the incredible turnout at our 2026 Annual Community Meeting! Thank you to everyone who joined us and made the event so special. We are pleased to share photos from the luncheon and invite you to relive some of the highlights by clicking the button below. 

Ready for a transformative morning of inspiration and community? The 2026 Women's Leadership Breakfast speaker is Sheinelle Jones, an award-winning journalist, author, and co-host of Today with Jenna & Sheinelle.

Sponsorships are now available, click below or contact Caylie Atkins at caylie@uwbb.org for more information.

SEPTEMBER IS LITERACY MONTH!

September is nationally recognized as literacy month, so we're celebrating our programs aimed at improving all types of literacy and the people that make them so special!

ReadingPals connects Big Bend volunteers with local students identified as struggling with reading for one hour a week during the school year to focus on improving literacy skills.

ReadUNITED week unites our neighbors to bring books to Big Bend classroom libraries and spend time reading with entire classes. This event happens twice a year during the spring and fall semesters.

Our Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program pairs IRS-trained volunteers with local taxpayers to assist them in filing their annual tax returns, ensuring they receive their maximum refund.

MathPals pairs local volunteers with students identified as struggling with basic math skills for one-on-one help sessions for one hour a week during the school year.

Our Reality Store program simulates financial independence for young adults, taking them through real-life financial situations and providing them with important context about becoming financially independent, as well as teaching budgeting skills and how to prioritize bills.

For more information about any of these programs, click the buttons below!

UWBB TO CO-HOST TRUNK OR TREAT EVENT ON OCTOBER 17TH

The only thing scary about free candy? It runs out!

Join United Way of the Big Bend, Leon County Government, the Children's Services Council of Leon County, and United Partners for Human Services for another spooky Trunk or Treat event at Old West Florida Enrichment Center on October 17th!

The event will take place between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., and costumes are encouraged!

UWBB HOSTS COFFEE & CONNECTIONS EVENT WITH ACCESS TALLAHASSEE

Hosting the Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce Access Tallahassee’s Coffee & Connections event was such a wonderful experience. Thank you to everyone who joined us to learn more about United Way of the Big Bend and the work we do to strengthen our community.

We loved the opportunity to connect with so many talented and passionate young professionals from across the Big Bend, hear about the work you’re doing, and share how we are working together to create lasting change. The energy, enthusiasm and meaningful conversations made for a truly memorable morning, and we are grateful to have spent that time with you.

We look forward to staying connected.

HCA FLORIDA HEALTHCARE VOLUNTEERS WITH UWBB

Thank you to the HCA Florida Healthcare team for joining us at our office to help label Smile United kits and pack backpacks for an upcoming ALICE event. It's always an honor to host community stakeholders and see just how much the Big Bend means to them.

Thank you, HCA Florida Healthcare, for your help and continued commitment to the health and safety of our community!

UWBB PROGRAM KITS DELIVERED TO LOCAL SCHOOLS

Pictured, from left to right: Oak Ridge Assistant Principal Jamie Steed, UWBB Community Impact Associate Tatianna Martinez, Oak Ridge Literacy Coach Aquila Muhammad

Special Delivery! This month, we dropped off lessons, learning activities and take-home books to our Partner Schools. We are excited to see our ReadingPals, MathPals, and PreKPals Mentors use these resources to help our young learners thrive.

HELP US REACH OUR GOAL

For the past several years, our MathPals program has been a quiet success story in the Big Bend. Every week, students who once dreaded facing simple math problems walk into our one-on-one sesisons, sit down with a tutor who knows their name, and start to understand. That lightbulb moment, when a child realizes they can do math, is what gives us the drive to keep this program going.

But right now, that light is flickering.

Your support matters because math confidence in elementary school isn't just about grades, It's about giving kids the foundation to pursue whatever they want - whether that's science, trades, art, or just making it through homework without tears.

So, what now? We have the curriculum and dedicated volunteers, but your support is the crucial third piece that makes this program successful. Help us reach our $2,500 goal to start the school year off right by clicking the button below.

HELP LOCAL STUDENTS BUILD CONFIDENCE

Some of the best moments in a child's week are the simplest ones: curling up with a good story, finally cracking a math problem that used to feel impossible, or just interacting with a positive role model. You can be part of those moments by volunteering with our ReadingPals and MathPals programs!

Our community is looking for friendly, patient volunteers for these programs that help Big Bend students build confidence in the basics.

ReadingPals pairs you with a young struggling reader for about one hour a week. You'll read together, sound out words, and practice reading skills-based games - no teaching experience needed, just a love of children and a little patience.

MathPals matches you with a child struggling to grasp basic math skills. In a weekly hourly meeting, you'll help kids learn math concepts and practice basic skills - including problem-solving - in a low-pressure, encouraging way.

Ready to change a life? Click the "learn more" buttons below to get started.

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