Max Villaronga, Class of 2020

We created the Underserved Communities Foundation, founded in March of 2021, which is a 501c3 nonprofit organization to promote initiatives, programs, and policies that produce a thriving and equitable society. The Underserved Communities Foundation is a public charity committed to reducing poverty by empowering the underserved. Unlike many DE projects, we decided to create a group project. Each of our senior leaders at Raiz attends the CUDE program and is encouraged to join the group project to make an impact.

UCF supports activities and organizations that address:

• Affordable/accessible credit and savings
• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility & Belonging
• Employment
• Environment
• Food Insecurity
• Health
• Housing
• Technology
• Transportation

UCF strives to accomplish this by being a leader in charitable giving, volunteerism, partnerships, scholarships, fundraising, and other appropriate and available methods designed to move underserved communities forward. We do this through various programs like Sweet Beginnings, Harmonious Home, Money Smart Everyday, and Together We Thrive. See our website for more: underservedcommunitiesfoundation.org.

Our membership in the Underserved Communities Foundation is growing every month and receives macro and micro donations. Additionally, the UCF has now expanded into a new Chapter in Connecticut.