News
For those unfamiliar with the mission of UCP of Central Florida, the organization has been providing vital services for children and families touched by disabilities for over 60 years. Several Foundry associates have long-standing ties to the organization, so when it was time to find property for an ever-increasing demand for services in West Orange County, UCP partnered with Foundry to find the right real estate.
One of the most unique – and best – attributes of Foundry is the company’s intra-platform network and resulting opportunities. By chance, Orlando Vice President Gabe De Jesus overheard SVP Joey Blakley talking about a church property for sale in Winter Garden, and the rest is history. (The property just so happened to belong to Matt Messier’s – who leads Foundry’s Religious, Education & Not-For-Profit group – church.) Competing against a number of other potential buyers, the church selected the UCP project as the buyer of the land, where UCP would build a school that would service up to 500 children with their acclaimed inclusive education model.
Last month, Foundry was invited to be a part of the official ribbon-cutting event for UCP’s Healthy West Orange Campus, an eight-acre campus housing UCP’s innovative programs that provide children of all abilities with equal access to customized education, therapy, and family support services. UCP Charter Schools integrate technology, arts, and project-based instruction for a multi-dimensional approach to education.
While UCP had an existing location in the area, the organization had been at maximum capacity for some time, with a long waiting list of families seeking to enroll in the program. The new campus features approximately 25,000 square feet, and immediately accommodates up to 400 children, with additional growth opportunities in the future.
The new school is located at 1441 Winter Garden Vineland Road, and serves Winter Garden, Ocoee, Windermere, Gotha, and the surrounding communities through its inclusive education program and therapy services. UCP West Orange is known for its STEAM programs with a strong art-integrated curriculum, including performing arts, visual arts, and music.
Foundry is proud to continue to find ways to support UCP of Central Florida, and we’re thrilled that so many more families are going to be impacted by this recent expansion.