Greetings | The Center for Independent Living of North Central Florida welcomes you! If you have any questions about the center or the services we provide, please contact us at 352-378-7474. Our number again, is 3, 5, 2, 3, 7, 8, 7, 4, 7, 4.
Your support powers free, life-changing services for people with disabilities in North Central Florida—like employment assistance, assistive technology, wheelchair ramps, and independent living training.
From 8 AM – 9 AM, your donation could help us win an extra $500 during The Amazing Give! All it takes is $5 to count toward our total—every donor makes a difference.
We’re calling on our community to show up big for people with disabilities in North Central Florida.
🗓️ April 24th | 8 AM – 8 PM 🌐 Giving is already open — no need to wait! 🎯 Our goal: $15,000 to protect and expand our free services.
From employment support to assistive technology, from independent living skills training to wheelchair ramp construction, your donation fuels life-changing programs that empower people with disabilities to live independently and with dignity.
‼️ This year, we’re facing uncertainties in federal funding—every dollar matters more than ever.
Here’s how you can maximize your impact: 💙 DONATE DURING OUR POWER HOURS:
➡️ 8 AM – 9 AM ➡️ 12 PM – 1 PM
Even a $5 donation could help us win an extra $500!
No gift is too small. Every contribution creates opportunities, strengthens independence, and builds a more independent future for our community.
🎁 Give now: https://www.theamazinggive.org/organizations/center-for-independent-living-of-north-central-florida
📣 Share this post. Rally your friends. Let’s do this together.
Thank you for being part of our mission. 💙
ID: Red graphic with white borders and text that reads “Be a champion of independence” in the center. The CIL logo is placed above the text. Below are four hexagonal photos: a young woman smiling in a kitchen, a group of young adults around a table, a person building a wheelchair ramp outside a house, and two individuals in blue aprons posing together. At the bottom, text reads “The Amazing Give” with the date “April 24, 2025” in a white ribbon banner.
Brandy first came to the Center for Independent Living in 2020 while still in high school, referred for a vocational evaluation. That first connection opened the door to years of growth, learning, and self-discovery.
Through CIL’s money management workshops and Soft Skills to Pay the Bills program, Brandy gained confidence, improved her teamwork and communication, and became a standout participant—always ready to engage, volunteer, and lead. In 2024, she was even invited to speak on a student panel for Project 10’s Winter Institute, where she shared how CIL and her school transition team helped her become more independent and self-assured.
Brandy will be exiting the school system in January 2025 and continues to work with Vocational Rehabilitation on job placement services. She’s motivated, capable, and ready to thrive—thanks in large part to the support she received through CIL programs.
ID: Brandy smiles in a classroom wearing glasses and a black shirt, featured in a graphic promoting The Amazing Give on April 24, 2025.
💙 This is what your donations make possible.
When you donate to The Amazing Give, you help us provide free critical services to consumers in our community:
✅ Employment Services ✅ Youth Transition & Life Skills Training ✅ Financial Literacy Workshops ✅ Assistive Technology ✅ Sign Language Interpreting ✅ Emergency Preparedness & More
You’re not just funding services—you’re investing in futures like Brandy’s.
📅 Mark your calendar for April 24th and join us in creating more stories like hers.
A huge thank you to everyone who participated in and attended the CIL Talent Show! 🌟 We are beyond proud of all the performers who bravely took the stage and shared their incredible talents. From singing and dancing to showcasing creations, athletic feats, and even solving a Rubik’s Cube — every performance was a reminder of the incredible range of talent and strength within our disability community. 💫 Your support made this event unforgettable, and we are truly inspired by the courage and creativity on display. Here’s to celebrating YOU! 🎉
ID: A colorful collage showcases highlights from a “Talent Show Recap.” The background features a crumpled paper texture with the title “Talent Show Recap” written in a bold, red font at the center. Surrounding the title are a variety of Polaroid-style snapshots featuring individuals performing different talents. These include someone playing with a puzzle cube, a hula dancer, a musician with a xylophone, a person painting, a traditional dancer, a group singing or performing together, and others showcasing talents such as magic tricks, spinning batons, singing, or speaking. Each photo is uniquely framed with different colored backgrounds, paper clips, or tape, giving the collage a fun, scrapbook-like feel. The overall vibe is creative, vibrant, and celebratory.
With 140+ attendees, 17 vendors, and a great turnout of volunteers, this year’s event was a huge success! We kicked things off with a warm welcome from Mayor Ben Marciano, enjoyed food from Smalls Sliders, Dunkin’ Donuts, and Sam’s Club, and heard from some incredible speakers who shared valuable safety info.
