FAIRWINDS Foundation Announces Recipients of 2025 Grants

FAIRWINDS Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that serves as the philanthropic arm of FAIRWINDS Credit Union, today announced the recipients of its 2025 grants at a breakfast event held at Full Sail Live attended by community leaders and sixteen organizations embodying the Foundation’s core purpose of improving lives through financial well-being.
Increasing its year-over-year grants by $100,000, this year’s total of $500,000 is the largest to date for FAIRWINDS Foundation.  Since 2018, the Foundation has granted more than $2 million toward financial literacy efforts.
“When families and individuals have the information and tools needed to secure and improve their financial health, we collectively impact and improve our community’s economic well-being,” said Elisha González, vice president of community relations and government affairs at FAIRWINDS and executive director of FAIRWINDS Foundation. “These non-profits are conducting incredible work to advance financial literacy and shepherding our communities to experience financial freedom and reach broad-based prosperity.”
Through its grants, FAIRWINDS Foundation supports Central Florida’s most economically vulnerable populations, including homeless and at-risk youth, victims of domestic violence, veterans and minority business owners, among many others. (See accompanying impact summary below.) This year’s grantees include the following organizations.
8 Cents in a Jar received a $20,000 grant. In 2024, 8 Cents in a Jar continued to make strides in financial literacy education, impacting students through engaging workshops and innovative programs. With FAIRWINDS Foundation’s support, the organization is poised to reach even more young learners and foster lasting financial habits.
Black Business Community Development Corporation and Black Business Initiative Fund received a $30,000 grant. In the previous year, this organization leveraged FAIRWINDS’ support to empower Black entrepreneurs through tailored business education and financial management training, fostering economic growth and stability in underserved communities.
CareerSource Central Florida received a $25,000 grant. CareerSource Central Florida connects residents to better-paying careers through education and experiential learning opportunities. In 2024, FAIRWINDS’ grant helped the organization expand its summer youth programs, providing financial literacy training to hundreds of students.
City Year Orlando received a $15,000 grant. In 2024, City Year Orlando enhanced its programming to ensure Title I school students receive critical math and financial literacy skills, equipping them with tools for academic and real-world success.
Foundation for Foster Children received a $25,000 grant. The Foundation for Foster Children has dedicated itself to creating opportunities for foster youth to thrive. In 2024, the organization leveraged FAIRWINDS’ support to provide tailored financial literacy resources to foster teens, preparing them for independent living.
FoolProof Foundation received a $50,000 grant. FoolProof Foundation is dedicated to instilling lifelong habits of financial responsibility by teaching healthy skepticism, personal responsibility, and decision-making based on trustworthy information. In 2024, the organization reached thousands of students with its engaging curriculum, empowering them to make informed financial decisions.
Habitat for Humanity Greater Orlando and Osceola County received a $40,000 grant. With FAIRWINDS’ support, Habitat for Humanity has expanded its financial literacy programs, providing individuals and families with the skills to budget, save, and prepare for homeownership. These efforts have created lasting impacts for hundreds of households.
Habitat for Humanity Seminole-Apopka received a $40,grant. This organization works to address the housing crisis by equipping future homeowners with financial literacy tools. With FAIRWINDS’ grant, Habitat Seminole-Apopka empowered participants to achieve greater financial stability and take steps toward owning a home.
Harbor House Central Florida received a $30,000 grant. As the only state-certified domestic violence services provider in Orange County, Harbor House serves thousands of women, men, children, and pets each year. In 2024 with the help of FAIRWINDS’ grant, the organization assisted survivors open bank accounts, create financial plans, obtain employment and educational training, and other economic empowering activities.
IMPOWER, INC. received a $15,000 grant. IMPOWER’s programs focus on providing financial literacy and life skills to youth in foster care and transitional housing. In 2024, FAIRWINDS’ support enabled the organization to help young adults save for their futures, manage their expenses, and build financial independence.
Junior Achievement of Central Florida received a $70,000 grant. Junior Achievement is committed to empowering the next generation through financial literacy education. In 2024, FAIRWINDS’ support helped the organization deliver its JA Finance Park program to thousands of students, preparing them for successful futures.
Lighthouse Central Florida received a $25,000 grant. Lighthouse Central Florida provides vision rehabilitation services, including workforce development and financial literacy education, to individuals with vision loss. In 2024, FAIRWINDS’ grant supported programs that helped participants gain independence and achieve economic mobility.
Prospera USA received a $50,000 grant. Prospera USA focuses on providing financial and business education to Hispanic entrepreneurs. In 2024, with FAIRWINDS’ support, the organization delivered workshops and personalized consultations, empowering small business owners to thrive.
Quest Inc. received a $20,000 grant. Quest Inc. serves individuals with developmental disabilities through programs that promote independence and financial stability. FAIRWINDS’ grant helped expand Quest’s financial literacy initiatives, impacting the lives of countless participants.
United Against Poverty received a $20,000 grant. United Against Poverty offers comprehensive support services, including financial education and employment training. With FAIRWINDS’ grant, the organization provided critical resources to families striving for self-sufficiency.
United Way Suncoast received a $25,000 grant. United Way Suncoast addresses financial literacy and economic mobility through programs that empower individuals to achieve financial stability. In 2024, FAIRWINDS’ support enabled the organization to expand its impact across the region.
Each organization exemplifies a commitment to fostering financial understanding, stability, and independence. These grants mark another step in FAIRWINDS Foundation’s ongoing mission to inspire and enable financial well-being for all Central Floridians.
In addition to the grantee recognition, WESH 2 News Anchor Nancy Alvarez presented the Foundation’s Unsung Hero award to Lieutenant Mike Lanfersiek. The Unsung Hero Award celebrates those whose quiet dedication and actions inspire others and creates lasting positive change.
About FAIRWINDS Foundation
FAIRWINDS Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, is dedicated to helping individuals achieve a path toward financial responsibility, security and freedom and inspiring them to transform the lives of others by living generously.
Through education, financial contribution and volunteerism, the Foundation works with and supports organizations that align with its passion of improving lives through financial literacy. For more information, visit www.fairwinds.org/foundation.
About FAIRWINDS
For 75 years, FAIRWINDS Credit Union has helped members achieve financial freedom by saving more, eliminating debt, building wealth, and living generously. Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, FAIRWINDS serves more than 225,000 members with innovative and secure personal and commercial financial services, including deposits and loans, wealth management, retirement planning, treasury services, merchant services, and more. With a member satisfaction score twice the banking industry average, FAIRWINDS members experience confidence and peace of mind. FAIRWINDS is consistently named a top employer of choice, including American Banker, Credit Union Times, and Florida Trend. Recognized among Central Florida’s most philanthropic companies by Orlando Business Journal, FAIRWINDS builds financial literacy in the region through its FAIRWINDS Foundation. For more information, visit www.fairwinds.org.
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FAIRWINDS Foundation 2024 Grants Impact Summary
 
