Stories That Bring Hope
Peace River Center
Central Florida
Peace River Center is a nonprofit organization focused on impacting the lives of their clients and the community as a whole by engaging, restoring and empowering individuals to reach their fullest potential by offering a broad range of mental health, victim services and substance use disorder services throughout Polk, Highlands and Hardee counties.
Film Team: Javi Fick, Seth Floyd, Chris Valentino, Ross Craven, Sydney Rivera, Kyle Barrett
United Way of Central Florida (UWCF)
Polk, Hardee and Highlands County, FL
United Way of Central Florida is a community collaborator that stands poised and ready to help. In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, United Way helped to distribute over $16 million to the community along with the GiveWell Community Foundation, the George Jenkins Foundation, the Polk County Board of Commissioners and the Highlands County Board of Commissioners.
Animator: Angelo Grajo
Writer: Carol Aebersold
Voiceover: Kristin Crosby Ross
Editor: Chris Valentino
Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine (LVIM)
Polk County, FL
Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine (LVIM) is a volunteer-run health care center
that provides free high-quality medical care to the working uninsured of Polk County.
Film Team: Brandon Hyde, Matthew Herbertz, Ross Craven, Sydney Rivera, Cody Richardson
Volunteers in Service to the Elderly (VISTE)
Lakeland, FL
Through a vast network of volunteers, Volunteers in Service to the Elderly (VISTE) provides innovative solutions to enable the frail elderly to remain safely and independently in their own homes. VISTE provides clients with nutritional support, transportation, personal care, and other essential services. In addition, VISTE is family for many senior citizens, providing reassurance, support and fellowship.
Film Team: Katie McEntire Wiatt, Andy McEntire, Matthew Wiatt
Beacon of Hope
Ongata Rongai, Kenya
Beacon of Hope exists to bring hope to women living with and affected by HIV/AIDS within the poor communities of Kenya by empowering and equipping them to meet their spiritual, physical, emotional and economic needs.
Film Team: Jefferson Kahinju
Women’s Resource Center
Winter Haven, FL
Since 1984, The Women’s Resource Center has provided a variety of services for women and their families in crisis. They provide each client with valuable assistance that will enhance their current situation through immediate services, while empowering each woman and family to become productive members within their community.