History of FOCUS

FOCUS and community leaders celebrating the anniversary of an early FOCUS victory: The After-School Zone.

FOCUS is a 501(c)(3) community organization that began in 1992 when clergy came together to develop leaders in local communities to act on pressing concerns.  Originally, it was called the Orlando Interfaith Sponsoring Committee (OAISC) as the clergy board guided the development of the organization.  Experimental efforts began to see if the congregation-based model of community organizing could be effective in Central Florida.  Clergy were pleased with the work and incorporated and hired an organizer to staff the organization. 

In 2001, the clergy board of OAISC was dissolved and a Steering Committee constituted of two representatives both clergy and lay persons from each member congregation was established as the Federation of Congregations United to Serve (FOCUS).

FOCUS has generated more than $35 million in community improvements, such as:

• Education: $2.3 million annually to fund after school programs in all Orange County middle schools; $1.5 million additional funding for award-winning Orange County Head Start program;
• Parks & Recreation: $20 million for new parks and protection of environmentally sensitive land, and $5 million for new recreation programs, including “The Club”, a highly successful program offering free transportation and fun activities for 10,000 youth enrolled in supervised recreation programs;
• Juvenile Probation: $1.5 million annually to expand the Juvenile Arrest and Monitoring (JAM) program, with an 80% success rate;
• Tranportation: new Lynx bus line serving East Orange Chickasaw Trail community;
• Safety: $1 million to improve pedestrian safety on Oak Ridge Road; new school crossing for Evans High School, new street lights in Pine Hills; new fire hydrants for Rio Grande Terrace
• Housing: Commitment of 140 units of affordable housing in Parramore;
• Health Care: Mobile clinic serving Reeves Terrace public housing complex; extended hours at several PCAN clinics; improvements to online enrollment for Florida’s KidCare health insurance program.