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Armando Fernandez, Director of External Affairs for Miami-Dade County, Florida Power & Light Company
Every day in Miami-Dade County, volunteers are powering strong communities. Consistent, hands-on service helps ensure families are supported, essential programs remain strong and local nonprofit organizations can continue serving those who depend on them.
Yet many organizations are being asked to do more with fewer hands. According to the Florida Nonprofit Alliance, about 40% of nonprofit organizations say they need more volunteers to meet current demand. Here in Miami-Dade County, that need is clear. With extra support, food banks like Farm Share can distribute more meals, youth organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami can mentor more students, and community groups can keep our neighborhoods and shorelines clean. But many still lack the regular volunteers they depend on to operate at full strength.
That’s why corporate volunteerism matters. After decades of working alongside nonprofit partners, Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) has seen firsthand how reliable volunteer engagement helps stretch limited resources and reduce operating costs. When volunteers return month after month, they become trusted partners who make it possible to plan ahead and meet growing community needs — whether during hurricane season, the holidays or throughout the year.
In February, hundreds of FPL employees participated in our 18th annual Power to Care Week, an initiative rooted in the belief that lasting impact comes from showing up consistently. Here in Miami-Dade County, FPL volunteers rolled up their sleeves to rehabilitate a dog park in support of the Humane Society of Greater Miami and its mission to help create a safer, more comfortable outdoor space for rescue pups. FPL volunteers also beautified neighborhoods in Florida City by cleaning up debris and trash and planting vegetation, creating a cleaner and safer environment for residents and visitors. That commitment continues throughout the year, as FPL volunteers contribute more than 55,000 volunteer hours annually working alongside hundreds of nonprofit partners, from preparing meal kits for seniors ahead of hurricane season alongside United HomeCare and Florida Council on Aging to supporting programs that help families meet basic needs.
Strong communities aren’t built overnight. They’re built through steady, hands-on service – one hour, one skill and one project at a time – that lays a foundation of volunteerism that lasts for generations. As Miami-Dade County grows and faces new challenges, dependable volunteer support will be more important than ever to make our communities thrive.