The FAIRWINDS Foundation has profoundly impacted communities through its unwavering support of financial education and economic empowerment across various organizations, this support has translated into measurable outcomes and transformational stories, showcasing the power of collaboration in driving meaningful change and building brighter futures across Central Florida and beyond. Here are highlights of the impact made by 2024 grants.
 
Equipping Students and Youth for Financial Success
- 8 Cents in a Jar empowered 1,445 students in Orange County with financial literacy, leading to an average credit score of 689 and average savings of $1,896. Student entrepreneurs generated an average monthly income of $450, reflecting real-world application of their financial knowledge.
- CareerSource Central Florida reached 1,434 students in five counties, with over 70% opening new bank accounts. Participants earned nearly $1.8 million in wages through internships and gained critical career readiness skills.
- Foundation for Foster Children supported 194 foster youth, achieving outstanding outcomes, including a 99% arrest avoidance rate, 98% avoidance of homelessness, and 93% staying on track to graduate.
 
Advancing Financial Literacy for Entrepreneurs and Adults
- BBIF’s Financial Literacy Program impacted over 530 individuals statewide through group sessions and personalized guidance. Thirty participants received training on personal finance and business skills, fostering stronger financial management.
- Prospera guided 1,892 Hispanic entrepreneurs through educational seminars and provided 195 technical assistance services, helping small businesses secure $5.3 million in loans and retain 2,134 jobs.
- Habitat Orlando & Osceola doubled its outreach, serving 1,125 individuals with financial education and housing counseling. The Financial Academy helped 95% of participants enhance money management skills.

Empowering Vulnerable Populations
- Harbor House of Central Florida served 534 survivors of domestic violence through economic empowerment programs, assisting with credit building, employment, and financial plans. Over 400 survivors secured affordable housing.
- IMPOWER provided financial literacy programming to 165 teens and youth in substance abuse treatment and transitional housing, with 80% improving financial literacy and 90% showing increased self-sufficiency.
 
Driving Educational Excellence
- City Year Orlando delivered over 1,500 hours of math support to 368 students, with 82% improving their Math FAST assessment scores.
- FoolProof’s Curriculum reached over 10,000 Florida students, raising average test scores from 50% to 87%, building critical financial skills aligned with new graduation requirements.
 
Building Pathways to Homeownership
- Habitat Seminole-Apopka helped 306 individuals increase financial literacy, with 14 graduates accepted into the Homebuyers Program. Two graduates achieved their dream of homeownership.
 
 
Supporting Holistic Development
- Quest provided services to over 600 individuals with developmental disabilities, focusing on financial literacy and real-world skill application.
- Lighthouse Central Florida served 568 individuals with vision-specific rehabilitation, enabling financial and personal independence.
 
Transforming Lives Through Workforce Development
- UP Orlando supported over 15,000 individuals, with 90 STEP program graduates collectively earning $1.56 million annually. The program’s focus on job skills and financial literacy has driven economic self-sufficiency.
 
Expanding Economic Opportunities
- Junior Achievement of Central Florida and Tampa Bay impacted over 28,000 students, fostering financial health and preparing future leaders.
Through these collective efforts, the FAIRWINDS Foundation has significantly advanced financial stability, educational achievement and economic mobility. Together, these programs embody the Foundation’s commitment to strengthening our community  and advancing economic prosperity for all.