On March 3, the Power to Care effort will bring 25 FPL employee volunteers, friends, and family members to Children First’s main campus, 1723 N Orange Ave. in Sarasota, to build a butterfly garden for students, faculty, and staff to enjoy and improve the area’s landscaping. The volunteer corps is scheduled to arrive at 8 a.m. and conclude the project by noon. Children First is the exclusive provider of Early Head Start and Head Start services for Sarasota County and offers comprehensive services at 15 different sites.The butterfly project will extend UWS’ work with both FPL and Children First. As a UWS partner, Children First received $165,000 in grant support from UWS’ Community Investment Fund for the 2021 fiscal year. Children First enhances the physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development of children through Early Start (birth to 3) and Head Start (3-5), achievements that dovetail with one of UWS’ primary focuses: early learning.

“These investments from our community partners at United Way Suncoast and Florida Power & Light continue to make a critical impact on those we serve. We are deeply appreciative to be included in Power to Care Week and bring awareness to our mission of strengthening our community’s most vulnerable children and families,” says Children First CEO Philip Tavill.

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