Lift Orlando recently celebrated the opening of the West Lakes Financial Wellbeing Center at the Heart of West Lakes Wellness Center, located on the first floor at 710 S. Tampa Ave. Orlando, FL 32805.
This resource-rich, 1,900-square-foot space is designed to increase financial literacy within the community, providing essential tools for economic mobility, education, and empowerment.
The West Lakes Financial Wellbeing Center, which began one-on-one neighborhood programming in 2018, has been a critical resource for the community, providing Prosperity Planning, through a long-term partnership with Goodwill Industries of Central Florida. While the median household income in West Lakes has increased by $10,000 since 2023 ($29,780), it starkly contrasts with Orange County’s $69,236, underscoring the urgent need for financial literacy and support.
For more than a decade, Lift Orlando has taken a holistic approach to strengthen the lives of residents in the 32805 ZIP Code and to increase their annual incomes. “The West Lakes Financial Wellbeing Center is more than just a space; it’s a hub for uplifting individuals and families towards greater economic independence,” stated Eddy Moratin, president of Lift.
In an ever-changing economy where young Americans are burdened by more than $1 trillion in debt and 70% of millennials are living paycheck to paycheck, the need for accessible financial education is required for the next generation to thrive.
The center will offer a variety of programs to empower community members, including:
- One-on-one financial mentorship sessions powered by Goodwill Industries of Central Florida’s Prosperity Planners
- Lift Orlando Small Business Institute cohorts to support for-profit and nonprofit entities – Training initiatives to support residents with upskilling, workforce development, and job placement
Key features of the West Lakes Financial Wellbeing Center include:
- Conference room space for workshops, Lift Orlando Small Business Institute Cohorts, and community meetings
- Podcast room for recording content for residents and businesses
- Workspace area equipped with docks for laptops and a mailbox rental service
- Two huddle rooms for group discussions and collaborative learning
- Collaborative spaces with whiteboard walls for brainstorming and idea generation
“Goodwill’s Prosperity Platform has played a pivotal role in working alongside residents in the Communities of West Lakes as they pursue financial growth,” said Ed Durkee, Chief Executive Officer of Goodwill Industries of Central Florida. “We are honored to be a contributor to the new Financial Wellbeing Center. Residents now have a dedicated location that increases access to the benefits of Prosperity Planning.”
“As a long-time supporter of Lift Orlando, Wells Fargo is happy to be a part of the build out of the physical space and creating opportunities to help residents and local entrepreneurs with financial and business coaching,” said Kate Wilson, Senior Vice President, Community Relations at Wells Fargo.
“Since The Communities of West Lakes hosted our first college football bowl game in 1947, FCS has been focused on using events to positively impact Central Florida and the neighborhood we call home,” said FCS CEO Steve Hogan. “On behalf of our Board President, Brian Comes, we are honored to continue this legacy through an investment in the West Lakes Financial Wellbeing Center. Over the past few years, we’ve had a chance to see the positive effects of this important initiative up close, and we look forward to seeing even more residents and small businesses use this resource to bring prosperity to their families and our community in the years to come.”
“Our purpose at Truist is to inspire and build better lives and communities,” said Steve Fisher, Truist’s regional president for north Florida. “We’re proud to support Lift Orlando and the new West Lakes Financial Wellbeing Center.”
