Community Relations enhances relationships

February 12, 2008

Although The Gator Nation is everywhere, the focus of the University of Florida office of Community Relations is North Central Florida. We work to enhance relationships with Gainesville and Alachua County, and with the other cities and counties in our region. We interface with chambers of commerce and with the Heart of Florida Coalition, which is working to promote collaboration among Alachua, Marion and surrounding counties.

The regional economic impact of UF extends well beyond the Gainesville city limits. Approximately 40 percent of our more than 25,000 employees, including UF, Shands and direct support organizations, live outside of Gainesville. Approximately 25 percent live outside Alachua County. As a regional employer, UF has a stake in area issues that involve the university directly, and those that impact our quality of life. Our office works to facilitate communication on these issues.

Economic development is high on the agenda for North Central Florida. We are involved in area efforts for economic development, including on Gainesville’s east side through the UF Community Room for public use at the UF Eastside Campus, and participation in the Waldo Road Steering Committee.

Since 1993, our faculty and staff have responded to community needs with the annual UF Community Campaign (UFCC) that has raised more than $1 million a year for the past three years. Charitable agencies throughout our region depend on these contributions to continue their work with the elderly, animal protection, disease research, the homeless and more. The office of Community Relations assumed the coordination of this campaign in 2007.

The resources and efforts of UF, combined with those of our cities, counties, and businesses and industries, will serve to greatly enhance our growing North Central Florida community.

Susan Crowley
Assistant Vice President,
Community Relations