UFG Cares in Action: Building Stronger Communities Together

Did you know that UFG Cares actually stands for something?  

Community. Assistance. Relief. Emergency. Support.  

As we discussed last week, Relief, Emergency, and Support have taken shape through the UFG Cares Fund. But our commitment to Community Assistance has been a part of United Franchise Group for all 39 years of our history.  

We’ve mentored kids through Junior Achievement. We’ve helped families through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. We’ve built homes locally with Habitat for Humanity and even traveled overseas to build one there, too. We’ve bought holiday gifts for families who otherwise would have none, and we have donated backpacks year after year.  

Some might call it charity. Others call it philanthropy. We call it caring.  

Our employees not only work hard and play hard—they also give hard.  

UFG Cares in the Community  

In 2021, UFG Cares was formalized—not as a separate nonprofit, but as an extension of UFG in the community. Our focus is right here in our own backyard: Palm Beach County.  

To give some perspective:  

• Palm Beach County is the 3rd most populous county in Florida.  

• Palm Beach County is geographically larger than Rhode Island and Delaware.  

• The Palm Beach County school district is the 10th largest in the U.S., educating over 189,000 students.  

• Palm Beach County is home to some of the wealthiest zip codes in the nation—and at the same time, some of the poorest.  

All of that to say: there’s a lot to care for right here at home.  

How We Give Back  

One of our favorite local initiatives is our annual Back to School Supply Drive. Every year, our employees purchase and donate school supplies for students in need. Sometimes teams go shopping together; other times, we purchase donations through Amazon wish lists.  

For the past several years, we’ve partnered with the Education Foundation of Palm Beach County to make this impact even greater. Our employees don’t just give supplies—they take time out of their workday to stuff backpacks and hand them out personally. Seeing the excitement and pride on a child’s face as they pick their new backpack is something that leaves a lasting impression on all of us.  

Founders Day  

Another UFG tradition is Founders Day, now in its third year. It’s a day dedicated to both honoring our legacy and investing in our people.  

While the morning is spent focusing on the individual, through learning and connection, the afternoon is spent focusing on others.   

In past years, we’ve:  

• Packed dog and cat food with Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League.  

• Created baskets for families with children in the NICU.  

• Partnered with Palm Beach Atlantic University to make blankets for seniors in assisted living.  

For Founders Day 2025, we reached a new milestone with 67 employees volunteering their time to serve local causes. Take a look at the organizations we supported this year: 

• Red Apple School Supply Store — Supporting teachers in Palm Beach County by sorting products and supplies for their classrooms. 

• Hands and Feet — Organizing donations for foster families in Palm Beach County. 

• Furry Friends Humane Animal Shelter — Helping the staff decorate the shelter for their annual Howl-O-Ween Block Party. 

• Meals of Hope — These meals will then be donated to local food banks to be given out. We are partnering with Meals of Hope. 

• Soldiers’ Angels — For Remote Employees. Encourage our deployed servicemen and women. Options included: writing cards to service members, making no-sew blankets, creating candy goodie bags, and more. 

• Mang Foundation\ — Helping plant young mangroves. These mangroves will grow and then be transferred to coastal waters to ensure coastal and wildlife protection. 

UFG Cares isn’t just a program. It’s a mindset. Volunteering strengthens our communities, deepens our culture, and helps us grow—not only as a company, but as people. When our teams serve, we all succeed.  

Culture grows strongest when it’s lived out, not just talked about.