MVP Strong Families
Strong Families Build Strong Communities
A network and partnership effort strengthening families throughout Central Florida, presented in partnership with Florida Citrus Sports.
MVP Strong Families Overview
A Partnership Network for Families.
MVP Strong Families connects partners around leadership development, literacy initiatives, coaching, family engagement, and community-based programming.
Program Overview
The MVP Strong Families Partnership Network brings grassroots organizations together with community-based organizations to give BIPOC parents nurturing, inspiring, family-based experiences that strengthen parent advocacy and leadership skills.
Partnership With Florida Citrus Sports
MVP Strong Families is presented in partnership with Florida Citrus Sports. Families participating in programming receive access to family fun events and sporting events that are too often out of reach because of cost.
Visit Florida Citrus SportsWho We Serve
Parents, caregivers and children in underserved neighborhoods across Central Florida, alongside the grassroots and community-based organizations that already serve them.
Program Purpose
To empower individuals and organizations that typically work in silos to connect and partner with others doing similar work, share expertise, and expand their reach to families in underserved neighborhoods.
How the Program Works
Partnership on the Ground.
The network operates through connected activities delivered by partners on the ground.
Community-Based Partners
Grassroots and community-based organizations already trusted in their neighborhoods deliver the programming, supported by the network.
Family-Centered Activities
Nurturing, inspiring, family-based experiences designed around what parents and caregivers say they need.
Workshops & Cohorts
Sessions that build parent advocacy and leadership skills, delivered in cohorts so families learn alongside one another.
Community Events
Family fun events and sporting events, with free tickets so cost is not a barrier to participation.
Partner Collaboration
Partners share expertise, coordinate rather than duplicate, and expand their collective reach across the region.
Parent Ambassadors and network members receive direct investment to support their work. Parent Ambassadors receive annual stipends in recognition of their role and their community work. Network members receive financial support to augment family events with supplies, marketing materials, and food for participants.
Strengthening Family Stability
Finance · Fathers · Faith
MVP Strong Families focuses on the areas that contribute most to stronger, more stable families.
Finance
Household financial stability and the ability to meet family needs.
Fathers
The presence and engagement of fathers and positive male role models in children’s lives.
Faith
Connection to churches, faith-based communities, and trusted sources of community support.
How the Areas Connect
Finance | Fathers | Faith
Family Stability
Stronger Families & Communities
Measuring Change Over Time
Families Reflect on Where They Were at the Beginning of the School Year and Where They Are Now.
What POLIS Measures
Financial Stability
Whether households are better able to meet family needs than they were at the start of the year.
Father / Male Role Model Engagement
Whether fathers and positive male role models are more present and engaged in children’s lives.
Faith / Community Connection
Whether families are more connected to churches, faith communities and trusted local support.
Overall Household Progress
The family’s own assessment of how far the household has moved across the year.
Impact & Results
What Changed.
MVP Strong Families reaches over 1,200 caregivers and parents and their children each year.
1,200+Caregivers reached each year
90%Increased awareness of community resources
87%Increased knowledge of parenting practices
6Network member organizations
Caregivers and parents show significant increases in their knowledge of positive parenting tools, and expand their network of people and resources to further their family’s dreams. At the same time, six network member organizations are expanding their capacity while increasing their reach to minority and low-income families.
Network members are seeing marked improvements in parent and caregiver engagement as a result of Strong Families supported events. That means more caregivers at parent teacher conferences and childhood development screenings, and healthy children on track to reach milestones with parents at their side.
What We Report On
Solutions Applied
- Paid parent ambassadors
- Grassroots capacity building resources
- Impact network development
- Asset based community development tools
The full MVP Strong Families annual impact report is available on the Florida Citrus Sports website.
MVP Strong Families Partners
The Network Behind the Work.
Grassroots organizations, community-based organizations and Florida Citrus Sports working together across Central Florida.
Program Leadership
Crystal Hamilton
Program Leadership Partner, MVP Strong Families
Crystal Hamilton is the Founder and Executive Director of GO!MOM Empowers, Inc., where she leads initiatives that empower single mothers to rise, thrive, and overcome barriers. Inspired by her own journey as a single mother, Crystal created GO!MOM to equip women with the support, resources, and confidence to make informed decisions about their finances, mental health, relationships, and future.
As Program Leadership Partner for MVP Strong Families, she also provides leadership and coordination that strengthens collaboration, accountability, and impact across the partner network.
Community Partner Profiles
Six network member organizations deliver programming in their own neighborhoods. Each brings existing trust, existing relationships and existing reach.
Partner Programs & Activities
Family events, workshops, cohorts and community gatherings run by network members and supported with funding, supplies and materials.
Florida Citrus Sports
MVP Strong Families is presented in partnership with Florida Citrus Sports, which provides access to family fun and sporting events for participating families.
Visit Florida Citrus SportsGet Involved
Ways to Strengthen Families With Us
Partner With MVP Strong Families
Join the network as a grassroots or community-based organization and reach more families with the support of the partnership.
Start a Partnership ConversationSupport the Initiative
Invest in parent ambassadors, family events and the capacity of the grassroots organizations doing this work.
Support the WorkContact POLIS
Questions about the network, the research, or how MVP Strong Families could work in your community.
Contact POLISWork With POLIS
Bring This Work to Your Community.
Partner with POLIS on an initiative, invite research and facilitation support, or invest in the work.