By Elizabeth Brown
My first day with the Community Foundation of the Florida Keys was three years ago. I had volunteered to come down before my official start date to help with the Unsung Heroes event. The term “blown away” is an understatement.
If you’re not familiar, Unsung Heroes is one of the foundation’s signature programs — a lunch and award ceremony that honors volunteers who give their most precious resource – time – to benefit local nonprofits and our larger community. It’s a day filled with positivity and gratitude. Joyful and a little boisterous, it sends everyone out on a high note that, speaking on behalf of our staff, sustains us throughout the year.
Recently, we honored 88 volunteers nominated by 95 Keyswide nonprofits. These volunteers, some full-time and some seasonal residents, feed our neighbors, protect our waters, support the arts, mentor youth, care for animals, and more. Their impact reaches every corner of the Keys.
Unsung Heroes is more than just a celebration. It is part of how the foundation helps build capacity for our nonprofit partners by shining a light on the people who make their work possible. It is also why we partner with the Keys Weekly Newspapers to feature an Unsung Hero Volunteer of the Week in papers every Thursday throughout the year. Recognition matters. Gratitude fuels service.
It surprises many to learn that well over 200 nonprofits are headquartered in or serve the Florida Keys. Most operate entirely with volunteers or with very small paid staff. That means volunteers — from board members providing strategic vision to those greeting guests at fundraisers — are essential to our community’s success.
So how can you help? First, say thank you. It’s simple, costs nothing and matters more than you think. Second, consider where you might give some of your time. Life gets busy, but carving out that time to give back is important. Not only does it benefit the organization you’re serving, it also pulls us out of our individual routines and reminds us we are part of something larger.
In the song “Seasons of Love” from the show “Rent,” we are reminded there are 525,600 minutes in a year. How many of those might you share with our community?
I recently met a volunteer who answers that question with quiet dedication. He spends a day each week helping at a local food pantry, stocking shelves, greeting families and making sure no one leaves empty-handed. What many do not see is that he himself is navigating housing challenges. But he shows up consistently, offering kindness and dignity to others who may be struggling. That is the heart of volunteerism. It reminds us that generosity is not about having extra. It is about choosing to give what you can.
Volunteerism is philanthropy in action. It is generosity measured in presence, not dollars. And in the Keys, it is one of the most powerful ways to show that we truly are One Human Family.
If there is an organization you admire, reach out and offer to help. If you are new to the area and are not sure where to start, call us. We are happy to connect you.
Finally, thank you to the readers who wrote in last month with ideas for future topics. Please keep the comments coming at cffk@cffk.org.
