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Central Florida Dreamplex is excited to announce new ways for the community to support its inclusive vocational training program through Friendly Grounds Community Café at The Friendship Place, including the launch of the Community Cup Club membership program, expanded DoorDash delivery, online ordering, and new Friendly Grounds merchandise.

Friendly Grounds Community Café provides individuals of all abilities with hands-on vocational training in a real-world café environment, helping them build confidence, develop job skills, and prepare for future employment opportunities. Every purchase made at the café directly supports programming at Central Florida Dreamplex and creates meaningful opportunities for individuals with diverse abilities.

To deepen community engagement, Friendly Grounds has launched the Community Cup Club, a monthly membership program that allows supporters to enjoy their favorite beverages while supporting the café’s mission.

Membership tiers include:

• Lil’ Sip – $10/month – 2 drinks per month

• The Regular – $20/month – 5 drinks per month

• Brew Crew – $35/month] –  10 drinks per month

• Daily Drip – $65/month – 1 drink per day

Members can redeem any drink, any size, during café hours, making it an easy way to support inclusion while enjoying great coffee.

In addition to the membership program, Friendly Grounds is expanding access to its café offerings with DoorDash delivery, allowing customers throughout the community to enjoy their favorite drinks and café items from home or the office.

Supporters can also visit the café’s online store to purchase beverages, support programs, and browse the new Friendly Grounds merchandise line, which includes branded items that help spread awareness of the mission while supporting the vocational training program.

“Friendly Grounds is more than a café, it’s a place where confidence, community, and opportunity are brewed every day,” said Cameron Gomes, CEO of Central Florida Dreamplex. “Every cup of coffee served represents a step toward greater independence and meaningful employment for the individuals we serve.”

Located at The Friendship Place, Friendly Grounds is part of Central Florida Dreamplex’s broader effort to create inclusive environments where individuals of all abilities can learn, grow, and thrive.

Community members are encouraged to visit the café, join the Community Cup Club, order through DoorDash, shop online, and explore the new Friendly Grounds merchandise collection. Love the coffee you get at the café? You can recreate that experience in your own kitchen by ordering our coffee products through our online store.

To learn more or join the Community Cup Club, visit: www.cfldreamplex.com/friendly-grounds

About Central Florida Dreamplex

Central Florida Dreamplex is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing therapy, education, vocational training, adaptive sports, and social programs for individuals with disabilities and special needs. Through innovative programs and community partnerships, Dreamplex empowers individuals to live fuller, more independent lives.

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Among the volunteers were athletes from the junior varsity and varsity volleyball teams, led by Coach Jola Graham, who saw the event as a powerful team-building opportunity. Other students were allowed to sign up to volunteer for this event as well. The school provided transportation, and the bus rolled out at 7:30 am, filled with students ready to make a difference.

Over 2,500 volunteers gathered for the event, energized by music from a live DJ and united by a shared purpose. In just over four hours, the collective effort resulted in 1,023,675 protein-rich, vegan meals that were distributed to 65 local pantries, including several right here in Lake County—a testament to the power of community action.

Montverde Academy students were all smiles throughout the day, proud to be part of something bigger than themselves.

“Going to the light Orlando event was beyond a great experience,” said sophomore Gabi Carvalho. “It was an opportunity to help the community while having fun especially because we went as a team.”

“I had wonderful experience,” said senior Petar Ratkovic. “It was a fun and amazing way to connect with new people. We were laughing while at the same time helping with preparations. This experience helped me to have a deeper respect for people in need and showed me how hard it is to cook and prepare meals. It also showed me that I should enjoy and appreciate every bite of food because we are fortunate to have daily meals on our plate.”

For students looking to get involved in future service opportunities, HelperHelper.com is the service hour tracking and opportunity platform to search. Upper School students can log in using their school email and password. Students may also find projects on their own in their local communities. 

As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” On this day, Montverde Academy students answered with action, compassion, and heart

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Model United Nations (MUN) Success

Our EagleMUN team shined at the GatorMUN XXII conference at the University of Florida, competing with over 1,000 delegates from 20 schools. Special shoutout to Jacob Novis, who earned Best Delegate and Camelia Berrada Allam, who received a Verbal Commendation!  Elissa Ghanem also took home Outstanding Delegate honors at FHSMUN 46.

Artistic Achievement

Huge congratulations to Jery Chen, whose incredible talent earned multiple Gold and Silver Key awards from the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers! Only 1% of applicants nationwide receive such high honors.

Robotics Excellence

Our Robotics team is heading to the VEX World Competition in Dallas this May after winning a tournament championship and the Excellence Award! Kudos to Benjamin Chiang, Johnny Drawdy, and Titus DeClercq for their outstanding performance!

Academic Honors

Phoenix Connick, Ali Cheema, and Leon Liu were named National Merit Finalists! A special congratulations to Isabella Lelles, selected for the prestigious Harvard Ventures-TECH Winter Fellowship!

Athletic Recognition

A round of applause for Agot Makeer and Aaliyah Crump, named McDonald’s All Americans for their exceptional athletic achievements!

From MUN to robotics, fine arts to athletics, our students continue to excel! Congratulations to all our Excellence winners!

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