Dr. Phillips Charities Awards $325,000 to Central Florida Nonprofits at 2025 Impact Awards
ORLANDO, Fla. – [October 17, 2025] – Dr. Phillips Charities hosted its 2025 Impact Awards on October 16th at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, celebrating the transformative work of local nonprofits and community leaders. Emceed by Christina Watkins of WESH 2 News, the evening brought together elected officials, nonprofit leaders, and local dignitaries to honor the remarkable work taking place across Central Florida.
The Dr. Phillips Leadership Award was presented to the Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation in recognition of its enduring commitment to improving the lives of children and families. The foundation received $250,000 to continue its impactful programs.
Accepting the 2025 Dr. Phillips Leadership Award, Amy Palmer Saunders, Chair of the Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation Board, reflected on her family’s long-standing connection to Dr. Phillips and their shared commitment to improving children’s health, character, and access to nature in Central Florida.
“We’ve had a meaningful relationship with Dr. Phillips for many years. I remember coming to Orlando as a child and seeing the orange groves everywhere around Bay Hill. I know Dr. Phillips’ community involvement was a motivating factor when my dad decided to make Orlando his winter home. I’m proud that the Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation can continue my parents’ legacy of improving lives in Orlando.”
The Dr. P. Phillips Legacy Microgrant Program awarded $5,000 each to 15 local nonprofit organizations, supporting innovative initiatives that strengthen the community:
• Adult Literacy League
• Angel Flight Southeast
• Better Together
• Black Architects in the Making – Orlando
• Children’s Safety Village
• Embrace of Celebration
• Grace Counseling Center
• iBuild Central Florida
• Joshua’s House Foundation
• The Kitchen House
• Legal Services of the Puerto Rican Community
• Muslim Women’s Organization
• One Purse
• Per Scholas Orlando
• Welbourne Ave Nursery & Kindergarten
Microgrant recipients also shared how the support will help further their missions. “We are incredibly grateful to Dr. Phillips Charities for their support of Per Scholas Orlando. This microgrant allows us to continue expanding our tuition-free IT training programs, helping even more Central Florida residents launch rewarding careers in technology. Together, we’re strengthening the local workforce and creating pathways to economic mobility for individuals and families across Orange and Osceola counties,” said Jeremy Garren, Managing Director of Per Scholas Orlando.
Gina Solomon, Executive Director of Adult Literacy League, said, “The most vital skills required to be a successful community member are the ability to read, write, and communicate in English. Dr. Phillips Charities’ investment in our mission to build a literate and thriving Central Florida will ensure that the Adult Literacy League is here to serve adults seeking a better life for themselves and their families through literacy and education.”
In total, the evening recognized $325,000 in grants distributed across the region, highlighting the legacy of Dr. Phillips and the power of philanthropy and innovation to create lasting community impact.
“Tonight, we celebrate not only the achievements of these outstanding organizations, but also the enduring legacy of Dr. Phillips, whose vision continues to inspire generosity and innovation across Central Florida,” said Ken Robinson, President & CEO of Dr. Phillips Charities.
The 2025 Impact Awards underscored the importance of community collaboration, highlighting how local nonprofits and leaders are working together to address critical needs and create meaningful change.
About Dr. Phillips and Dr. Phillips Charities
Dr. P. Phillips was a visionary whose charitable contributions and entrepreneurship helped create a vibrant, thriving community in Central Florida. The Dr. Phillips name has been a major economic and philanthropic presence in the Central Florida community since the turn of the 20th century. Dr. Phillips Charities (Dr. Phillips Inc. and The Dr. P. Phillips Foundation) uses the earnings from its investment and real estate income to give financial assistance to hundreds of charities serving primarily in Orange and Osceola counties. Dr. Phillips has contributed more than $257 million in grants, pledges and program-related investments to Central Florida charities responding to the needs of the community and directly touching the lives of thousands of children and families. Learn more at www.DrPhillips.org.
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