A new approach to bringing our community together around the needs of students and families.
By Angie Matthiessen, Chief Executive Officer
The past six months have been a whirlwind of activity as the United Way Charlotte County (UWCC) team and board positioned themselves for an important next chapter of serving Charlotte County. I can’t think of a better time than our 60th anniversary for this to happen. Honestly, it has been a dream in the making for the better part of ten years. Alas, we are here: the launch of Charlotte County’s first Community School at Peace River Elementary.
A Community School brings people and resources together to support students, families, and staff at the school by connecting them to programs, services, and opportunities already available in our community. The goal is not to create more programs, but to better align existing resources with real needs. The gap is not services. The gap is coordination.
Peace River is where we begin because the school represents both significant need and tremendous opportunity. It is home to dedicated educators, engaged families, caring community members and enormous potential.
A Community School creates opportunities for families to build connections and access support, nonprofits to align services around real needs, businesses to invest in families and the future workforce, volunteers to contribute their time and talents, and community leaders to help shape solutions that can be replicated across the county.
Why just one school? What about everyone else in Charlotte County? The answer is that lasting change requires us to go deep, not simply spread resources thin. Peace River is the starting point, not the destination. Our goal is to create a model that can ultimately benefit more schools and more families. The school is the place, but the community is the solution.
This is where UWCC’s role is crucial. We convene, connect, and mobilize. We bring people together, connect families and the school to resources, engage businesses, volunteers, donors and community partners around a shared vision.
A key part of this effort is our new Community School Coordinator, Amanda Clyatt. Amanda begins her role later this month and brings a deep understanding of Charlotte County Public Schools (CCPS) and the families we will serve. Named CCPS Support Employee of the Year in 2025, she serves on the District Communication Committee and the Parent Family Engagement Planning Team. Her experience and relationships provide an incredible foundation as we begin this work.
This work would not be possible without people who believe in and are willing to invest in it. A grant made possible through the Charlotte Impact NOW! Initiative, a partnership between the Elsa & Peter Soderberg Charitable Foundation and Gulf Coast Community Foundation, provided seed funding to support the Community School launch.
More than 100 United Ways nationwide lead Community School efforts, and that network has provided valuable guidance, including site visits to four established Community Schools. We don’t have to reinvent the wheel. We can learn from proven models while building an approach that reflects our community’s unique strengths and needs. Several local businesses have already stepped forward with significant support, including HCA Florida Fawcett, Gasparilla Inn and Walmart.
What will success look like? A family in need knowing where to turn and not having to navigate the system alone. A teacher having a clear path to connect a student or family with support. Community organizations working together instead of in silos. Businesses and volunteers having meaningful ways to contribute. Ultimately, success means stronger families, improved student outcomes, and a school community where students, families and staff feel supported and connected.
We will listen, measure, learn, and adapt along the way. Because this is more than bringing services into a school. It is about building a stronger community around it.
One school. One community. One coordinated system of support.
Together, we can build something that strengthens students and families today while helping Charlotte County thrive for generations to come.
To learn more about Peace River Elementary – a United Way Community School, please visit www.unitedwayccfl.org/uwcommunityschool.
For more information about United Way Charlotte County’s mission: Mobilizing the power of our community so all can thrive, please contact Angie Matthiessen, Chief Executive Officer. She can be reached at director@unitedwayccfl.org.