Better Together, a nonprofit on a mission to build strong families and communities, recently honored its North Central Florida volunteers, supporters and community partners who have made a significant impact on the organization and its mission.

As a privately funded, volunteer-driven nonprofit, Better Together relies on the support of donors, churches, community partners and volunteers to provide its services to families across the state. Each year, Better Together hosts a Doing Good Together reception in each of its six regions to thank these individuals and organizations. At the event, several volunteers and partners are honored with The DOie Awards, as in DOing good together.

This year, Better Together served 2,329 children, parents and job seekers in North Central Florida through its Better Families and Better Jobs programs.

Better Together recognized several honorees during the reception held April 14 at the Country Club of Ocala. Honorees include:

Champion for Strong Families was presented to Appleton Museum of Art. The museum has opened its doors for Better Together events, supported toy drives and given to the children Better Together serves.

Church Partner of the Year was presented to Christ the King Anglican Church. The Rev. Don Curran and the congregation of Christ the King continually support the Better Together mission year after year.

Community Partner of the Year was presented to Brother’s Keeper. The organization has provided families with clothing, food, household items and more while also referring families who need a little extra support.

Department of Children and Families Partner of the Year was presented to Kerrian Angel, who has helped open new doors for families, strengthen relationships and make a meaningful impact through consistent communication and collaboration.

Employer Partner of the Year was presented to Comfort Keepers. The team at Comfort Keepers has participated in every Better Together job fair in North Central Florida since 2024. They take the time to speak with job seekers and move qualified candidates along in the hiring process.

Host Family of the Year was presented to Jennifer and Martin Williams. They have cared for 14 children in their home as a volunteer host family. Serving alongside their own children, they embrace each child they host with compassion and provide extended community for their families.

Mentor of the Year was presented to Angelee Burks. She came to Better Together for support during a difficult season. Her growth and resilience put her on a path to thriving, and now she turns her experience into purpose as a mentor.

Staff Appreciation Award was presented to Aldrea Nicholson. Within months of joining the team in the fall of 2025, her initiative, confidence and genuine desire to see the team succeed played a significant role in strengthening the team during a critical period of growth.

Super Volunteer of the Year was presented to Katie Lee. She goes above and beyond for every family she serves, showing up with compassion, strength and her whole heart.

This year’s event was generously sponsored by NAMI Marion County and The Vines Hospital.

“Our Better Together team is so grateful for the donors, volunteers, partners and advocates who stand in the gap and support us in fulfilling our mission,” said Megan Rose, CEO of Better Together. “These groups and individuals are the reason we are able to transform lives and help our community flourish. It was an honor to recognize them for their generosity and unwavering support this year.”

Better Together works to prevent the need for foster care by building strong families and communities. When a parent needs support – due to homelessness, a medical emergency, or other crisis – Better Together volunteer host families provide a safe, loving home for the children short term, while staff and mentors empower the parents to secure employment, housing and other needs. Because job loss is at the root of most family crises, the Better Together workforce program provides opportunities for all job seekers through relational job fairs and volunteer job coaches.

To date, Better Together has served more than 37,000 children, and 98% of children served through mentoring and hosting remain out of foster care. The nonprofit has also connected more than 50,000 job seekers to employment opportunities through church-based job fairs across 25 states.

Better Together is always seeking additional volunteers and community partners to join its efforts to build stronger families. To learn more about how to become a donor, partner or volunteer, visit BetterTogetherUS.org.

ABOUT BETTER TOGETHER

Better Together is a nonprofit organization that helps parents going through a hard time keep their kids out of foster care, find work and address the root causes of their struggle so that they can reunite as a family with the tools and support system to thrive. A privately funded and professionally supported organization, Better Together is made up of volunteers who believe helping people help themselves is the best way to restore dignity and bring families together. Through the Better Families program, families find the resources and community they need to thrive. To date, the program has kept 98% of children served through hosting and mentoring out of foster care. The Better Jobs program was created to address the 76% of families that come to Better Together because of economic hardship tied to unemployment. In addition to community job fairs, the program offers job seekers coaching, guidance, support and encouragement through local church partners. For more information, visit BetterTogetherUS.org.