Building Healthier Communities Where Everyone Can Thrive
A person's health is shaped by more than access to healthcare. Transportation, food security, mental health support, and financial stability all play a role in whether individuals and families can achieve their best health.
For many ALICE households—families who work hard but struggle to afford basic needs—health challenges can quickly become financial challenges.
United Way North Central Florida works with community partners to identify barriers, invest in solutions, and strengthen systems of support so every person has the opportunity to live a healthy life.
Health Starts Beyond the Doctor's Office
Where people live, work, learn, and access resources directly impacts their health and well-being
United Way North Central Florida focuses on addressing the barriers that prevent individuals and families from accessing the resources they need, including:
Food Access
Supporting programs that help individuals and families access nutritious food.
Mental Health Support
Investing in programs that expand access to behavioral health services and strengthen emotional well-being.
Healthcare Access
Helping remove barriers that prevent people from receiving necessary care.
Transportation Assistance
Supporting solutions that help individuals overcome transportation challenges that impact their ability to access healthcare.
Our Role in Creating a Healthier Community
Connecting Community Solutions
No single organization can solve our community’s health challenges alone.
United Way North Central Florida serves as a connector, collaborator, and investor—bringing together nonprofits, healthcare providers, government agencies, and community leaders to address the issues impacting local residents.
We participate in the Community Health Improvement Planning (CHIP) process, helping identify community health priorities, strengthen partnerships, and align resources toward solutions that improve health outcomes.
Investing in Local Solutions
United Way North Central Florida supports nonprofit partners working to improve health and well-being throughout North Central Florida.
Our investments support programs that:
- Increase access to nutritious food
- Expand mental health services
- Reduce barriers to healthcare
- Support vulnerable children, families, and seniors
- Strengthen resources for ALICE households
When we invest in local solutions, we help create healthier individuals, stronger families, and more resilient communities.
Featured Community Initiative
Bridging Compassionate Care Transportation Fund
Helping Cancer Patients Access the Care They Need
A cancer diagnosis can create overwhelming emotional, physical, and financial challenges. For many patients, transportation to treatment becomes another barrier during an already difficult journey.
United Way North Central Florida serves as the fiscal agent for the Bridging Compassionate Care Transportation Fund, a partnership with the Bridging Compassionate Care Foundation that helps cancer patients across North Central Florida access transportation assistance.
The program provides gas cards to qualifying patients who must travel to receive cancer treatment, helping to:
- Reduce missed appointments
- Improve treatment adherence
- Ease financial burdens for patients and families
- Allow patients to focus on treatment and recovery
United Way North Central Florida manages and administers all funds with accountability, transparency, and adherence to donor intent. The Cancer Center at HCA Florida North Florida Hospital identifies eligible patients while maintaining patient privacy and HIPAA compliance.
Together, we are removing transportation barriers so cancer patients can access the care they need.
Health and Financial Security are Connected
For ALICE households, a health challenge can quickly become a financial crisis.
A missed paycheck, unexpected medical expense, transportation cost, or inability to access preventative care can create challenges that impact the entire household.
By addressing the barriers that affect health, United Way helps families maintain stability, strengthen resilience, and build brighter futures.
Get Involved
A healthier community starts with all of us.
You can help by:
- Supporting United Way through a donation
- Partnering with us to create solutions that improve health outcomes and support ALICE households
- Volunteering with us
- Advocating for better health access