New Partnership Catapults upliftED's efforts to increase Student Success in Central Florida

by Daisy C Franklin, MSW | upliftED Program Manager

Daisy C Franklin, MSW| upliftED Program Manager at the #FCAN2025 #TalentStrongFL Summit in May 2025.

I have been involved with upliftED since 2014, when I was a volunteer on the Scholarships Working Group. I’ve seen a lot over the years as I transitioned from a volunteer role to becoming the Consulting Director in 2019 to now the first full-time Program Manager for upliftED with Heart of Florida United Way (HFUW). I am proud of the work upliftED has accomplished to date through the development of resources and tools alongside our partners. These tools have been shared with students – of all ages – throughout the years.

As a volunteer-driven network, upliftED did not have the capacity to make a strong, direct impact on students. Many ideas were formed on ways to serve students and help them with their educational and career journeys, however, none could come to fruition due to the lack of “manpower.” Don’t get me wrong, we have a strong partner-base, but anyone knows that having paid team members really makes the “dream a reality.”

That said, I am thrilled to announce that upliftED will now be able to move forward with making a direct impact on students and their families as we launch Education United: Student Success HUB. “How do you plan on doing that?” I am so glad you asked.

Recently, I transitioned from a consultant leading upliftED’s efforts to becoming a full-time employee with our long-time partner organization, HFUW. After years of investing in upliftED’s work through monetary and other support, HFUW alongside upliftED made the decision to take the partnership to the next level. UpliftED is now 100% part of HFUW. What does this mean? More all-around support for the success of upliftED, including additional staff, strategy, and resource development.

My joining the HFUW team was just the beginning. HFUW also hired the first full-time upliftED Coordinator, Joy McCracken, who will work directly with students and their families to ensure they graduate from high school with a plan for higher education and a career.

Students Work on Completing Their FAFSA

With staff in place and a strong foundation, we knew we were better equipped to take upliftED to the next level by moving forward with the creation of the Student Success HUB. The launching of any new project takes not only planning and designing, but also dollars to implement those plans and designs.

We are excited to announce our newest partnership with Helios Education Foundation. HFUW was selected as 1 of 5 grant recipients of the Helios Education Foundation’s recent Postsecondary Student Success RFP process. The $750,000 investment will fuel a 3-year initiative aimed to dismantle financial and systemic barriers to higher education, ultimately boosting FAFSA completion, college enrollment, and student persistence in Orange and Osceola counties. 

This investment and partnership will help catapult upliftED’s efforts to increase the FAFSA completion and college enrollment rates in Central Florida. The HUB will offer services in three areas: Affordability, College Readiness, and Career Planning. Students and families from a total of 8 high schools in Orange and Osceola counties will receive FAFSA completion assistance, essay and application workshops, cost-of-college guidance, and one-on-one advising. The HUB will offer these services through upliftED Coordinators and Near-Peer Coaches, along with leveraging the Collaborative’s vast partnership.

The HUB will increase the FAFSA completion rate, which will lead to an increase in college enrollment, persistence, and completion, resulting in an increased college and credential attainment rate. UpliftED’s goal is to increase the attainment rate to 60% by 2030. The region is currently at 51%. This grant will help upliftED in reaching and surpassing this goal.

The HUB is not only critical for students and their families in the region, but also for our economy. There are both fiscal and social benefits to the HUB. Based on Helios Florida’s Future Billions report, increasing college enrollment by just 10% in Central Florida could potentially generate an annual fiscal benefit of about $398 million and a social benefit of about $945 million.

In addition to supporting the HUB, the grant will allow the successful Destination Graduation program started at Seminole State College of Florida expand to Valencia College, offering emergency financial assistance to help students overcome unexpected hardships, remain enrolled, and successfully complete a high-quality credential or degree program.

For someone who has been around for a long time with upliftED and has seen the highs, lows, and everything in between, this new phase is exciting and will be life-changing for many in Central Florida. It is truly a dream come true – 10+ years in the making.

Together, let’s continue to upliftED!