FM Oct 04 PDF - Orlando Chamber of Commerce

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CULTURE & TRENDS COMMUNITY, CULTURE AND TRENDS. IT’S ALL REPRESENTED HERE. Lighting Up Hopes Hispanic families benefit from local Ronald McDonald Houses of Orlando. By José David Alvarez, HCCMO Director, CBR Public Relations As one of the most visited cities in the world, Orlando continues to be the destination for thousands of families who are looking for an exciting, fun-filled vacation. But not all families visiting the City Beautiful come looking for its thrills. Orlando is one of nine cities nationwide to be home to more than one Ronald McDonald House. Since its opening in December 1996, the first Ronald McDonald House, located on the campus of Florida Hospital, has been a “home away from home” to more than 5,000 families. The second Ronald McDonald House opened in 2003 on the campus of Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children & Women, doubling the number of families served in Orlando each year. These houses serve families of ill children receiving treatment at local medical facilities. Research shows that sick and injured children from all backgrounds respond to hospital treatment much more readily when their families are nearby. In addition, modern medical procedures now allow for many medically complex patients to be cared for as outpatients. For those reasons, the Ronald McDonald Houses provide a special caring environment for children and their parents. Although the per-night amount families are asked to donate is $15, no family is ever turned away because of inability to pay. Families are provided their own room and a private bath. Everyone has access to the library, playroom, laundry room, gathering room, outdoor porches, dining room and well-stocked kitchen, complete with “help yourself” refrigerators and cabinets to store personal food items. Families from 26 countries, 43 states and 59 Florida counties have been served by Ronald McDonald Houses. Approximately 22 percent of all families who stay at the houses are Hispanic. Like many other 501(c)(3) nonprofit members of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando, the Ronald McDonald Houses are preparing for a holiday season filled with unique events to increase awareness of the need to support this important program. Share-A-Night, Light-A-Light will light up both houses during the holidays. For Orlando is one of nine cities nationwide to be home to more than one Ronald McDonald House. Pictured far right is Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. a donation of as little as $15 (a family’s night stay) a light will be added on the outside of each House. A lighting ceremony and an open house will be held on December 9 at 6 p.m. at both Ronald McDonald Houses of Orlando. The Ronald McDonald Houses of Orlando are setting examples of what our local community has to offer. Nonprofit organizations help not only the local community, but the national and international communities as well. Let’s be a part of that and support them in every way we can. To find out more about how to donate to Share-A-Night, Light-A-Light, or for more on the Ronald McDonald Houses of Orlando, visit www.rmhorlando.com or call 407-206-0957. For more on the Hispanic Chamber, call 407-428-5870 or visit www.hispanicchamber.net. The Bilingual Factor Learning Spanish can help business owners create opportunities. Spanish is the fourth most widely spoken language in the world after Chinese, Hindustani and English. It’s also America’s most popular second language due to the proximity of Mexico and immigration from Latin America in recent years. More than 400 million people in the world speak Spanish, and by some accounts another 100 million have learned it as a second language. According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2000 report, there are 28 million Spanish-speakers living in the United States. The buying-power of the Hispanic segment amounts to billions of dollars spent every year, both domestically and internationally, for the benefit of the U.S. economy. Many multicultural hubs exist in the United States where Spanish is the unofficial second language of the local community. Orlando represents a major multicultural hub, thriving in the diversity of its consumers, businesses and industries. The Orlando Metropolitan Area ranks as the fifth largest Hispanic consumer market in the country. Overall, Hispanics account for 17 percent of Orlando’s population. Developing conversational fluency in Spanish can create new opportunities, both professionally and personally, for Central Florida’s workforce. At the same time, the integration of a multicultural diversity initiative can be covered by a company’s professional development budget, helping enhance the HR benefits package. Learning a language is a must for any professional who understands the global nature of the new millennium. By joining the ranks of Spanish speakers around the world, business owners can: ■ Enhance commercial relationships, make potential customers feel at ease and increase market-specific profits ■ Save time and money by avoiding communication errors through an increased understanding of a client’s native language ■ Create opportunities for professional development within the company and increase employee retention ■ Develop cultural understanding through the knowledge of a new international language For more on developing a more effective workforce with useful language instruction, contact Berlitz Orlando at 407-248-8222 or via e-mail at andres.goyanes@berlitz.com. You can also visit www.berlitzorlando.com. 34 OCTOBER 2004 FM
In celebration of the positive Hispanic influence in Central Florida, the Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce will be featuring a monthly news story “en español” in FirstMonday for your reading pleasure. Gala de Becas Herencia Hispana En 1999, y con el apoyo del ex-Presidente del Condado Orange, Mel Martínez, un grupo de empleados hispanos del Condado creó el Comité de Celebración de la Herencia Hispana del Condado Orange. El propósito primordial de este comité fue la planificación y organización de actividades para el mes de la Herencia Hispana (15 de septiembre a 15 de octubre). El Honorable Richard T. Crotty, actual Presidente del Condado Orange, ha continuado brindando su apoyo a los esfuerzos de sus empleados. Ya en su quinto año de celebraciones, "la Gala de Becas Herencia Hispana entra en una nueva fase. El comité que organiza y presenta este excelente evento recientemente se ha incorporado como una organización sin fines de lucro (sección 501-c-3) bajo las leyes del Estado de Florida. Operando ahora bajo el nombre oficial de Fondo de Becas Herencia Hispana de Metro Orlando, el grupo ha organizado una dinámica Junta de Directores, presidida por Lizette Valarino, Asistente de Richard T. Crotty, Presidente del Condado Orange, y apoyada por varios líderes empresariales de la comunidad. La Gala de Becas Herencia Hispana es la única actividad de recaudación de fondos para estas becas. El evento es organizado por la Junta de Directores de la Fundación pero implementada por los voluntarios de varias agencias gubernamentales, la Cámara de Comercio Hispana y muchos otros que creen en la meta común de preparar el camino al éxito para los jóvenes hispanos. Este año, Gala de Becas Herencia Hispana otorgará $16,000 en becas a estudiantes de la Universidad de Florida Central, Valencia Community College y Seminole Community College. La cena de gala se llevará a cabo el sábado, 23 de octubre en el Hotel Rosen Plaza en International Drive en Orlando. Estudiantes galardonados en la Gala de Becas Hispanas 2003. Para más información sobre boletos para el evento u oportunidades para auspicios, puede llamar al 407-234-7364 o visitar www.hispanicchamber.net. FM OCTOBER 2004 35
Page 1: Vol. 7, No. 10 OCT 2004 THE ART OF
Page 4 and 5: UPFRONT Building Community More Imp
Page 6 and 7: BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY THE LATEST NE
Page 8 and 9: BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY Power Search
Page 10 and 11: BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY Looking Ahead
Page 14: BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY Not So Blown
Page 17 and 18: Retirement Plans: A Big Benefit for
Page 22 and 23: COVER STORY The Orlando Opera Compa
Page 24: LEADERSHIP & EDUCATION EVERY COMMUN
Page 27: Make a Difference Junior Achievemen
Page 32 and 33: TOURISM, TRADE & TRANSPORTATION Ind
Page 36 and 37: CALENDAR OF EVENTS OCTOBER 1 Leader
Page 38: Responding to Community Needs Chamb

FM Oct 04 PDF - Orlando Chamber of Commerce

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