We wrapped it all up with 15 exciting door prizes—and tons of positive feedback from both vendors and attendees!
Thank you to everyone who made this event possible. Together, we’re building a stronger, safer community. 💙
We’re incredibly grateful to our generous donors and sponsors, our amazing speakers who shared such valuable knowledge, and our dedicated vendors who provided resources and support to everyone who attended. This event wouldn’t have been possible without each of you—thank you!
SPONSOR: Coalition for Health and Medical Preparedness (CHAMP)
DONORS: Dunkin Donuts Culligan of Ocala Smalls Burgers Herr’s Chips Sam’s Club United Health Care Development Service Trainers (DST)
SPEAKERS: Mr. Ben Marciano, Mayor of Ocala Preston Bowlin, Emergency Management Director Beth Meyer with Florida SILC James F. Coleman with Community Legal Services
VENDORS: Center for Independent Living Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology (FAAST) Comfort Keepers Ocala 200 Lions Club Encompass Health Florida Visually Impaired and Blind Service Marion County Fire Rescue Community Paramedicine Ocala Police Department Langley Health Services Ocala Electric Utility Ocala Fire Department Heart of Florida Health Center College of Central Florida Community Legal Services City of Ocala Water Resources Advent Health Ocala Suntran
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Your support empowers people with disabilities to live independently and thrive.
Meet Tequista, who was born blind and came to CILNCF for Supported Employment Services. With the help of our team and a welcoming Culver’s crew, she landed a job as a Lobby Attendant. From learning her workspace to delivering top-notch customer service, Tequista has become a standout employee—earning tips, glowing reviews, and newfound independence.
Last year, you helped us raise $10,035—directly fueling programs like employment services, sign language interpreting, wheelchair ramps, emergency preparedness, and assistive technology. This year, we’re aiming even higher.
✨ Your donation = real impact. It creates opportunities, builds confidence, and supports meaningful change.
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On St. Patty’s Day, the CIL family came together at Cuscowilla Nature and Retreat Center for our Annual Staff Retreat—a day filled with connection, creativity, and celebration!
We kicked off with a surprise welcome for Amy, our new Executive Director 🎉—complete with a Mickey Mouse plant, a team-signed card, and sweet words from Amy herself. She even surprised us with vacation time as a thank you!
The day was packed with fun: 🎯 CIL Bingo to learn more about each other
🎨 Rock painting for our Gainesville office’s new garden 🥪 A chill lunch + game room laughs 📚 Tough St. Patty’s Day trivia 🎁 And prizes galore—from guessing games to leprechaun hat drawings!
We wrapped up with full hearts and lots of laughs. Grateful for a team that shows up with joy, creativity, and care—every single day. 💚
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We want to send a huge “THANK YOU” to everyone who joined us for our 4th Annual Alachua County Emergency Preparedness Expo at the Senior Recreation Center! This FREE event brought together a fantastic group of 13 vendors and over 40 attendees, all focused on helping people with disabilities stay prepared before, during, and after emergencies. We heard from insightful guest speakers on how to get ready for storms and where to seek help once they’ve passed. ASL interpreters were on hand to ensure full accessibility, and we wrapped up the day with raffles for weather-related preparedness prizes. We’re so grateful for the community’s support and can’t wait to keep empowering everyone to stay safe and prepared!
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A special THANK YOU goes out to our donors and sponsors for their generous support, our speakers who shared invaluable insights, and our vendors who offered services and information to our attendees. We couldn’t have done it without all of you!
DONORS: Publix Sam’s Club Dunkin’ Donuts
SPONSORS: Healthcare Coalition Alliance Disability Rights Florida Alachua County Emergency Management Elder Care
SPEAKERS: Daniel J. Hartley representing Congresswoman Kat Cammack David Peaton, Assistant Director of Emergency Management Bryan Russell with Disabiliy Rights Florida Rachel Rall with Three Rivers Legal Services
VENDORS: Center for Independent Living Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology (FAAST) Disability Rights Florida Gainesville Fire Rescue Community Resource Paramedicine Alachua County Library District Elder Options Alachua County Emergency Management Sugar Dogs International, Inc. Community Hospice and Palliative Care Regiional Transis System (RTS) Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation Three Rivers Legal Services, Inc. United Way of North Central Florida Meridian Healthcare Elder Care
