Hispanic Unity of Florida (HUF), the Hollywood-based nonprofit organization, recently received a $179,000 grant from AmeriCorps. 

The new grant will be used to support the organization’s economic opportunity initiatives, with a particular focus on workforce, emergency assistance and food insecurity programs. 

“The COVID-19 pandemic created hardships for many families in our area. This grant and our collaboration with AmeriCorps and Volunteer Florida, allows Hispanic Unity of Florida to increase our capacity and help more struggling families,” said Felipe Pinzón, president & CEO of Hispanic Unity of Florida.

“Our goal is to provide the resources and services they need to thrive,” he added. 

Founded in 1982, Hispanic Unity of Florida has served as a haven for immigrants, refugees, and diverse and multicultural working families across the Broward community in South Florida. The nonprofit was originally founded by community leaders to facilitate the acculturation transition of immigrants from other nations.

It offers help in a number of different services, including applying for citizenship, learning English, filing taxes, learning how to feed a family well, after school child care, among others. HUF offers its programs and services in four languages: English, Spanish, Haitian Creole and Sign Language to people in more than 25 countries. 

Hispanics make up almost 25% of Floridians, representing nearly a 10% increase from a decade ago. They make up the largest community of color throughout the state. 

AmeriCorps is a national service program that provides opportunities for people to serve their communities. The Florida Community Service Commission (or Volunteer Florida) receives more than $34 million in federal and state funding to support its efforts to expand national service, promote disaster resilience, and advocate for volunteerism in Florida. In 1994, it was established to administer national service programs, such as AmeriCorps, throughout the state. 

The AmeriCorps grant program runs through July 31, and is renewable yearly.